“Cotton Counts Grow Smart” Scholarship Winners Announced

The 2002 “Cotton Counts Grow Smart” scholarship winners were announced today by the National Cotton Council of America.

October 1, 2002
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

MEMPHIS – The 2002 "Cotton Counts Grow Smart" scholarship winners were announced today by the National Cotton Council of America.

Winners of the $1,500 scholarships are: Abby Frank, Elberta, AL; Robert Fullingim, Petersburg, TX; Kandice Krenek, Lyford, TX; Ellen Pennington, Raymondville, TX; Natalie Simpson, Rio Hondo, TX; and Robert Tabb, Colquitt, GA. Their curriculum and school they are enrolled in this fall are: Frank, animal and dairy science at Auburn University; Fullingim, wildlife management, Texas Tech University; Krenek, agricultural development, Texas A&M University; Pennington and Simpson, agribusiness, Texas A&M; and Tabb, biology, Georgia Southwestern.

"Cotton Counts Grow Smart" scholarship program applicants must be a college bound high school senior son or daughter of a U.S. cotton producer; plan to enroll in a four-year agriculture-related curriculum; hold at least a B grade average and write an essay on cotton’s importance to U.S. agriculture.

The scholarships are funded by Bayer CropScience through their TEMIK(TM) Saver’s Choice(TM) program sales. Bayer CropScience doubled the number of scholarships offered in 2001.

"This year’s winners are bright men and women committed to their agriculture studies," said Al Luke, Bayer CropScience Insecticide/PGR Business Manager. "Bayer believes these scholarships are an investment in their future and the future of U.S. agriculture. We are very pleased to sponsor this educational endeavor through the National Cotton Council and the ‘Cotton Counts’ program."

Finalists and winners were chosen from a panel consisting of representatives from Bayer CropScience, the Cotton Council and the National Cotton Women’s Committee. The scholarship program is carried out through Cotton Counts, a Council campaign that focuses on helping America’s students and the general public better understand and appreciate the importance of agriculture, specifically cotton and the U.S. cotton industry’s contributions to the nation’s economy.