The Secure Optimal Yield Scholarship
 
The 2011-2012 Secure Optimal Yield Scholarship is a $5,000 one-time scholarship award presented to a High School Senior who is going to pursue Agriculture as a degree area of study at any accredited College or University of their choosing.  The scholarship is managed by the American Soybean Association and is made possible through a grant by BASF Corporation. 
 
The scholarship will be presented in $2,500 increments per semester.  The student must maintain successful academic progress and be in good standing with the College or University to receive the full amount of the scholarship.  Candidates may apply on-line Sept. 1, 2010 through November 15, 2010.  Final Selection will be made the first week of December.  The student will be notified prior to an official announcement made in March 2011, during Commodity Classic in Tampa, FL.    BASF sponsors the winner and one parent to attend Commodity Classic for two days to participate and receive special recognition at the ASA Awards Banquet on the Friday night of Commodity Classic.  See below for specific scholarship requirements.

To apply on-line or download an application, go to
 
http://www.soygrowers.com/soy/scholarship.htm

2011-2012 Scholarship Requirements
 
· HS GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale to apply and submit a current HS transcript
 
· HS transcript can be official or unofficial but must show HS GPA scale. For example how high does the scale go 4.00 or 5.00?
 
· Applicant must be the child or grandchild of a current ASA member.  Only one award per household for the duration of the life of the scholarship.
 
· Applicant must plan to declare Agriculture (or discipline in the school of Agriculture as a degree area of study at any accredited College or University of their choosing.
 
 
· Applicant must submit most recent ACT/and or SAT standardized test score.
 
· Applicant must maintain a college GPA of 2.5 and remain in good standing with the College or University to obtain the full scholarship.  (GPA will be checked between semesters)
 
· Applicant must complete an essay of 500 words or less, entitled, “What does the future of agriculture look like, and what role will I play in that future.”
 
· Applicant must provide two letters of recommendation from an authority figure dealing directly with the student’s academic progress such as HS Guidance Counselor, Ag teacher, other Advisor etc. and one personal recommendation letter, such as FFA advisor. 
 
· Applicant must show demonstrated extra-curricular activities/leadership skills in agriculture activities.
 
· Scholarship application will ask if student has taken Advanced Placement Courses and/or if they were offered at their HS.
 
· Student’s parent or grandparent must remain a current member throughout the tenure of the student’s scholarship.
 
Selection Process
 
· Applicants fill out on-line application from September 1, 2010 through November 15, 2010
· Scholarship winner will be selected in early December and the winner will be notified
· The official public announcement of the winner will be made at Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida in early March.
 
Selected Candidates Scoring
 
20% HS GPA and ACT/and or SAT standardized test score
20% Response to Essay Question
30% Extra-curricular/leadership activities related to agriculture
30% two letters of recommendation.  One academic. One personal.

Spread the Word and Win a Free iPad!
Each year, FFA loses contact with many of its 60,000 graduating high school senior members. But did you know FFA opportunities do not end after graduation? The National FFA Organization offers many programs and scholarships for these students as well as activities at national convention and connections to future employers for internships and full-time positions. Graduates can still benefit from these many FFA programs and are likely to be interested in volunteering and mentoring for their local chapters. That's why we've started a year-round FFA Beyond High School campaign to try and connect with these transitioning members. We want them to know that there are still many ways they can benefit from FFA, even after they've hung up their blue jackets.
For the first phase of this campaign, our goal is to get as many students as possible to sign up for the "FFA Beyond High School" e-newsletter. The e-newsletter will provide subscribers with information about scholarships, internships and Collegiate FFA and FFA alumni opportunities.
So, from now until June 30, any member over the age of 18 who signs up for the "FFA Beyond High School" e-newsletter will be entered into a drawing for an iPad. Help us get the word out to FFA advisors and members. Tell them to go to www.ffa.org/beyondhighschool to sign up for the e-newsletter.
 
Jeff Papke
Team Leader – Collegiate Programs
National FFA Organization
6060 FFA Drive
Indianapolis, IN  46268
317-802-4350 – Office
317-294-0896 – Cell
317-802-5350 - Fax
www.ffa.org/collegiate

I know that many of you are beginning to finish up your student teaching experience and I certainly hope that each and every one of you have had an enjoyable one. Now, there is no doubt in my mind that you have had to create a variety of lesson plans in order to teach the classes that you were in charge of and to satisfy your instructors, as well.

I am asking each of you to submit, at least, one of the best lesson plans that you created during the spring 2010 semester. Anything and everything will be accepted, suchas PowerPoints, Word documents, entire unit plans including written tests and more. This could be a positive thing when you start searching for a job for the fall. You can tell the principal or whoever is interviewing you that your lesson plans have already been published on the internet! You may email them to me at the email address listed below. As with others that have made submissions to this site, you will receive full credit for your work.

Again, I hope your student teaching experience was one that you will never forget and I wish you the best with your upcoming teaching careers. I look forward to receiving your emails.

Thanks for reading,
Michael Southerland
Ideas 4 Ag Ed
ideas4aged@gmail.com

Titan Tires is a supporter and partner in the program. Titan is willing to assist FFA Chapters/Individuals in their efforts to restore tractors by providing new tires. If you are restoring a tractor for the 2010 competition and are interested in acquiring tires from Titan, you should contact Linda Adamson at Linda.Adamson@titan-intl.com
The Delo Tractor Restoration Competition was established in 1995 to recognize and reward the creativity, technical aptitude and business knowledge of high school-aged FFA members from around the country. During this restoration process, participants develop teamwork, project management, budgeting, planning and marketing skills. All of these new skills will enable them to become future leaders in the agriculture community.  The submission deadline is typically in September and competition finalists are invited to attend the annual FFA convention. The Chevron Delo website  http://www.allen-martin.com/tractorform/tractor.htm   contains all the information and forms required to compete in the program.

 

Monsanto would like to help you recognize your outstanding high school senior in agriculture with the 2010 DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award.

Monsanto provides all of the award materials without cost or obligation.  The DEKALB award materials include a personalized certificate suitable for framing, a pewter lapel pin and a letter of congratulations.  A multi-year plaque for engraving winner’s names is also available for display in the classroom or school trophy case. 

FFA Advisors can submit requests for award materials at www.dekalbawards.com at any time throughout the 2010 school year.  Please submit requests 3-4 weeks in advance of any award ceremonies to ensure timely receipt.  

 

February 25, 2010 is fast approaching. You can see what the significance of the date is by looking at the logo above. I hope you are gathering ideas, if you haven't already, to celebrate this very important day with your students.
Find out more about National Teach Ag Day by visiting these sites:

http://www.naae.org/teachag/teachagday.php

http://www.squidoo.com/Teach-Agriculture


Now, if you are planning to participate in this day, how are you going to do it? Please share your plans with the ag teaching community.