The scholarships are funded by a gift to the Foundation from the late Sam Noble of Ardmore. Noble felt strongly about the importance of a good education, once stating, "An excellent education is something that no one can ever take away from you; you can use it the rest of your life."

"The Noble Foundation holds this scholarship program in high regard because it recognizes and honors Sam Noble, one of Lloyd Noble's sons and a long-time Noble Foundation trustee," said Michael A. Cawley, Noble Foundation president. "It also provides students in southern and southeastern Oklahoma the opportunity to excel in the areas of agriculture and technology."

Agriculture undergraduate scholarships are $2,500 per semester up to nine semesters; graduate scholarships are $3,125 per semester up to five semesters. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in an agriculture-related field at a university awarding baccalaureate or higher agriculture degrees through a College or Division of Agriculture. Examples of qualifying institutions include Oklahoma State University (Stillwater), Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell), Texas Tech University (Lubbock) and Texas A&M University (College Station).

Technology scholarships are awarded for up to $1,875 per semester, up to six semesters. Applicants must plan to pursue an associate degree or technical certificate at Oklahoma State University in either Oklahoma City or Okmulgee.

To apply, students must be planning to attend, or attending, a qualifying university or technology training institution during the 2005-2006 school term, and must reside in one of the following Oklahoma counties: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Coal, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha or Stephens.

Completed scholarship applications must be received by the Noble Foundation on or before Feb. 15, 2005.

Applications and additional information regarding the scholarship program can be obtained by contacting Mary Kate Heltzel, Noble Foundation program associate, at (580) 224-6246.

###

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release