USA RICE FEDERATION SPONSORS $8,500 in SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The USA Rice Federation is sponsoring a scholarship contest for high school juniors and seniors from the rice-growing states of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.

Three scholarship prizes totaling $8,500 will be awarded. The grand prize is a $4,000 scholarship. The winner and chaperone also will receive an expense-paid trip for the scholarship presentation on Dec. 10, 2009, at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, La. The second place winner will receive $3,000 and the third place winner will receive $1,500.

To enter, students must conduct an activity to promote U.S.-grown rice in September, which is National Rice Month. About 85 percent of the rice consumed in the United States is grown here. Entries will be judged on creativity and impact in promoting U.S.-grown rice and National Rice Month, as well as the importance of rice in the student’s state.

For more information on National Rice Month scholarships, including contest rules and restrictions, see www.usarice.com.