News release, December 9, 1999, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

ARDMORE - Requests for applications for Sam Noble Scholarships in Agriculture and Technology are being accepted from high school, college, and technical institute students.

Applicants must be planning to attend a qualifying university or technical training institution during the 2000-2001 school term, ansd 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.

Agriculture scholarships are $2,000 a semester for undergraduates for up to nine semesters, and $2,500 for graduate students for up to five semesters. Applicants must plan to pursue an agriculture-related degree at a university offering baccalaureate or higher agriculture degrees through a Colleges of Agriculture, such as Oklahoma State University (Stillwater), Panhandle State University (Goodwell, Okla.), Texas Tech University (Lubbock), or Texas A&M University (College Station).

Technology scholarships are $1,500 a semester for up to four semesters. Applicants must plan to purse an associate's degree or technical certificate at an advanced technical training institute such as Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City and Okmulgee.

Deadline is March 1 for the Noble Foundation to receive a completed application for a scholarship. This is the second year for the scholarship to be offered. Earlier this year, 16 students received scholarship awards totaling $168,000.

The scholarships are funded by a gift to the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation from the late Sam Noble of Ardmore to give outstanding southern and southeastern Oklahoma students the opportunity to excel in agriculture and technology.

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."

Mike Cawley, Noble Foundation President, said, "The Noble Foundation takes particular pride in this scholarship program because it recognizes and honors Sam Noble, one of Lloyd Noble's sons and a long-time Noble Foundation Trustee. It also recognizes excellent achievement in academic disciplines deemed significant not only by Sam, but also by Lloyd Noble, Sam's father and the Noble Foundation Founder."

Applications and additional information about the scholarships can be obtained by calling Donna Windel, Noble Foundation program officer, at (580) 223-5810.

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(FYI - The Noble Foundation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization headquartered in Ardmore, Okla. The Foundation conducts agricultural and plant biology research; provides grants to numerous other charitable and educational organizations; and assists farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative programs.)