The 2013-14 Secure
Optimal Yield Scholarship is a $5,000 one-time
scholarship award presented to a high school senior
who is going to pursue agriculture as a degree area of
study at any accredited college or university. The
scholarship is managed by the American Soybean
Association and is made possible through a grant by
BASF corporation.
March 7, 2013:
BASF and
ASA Announce $5,000 SOY Scholarship Winner
BASF
and ASA announced the official winner of the
2013-2014 SOY Scholarship on Feb. 28 during
Commodity Classic. The ASA Secure Optimal Yield
(SOY) Scholarship is a $5,000 award presented to
an outstanding high school senior who has achieved
high academic and leadership requirements, and is
planning to pursue a degree in an
agriculture-related field at an accredited college
or university.
This year’s recipient is Mason Kiehl of Meadville,
Mo. Kiehl, a senior at Meadville R-IV High School,
plans to pursue a degree in Agricultural Systems
Management at the University of Missouri-Columbia
this fall.
Mason Kiehl is
recognized for his SOY Scholarship award at
the ASA Awards Banquet on Feb. 28. (ASA photo
by Jim Spelios)
"This is the sixth year ASA is partnering with
BASF to offer this opportunity to an outstanding
student," said ASA President Danny Murphy. "The
agriculture industry has a bright future, thanks
to dedicated young people like Mr. Kiehl."
"BASF is committed to the future of agriculture
and our students play a huge role in sustaining
the livelihood of the industry," said Paul Rea,
Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. "These
students are passionate about agriculture, and we
look forward to watching them grow into the
leaders and advocates of our business."
2013-14 Scholarship
Requirements
HS GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00
scale to apply and submit a current HS
transcript
HS transcript can be official
or unofficial but must show HS GPA scale.
Applicant must be the child
or grandchild of a current ASA member. Only
one award per household for the duration of
the life of the scholarship.
Applicant must plan to
declare Agriculture (or discipline in the
school of Agriculture) as a degree area of
study at any accredited College or
University of their choosing.
Applicant must submit most
recent ACT and/or SAT standardized test
score.
Applicant must achieve a
college GPA of 2.5 during their first
semester of freshman year, and remain in
good
standing with the College or University to
obtain the full scholarship. (GPA will be
checked between semesters.) Transfer credits
do not apply toward the GPA requirement.
Applicant must complete an
essay of 500 words or less, entitled,
“What does the future of
agriculture look like, and what role will I
play in that future."
Applicant must provide two
letters of recommendation from an authority
figure dealing directly with the student’s
academic progress such as HS Guidance
Counselor, Ag teacher, other Advisor, etc. and
one personal recommendation letter, such as
FFA advisor, pastor, etc.
Applicant must show
demonstrated extra-curricular activities/leadership skills in agriculture
activities.
Student’s parent or
grandparent must remain a current member
throughout the tenure of the student’s
scholarship.
Selection Process
Applicants fill out on-line
application from September 15, 2012
through November 15, 2012.
Scholarship winner will be selected in early
December and the winner will be notified.
The
official public announcement will be made at
Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. in
March 2013.
Selected Candidates Scoring
20% HS GPA and ACT and/or SAT
standardized test score
20% Response to Essay Question
30% Extra-curricular/leadership activities
related to agriculture
30% Two letters of recommendation. One
academic. One personal.
