NCTA All-Point Scholars Receive Full Tuition Scholarships

CURTIS, NE. (January 22, 2008)-In continuing with their trend of fostering relationships with key agricultural industry players, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) announced that six agronomy students will begin internships in May 2008 with All Points Cooperative, as part of the NCTA/All Points Scholars program.

Mark Ballmer, VP of Agronomy, Ed Foster, President/CEO, and Kevin Peck, Seed Coordinator, visited the Curtis campus to meet with the future interns and present their scholarships.  Each All Points Scholar received a scholarship covering fall tuition and fees for maintaining a 2.5 or higher GPA in the fall semester.
According to Ballmer, the program is critical to helping All Points identify and train future employees.  "The program is powerful," Ballmer states.  "We're looking forward to the May 10 start date for these 6 students."

Students participating in the program include:
·         Josiah Stroup-Benkelman, NE
·         Justin Meyer-Glenvil, NE
·         Ross Montgomery-Guide Rock, NE
·         Jeff Queen, Burlington, CO
·         Alex Canning-Ogallala, NE
·         Derek Uhrmacher-Juniata, NE

For every one of the students, the ability to study agronomy in a hands-on environment, plus get practical experience and possible full-time employment after graduation was a powerful draw to enroll in the program.  Ross Montgomery, who worked at All Points last summer in Sumner, Nebraska, felt the All Points Program was a perfect fit.
"I'm a farm kid who wanted to go back to the farm, so I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity to go to school for free," Montgomery shared.  "Learning lots of things about chemicals and application will benefit me long term."

Josiah Stroup had a good role model that provided him with all the incentive he needed to enroll in the program.  "My mom is an agronomist and she really influenced me to consider the program," Stroup stated.  "In addition, my dad went to NCTA so I knew that the smaller school and hands-on setting were exactly what I needed to follow in my mom's footsteps."

Dr Weldon Sleight, Dean, is thankful for the program and the relationship with All Points.  "The All Points Program is a great thing for students and NCTA, and All Points is a great leader in helping sustain and grow agriculture in Nebraska," Sleight added.

Sleight also feels that interest in the All Points Program will continue to grow.  "We mailed brochures to high school ag teachers statewide prior to Christmas, so there should be plenty of time to generate interest in becoming part of the next group of All Points Scholars," Sleight shared.

For more information on the All Points Program, please contact Brad Ramsdale, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, at bramsdale2@unl.edu, or call 1-800-3CURTIS.