Media advisory issued May 20, 2002, effective immediately.
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Ten Students Receive Sam Noble Scholarships

ARDMORE, Okla. — Eight Southern Oklahoma students majoring in agricultural studies and two concentrating on technological fields have received 2002-03 Sam Noble Scholarships totaling $121,000, according to Donna Windel, granting program officer at the Noble Foundation, based in Ardmore.

Agricultural undergraduate scholarships are $2,000 for up to nine semesters. Graduate awards are for $2,500 for up to five semesters. However, no graduate scholarships were awarded this year. Technology students receive scholarships of up to $3,000 per year.

Windel said this year’s agricultural scholarship recipients include five freshmen, two sophomores and a junior. Receiving scholarships are the following students: freshmen — Cole Eugene Gallaway, Marlow, undecided agricultural major; Justin Lee Hurst, Loco, biosystems engineering; Lance Paul Klement, Bokchito, biosystems engineering; Eric Christopher Money, Calera, ag economics; and Zachry Kent Pogue, Duncan, agribusiness; sophomores — Zachary Ryan Allen, Ardmore, ag communications and animal science; and Lacy LeeAnn Mann, Sulphur, ag communications; and junior Dereck Michael McPherson, Duncan, ag education/animal science and business.

Receiving technology scholarships were first-year student Jess L. Morris, Valliant, management information systems; and second-year student Adam Dean Muse, Ardmore, electrical construction.

All agricultural students are attending Oklahoma State University, and both technology students attend OSU/Okmulgee.

Scholarship funding was provided by the late Sam Noble, who died in 1992.

"Not long before he died, Mr. Noble expressed an interest in establishing a scholarship program that would reward top quality students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field," Windel said. "He also wanted to encourage students preparing for their future by attending top quality technical schools such as Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee. These scholarships are the result of his interest."

A generous bequest by Noble to the foundation created by his father, Lloyd Noble, also ensures the continuance of the lucrative scholarships, said Michael A. Cawley, president of the Noble Foundation.

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. Recipients are selected by a special committee.

Windel said this year’s applicants were especially strong. The successful freshman agriculture scholarship recipients had an average ACT score of 29. "We encourage all students who meet the criteria to apply, but they should know that the scholarship is very competitive," she said.

Scholarship applications are accepted in January and February. 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 a post-high school advanced technology training institute.

Specific requirements are listed in a brochure available from the Noble Foundation by writing Mary Kate Garner, Program Associate, The Noble Foundation, P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, OK 73402-2180.

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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