Foundation

Feature Funding: Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute

This is a professional development program between the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) to strengthen the future of agronomy, crop and soil sciences by encouraging undergraduate students to enter the profession.

The Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute raises money to help bring an average of 15 university students to the International Annual Meetings of the ASA, CSSA and the SSSA. This event brings together over 3,500 international scientists who research agronomy, crops and soils in corporate, government and academic entities.

 The objective is to select the most promising undergraduate students from all regions of the United States as well as the rest of world who may not be considering agronomy, crop or soil science as a career path. The students receive scholarships for travel expenses and are then matched with Society members at the Annual Meetings to participate in one-on-one activities.

The Society members act as mentors for the scholars at the Annual Meetings and for a full one-year period after the meetings to support their educational efforts. The goal of the program is to increase the enrollment of students into agronomy, crop and soil science-related programs at the college and university level where they will eventually become the next generation of leaders in the profession. Please visit www.goldenopportunityscholars.org for an inside look at past and present scholars.

For more information on being a mentor or scholar, please contact Leann Malison at lmalison@crops.org or 608-268-4949.

The ASF Mission

To provide leadership and financial resources to further the role of the agronomic, crop, and soil sciences in global crop production, and to promote human welfare within a sustainable environment.

The ASF benefits Agronomy, Crops and Soils members.