News release, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

16 Receive Sam Noble Scholarships

ARDMORE, Okla. - Sixteen recipients of the newly established Sam Noble Scholarship for Agriculture and Technology have received letters of their awards, totaling $168,000 as a group and ranging from $3,000 to $16,000 possible per student.

Agricultural undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 a semester were awarded to six freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors, and two seniors. The undergraduate recipients' scholarships are for up to nine semesters. Graduate awards are $2,500 per semester, up to five semesters, and were awarded to two students.

Receiving agricultural scholarships were: Kirby Dan Childs, Mannsville, graduate student, $5,000; Lewis Theophilus Cunningham III, Springer, junior, $8,000; Teresa Marie DeLano, Ardmore, sophomore, $12,000; Joe Bill Ferguson, Foster, $16,000; Jody Lynn Goss, Ryan, senior, $4,000; Rachel Lyn Johnson, Elmore City, freshman, $16,000; Josh W. McCarthick, Tishomingo, sophomore, $12,000; Carrie Edwina McKinley, Sulphur, freshman, $16,000; Terry Glen Orr, Tishomingo, senior, $4,000; Justin Powell Pratt, Davis, freshman, $16,000; Regina Kay Rowe, Stratford, junior, $8,000; Nicole Rene Sowinski, Velma, graduate student, $10,000; Jeremy Lucas Teel, Wilson, freshman, $16,000; and Meka Gayle Walden, Elmore City, freshman, $16,000.

Technology scholarships were awarded to James Keith Eggenberg, Ardmore, $3,000; and Clinton Mark Lowrie, Battiest, $6,000. The scholarships are $1,500 per semester for up to four semesters.

"The quality of the applicants was very high. We were pleased to receive such a good response for this first year," said Donna Windel, grants manager with the Noble Foundation in Ardmore. "I would like to thank everyone who encouraged these outstanding students to apply."

The independent scholarship selection committee consists of representatives of the agri-business community.

Of the agricultural scholarship applicants, about half were graduating seniors. Remaining applicants were already attending college, including graduate school.

Applicants came from 10 of the 15 south central and southeastern Oklahoma counties eligible for the scholarships. Applicants must reside in Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Coal, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, or Stephens counties.

Applications are accepted in January and February. Students interested in applying for a Sam Noble Agricultural Scholarship must be pursuing an agriculture-related degree at a university offering baccalaureate and higher degrees in agriculture. Those applying for a Sam Noble Technology Scholarship must be attending, or planning to attend, a post high school advanced technology training institute.

Specific requirements are listed in a scholarship brochure available from the Noble Foundation, P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, OK 73402-2180.

Funding for the scholarship was provided by the late Sam Noble, who died in 1992.

"Not long before he died, Sam Noble expressed an interest in establishing a scholarship program that would reward top quality students who were pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field," Windel said.

"He also wanted to encourage students who were preparing for their future by attending a top quality technical school such as Oklahoma State University at Okmulgee. These scholarships are the result of Mr. Noble's interest."

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(FYI - The Noble Foundation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization headquartered in Ardmore, Okla. The Foundation conducts agricultural and plant biology research; provides grants to numerous other charitable and educational organizations; and assists farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative programs.)