Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998 jimmie.turner@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2011 – Three students received scholarship assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Fresno State University in a ceremony in Fresno, Calif., today.
Amanda Jo Bettencourt and Caitlin Guest have been selected for scholarships with the AMS Poultry Programs while Aki Dionisopoulos will be sponsored by the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
“Since 2005 we have been proud to work with Fresno State to create a program that establishes a pipeline for future employees,” said Rayne Pegg, AMS Administrator. “In addition, we would like to see the program substantially increase the overall diversity of our agency’s programs.”
The AMS Student Assistantship Program assists Fresno State students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resources or other related fields. Upon graduation, students are obligated to complete one year of service with AMS for each year of financial support. AMS primarily employs agricultural commodity graders and marketing specialists; contracting specialists; market news reporters; and economists, scientists and information technology specialists.
USDA and Fresno State University recently amended a cooperative agreement that provides tuition assistance to students participating in the AMS Student Assistantship Program, which now funds up to eight full-time scholarships at any one time. Annually, the agency will invest up to $5,879 per student, covering tuition and registration fees, and an additional $500 for books each semester.
The program provides an opportunity for students such as Brian Fuso, a May 2010 Fresno State graduate and scholarship program participant, to go directly to work following graduation. Fuso now works for AMS as a shell egg grader in Farmington, Calif.
For more information about the program go online to http://jcast.csufresno.edu/outreach_programs/usda_ams.aspx. The deadline to submit applications is Dec. 31.
For more information about the program, contact recruitment coordinator Jennifer Turpin via e-mail at Jennifer.turpin@ams.usda.gov.
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