USDA ACCEPTING 1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2006
ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR

WASHINGTON, October 27, 2005- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
accepting USDA/1890 National Scholars Program applications for the 2006
academic school year.


The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership initiative between
USDA and the 1890 Land Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University. Through
this initiative, USDA seeks to expand its diversity by recruiting talented
students into public service in agriculture and related fields, including
food sciences, natural resource sciences and agricultural sciences. Through
this partnership, USDA hires graduates into career positions at USDA. Since
the inception of the National Scholars Program in 1992, USDA has funded a
total of approximately 400 national scholars.

The application form is available on the national scholars web site at
http://1890scholars.program.usda.gov.

The application form can either be printed blank or completed on-line and
must be submitted by January 15, 2006.

USDA/1890 scholarship recipients receive full tuition, fees, books, use of
laptop computers and printers, software, employment and employee benefits
for each of the four years they pursue a bachelor's degree. For each year
of the scholarship, students receive room and board provided by the
partnering institutions. Students are required to work one year at USDA for
each year of their scholarship.

The 1890 Land Grant Institutions include: Alabama A&M University, Alcorn
State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Fort
Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Langston University,
Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T University, Prairie View A&M
University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee
State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff,
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University and West
Virginia State University.


All 2006 application materials must be postmarked no later than January 15,
2006, and sent to the USDA liaison officer at the institution of the
applicant's choice.

For more information about the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, contact
Carl T. Butler, USDA/1890 National Scholars Program Manager, by phone at
(202) 205-2693, or by e-mail at mcarl.butler@usda.gov.