COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Soybean Council Foundation (OSCF) will offer scholarship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students for the 2013-14 academic year. The graduate scholarships are designed to support students conducting research in bioproducts, biobased materials, bioengineering, biopolymers or a related field.

“We need young people to pursue careers in agriculture in order to fulfill the workforce needs of this growing industry,” said Tom Fontana, OSCF, director of programs and development. “Some students don’t realize that agriculture, and soybeans, can offer so many opportunities for their future.”

There are five undergraduate scholarships available, including three general scholarships of up to $3,000 each that will be awarded to students pursuing an eligible major.

“In order to ensure the future prosperity of the U.S. soybean industry, it is important that students understand the wide variety of opportunities available in agricultural careers,” Fontana said. “This scholarship program encourages undergraduate students at Ohio colleges and universities to pursue degrees in one of the many academic fields that support the future of the soybean industry, including science and technology, economics, communication, education, business and leadership.”

Available to one undergrad pursuing agricultural business or communications is the $3,000 Farmer, Lumpe and McClelland Excellence in Communications Scholarship. This was founded to provide resources to young people with a passion for agricultural and business communication.

Also available to one undergrad is a $5,000 Bhima Vijayendran Scholarship, named to honor Dr. Vijayendran’s contributions to the soybean industry through his scientific research of new uses for soybeans and commercialization activities at Battelle.

Undergraduate applicants must be Ohio residents and enrolled as full-time students at an Ohio college or university. The applicant must have attained at least sophomore status by the fall of 2013 with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in his or her major field.

Eligible majors include biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, biotechnology, bioenergy, biofuel, crop science, food science, agricultural communications, agricultural business, agriculture education and any of the agriculture disciplines or related fields.

Two scholarships of up to $5,000 each are available to grad students who are enrolled full-time at an Ohio college or university and have proof of legal residency in the United States. Graduate applicants must be conducting research in bioproducts, biobased materials, bioengineering, biopolymers or a related field and focused on advancing the soybean industry.

The deadline for all applications is Jan. 15, 2013. To download scholarship applications go to www.soyohio.org/

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