The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation announced the recipients of the 2007 Sam Noble Scholarships this week, awarding more than $163,000 in scholarships to 10 southern Oklahoma students.

"Sam Noble scholarships assist both undergraduate and graduate students studying in the fields of agriculture and technology," said Donna Windel, Director of Granting for the Noble Foundation. Agricultural undergraduate scholarships are $2,500 per semester for as many as nine semesters, and graduate awards are for $3,125 per semester for up to five semesters. Technology students receive scholarships of up to $3,750 per year for two years or less.

The 2007 Sam Noble scholarship recipients include (name, classification, major and high school):

• Dustin Rayne Austin, freshman, agricultural leadership major, from Ringling;
• Aaron James Coffey, freshman, agri-business major, from Davis;
• Michael Drew Dickinson, second-year technology student, high voltage electricity major, from Healdton;
• Kate McNae Gregory, freshman, animal science/pre-veterinary medicine major, from Marlow;
• Emily Mikele Hollarn, freshman, animal science major, from Marlow;
• Jon Dillon Sparks, freshman, animal science major, from Davis;
• Michael Brian Willingham, freshman, forestry major, from Broken Bow;
• Dell Allen Farris, sophomore, agriculture economics/accounting major, from Waurika;
• Scott Gallup Robertson, graduate student, conservation science major, from Ada; and
• Clinton Cole Rushing, graduate student, animal science major, from Madill.

"All of these students are deserving recipients of a Sam Noble Scholarship," Windel said. "We are confident they will excel in their future endeavors and positively impact the fields of agriculture and technology."

The scholarships' namesake, Sam Noble, bequeathed funding to establish the program when he died in 1992 with the first scholarships awarded in 1999. To date, the Noble Foundation has awarded more than $1,825,000 in funding for 106 students.

"It is remarkable how one man's thoughtfulness has forever changed so many lives," Windel said. "Mr. Noble's generosity has helped more than 100 students receive one of the most important tools for life - an education."

Scholarship applications are available annually beginning in November. Agricultural scholarships are limited to students pursuing an agriculture-related degree at universities with a separate College of Agriculture. Technology scholarship applicants must be attending or planning to attend Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee or Oklahoma City. Applicants for the Sam Noble Scholarship must reside in one of the following southern Oklahoma counties: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Coal, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha or Stephens. A special committee selects the recipients.

Additional information about the Sam Noble Scholarships is available by contacting Mary Kate Wilson at 580. 224.6246 or by email at mkwilson@noble.org.

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News Release Issued: May 21, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.