St. Edward's University selected to receive $25,000
Monsanto Fund Grant to support the College Assistance Migrant Program

Austin, TX— St. Edward's University has received a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company. The grant will provide scholarships to outstanding students majoring in the natural sciences and other select majors that are enrolled in the College Assistance Migrant Program or CAMP. In 1972, St. Edward's was one of four schools chosen to host the federally funded program, which was created to provide the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers with access to higher education.

Monsanto is an agricultural company that helps farmers learn sustainable practices so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture's impact on the environment.

"Monsanto's support has made a difference in the lives of many of our students. Scholarships and internships have led to practical career decisions," said CAMP Director Esther Q. Yacono, "One of our students, Larry Macias, decided to pursue his PhD after working at Monsanto and now is in the post doctoral program at the University of North Carolina."

Established as a freshman level scholarship program, CAMP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and St. Edward's University. CAMP has served to educate more than 2,400 students since 1972. Each year, 35 students are chosen to participate in the program. Now in its 36^th year, CAMP holds the honor of being the longest continuously running program of its kind in the nation.

"Monsanto is proud to support farm workers through this program at St. Edward's University," said Deborah Patterson, president of the Monsanto Fund. "CAMP offers participants the opportunity to further their education, and many are the first in their families to attend college. We are pleased that we can contribute our resources to their education."

The following students were selected as scholarship recipients: Laura Gonzalez of McAllen, Texas, Ana Rodriguez of Edinburg, Texas, Alyssa Ruiz of Donna, Texas, Marisol Serrano of Weslaco, Texas, and Sonia Salinas of Bastrop, Texas.

Click here for more information on the Monsanto Fund.

About St. Edward's University Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University has been named as one of America's Best Colleges for 2008 by U.S. News & World Report and was selected by The Princeton Review for inclusion in the guide Colleges with a Conscience. St. Edward's is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university of more than 5,300 students located in Austin, Texas.

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