Cotton Counts Scholarship Recipients Announced

Bayer CropScience and the National Cotton Council announce the recipients of the 2003 Cotton Counts Scholarships.

December 2, 2003
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – Bayer CropScience and the National Cotton Council announce the recipients of the 2003 Cotton Counts Scholarships. Stephanie Bradley, Stamford, Tex., Katy Harkey, Abernathy, Tex., and Veronica Palla, Bakersfield, Ca., children of U.S. cotton producers, will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist with tuition expenses.

The Cotton Counts Scholarship program is part of Cotton Counts, a National Cotton Council consumer awareness campaign aimed at improving the understanding of and attitudes toward U.S. cotton, and led by the National Cotton Women’s Committee. This scholarship replaces the Grow Smart Scholarship offered in previous years.

“We are proud to partner with Bayer CropScience to recognize these young people who are committed to keeping our cotton industry strong,” says Carlene Spence, coordinator, NCWC.

This year’s scholarship program was open to 2003 graduating high school seniors who maintained a B-average and planned to enroll in a four-year ag-related curriculum in fall 2003. Applicants were asked to write an essay on the importance of cotton to U.S. agriculture, as well as provide a transcript and a letter of recommendation. Scholarship finalists were chosen by a panel consisting of National Cotton Council and industry representatives.

Bradley and Harkey attend Texas A&M University and are studying biomedical science and animal science, respectively. Palla is majoring in microbiology/genetics at the University of California Los Angeles.

“We salute the academic achievements of these students, who are the future of U.S. agriculture,” says Scott Johnson, insecticides business manager with Bayer CropScience.

The Cotton Counts Scholarship program is funded by the sale of Bayer products, including BAYTHROID® insecticide, FiberMax® cotton seed, FINISH® harvest aid, TEMIK® insecticide, TRIMAXTM insecticide and others.