GUELPH – Addressing the gap in the agri-food sector and promoting the University of Guelph (U of G) as a destination of choice for students from around the world are the focus of several new scholarships.
Thanks to a $2-million gift from U of G alumnus Andy Wilder, three new scholarships have been created to attract top Canadian and international students to the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) to pursue a career in the Canadian agri-food sector.
The funding will create the single largest scholarship offered at U of G at $80,000, and will be awarded to one student each year pursuing an undergraduate degree in OAC.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Andy and his trust in OAC in developing future leaders in the agri-food sector,” said acting dean of OAC Dr. John Cranfield.
An additional scholarship will support international students pursuing a course-based master’s degree at OAC.
“This scholarship will help the University globalize the campus and foster global perspectives in our classrooms,” said Cranfield.
Wilder said he believes the scholarships will allow the University to continue to attract the “best and brightest” to OAC.
“There is a massive challenge facing Canada’s agriculture and food industry,” said Wilder.
“It requires highly talented people from multiple disciplines to produce more food while reducing its carbon footprint.”
Wilder also said OAC is equipped to develop the collaborative leaders needed to solve these challenges.
The three scholarships offered to future agri-food leaders include:
– The Wilder Family Leadership Scholarship: One award of $80,000 to an undergraduate student who has significant leadership experiences;
– The Wilder Family Scholarship: Two awards of $40,000; and
– The Wilder Family Graduate Scholarship: Two awards of $15,000 each to an international student pursuing a course-based master’s degree.
To learn more about scholarships at U of G, visit uoguelph.ca.
