Ten students receive Monsanto’s Life Sciences Scholarship

Ten Hawaiʻi students are recipients of Monsanto Hawaiʻi’s 2016 Life Sciences Scholarship.

The following students received $1,000 each to further their education: Megan Andrada (Waialua High/University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), Gabrielle Dang (Waipahu High/University of San Francisco), Kelly Kennedy (Kauaʻi High/Washington State University), Ciara-Lyn Lee (Mililani High/Creighton University), Hannah Machiorlete (Kīhei Charter/University of California at Berkeley), Mike Nguyen (Lahainaluna High/University of Notre Dame), Ria Oba (Henry J. Kaiser High/John Hopkins University), Jewels Oliquiano (James B. Castle High/Western Washington University), Jacy Sera (Maui High/California Lutheran University), and Alexandria Simon (Molokaʻi High/Brown University).

This scholarship is open to graduating seniors of all high schools in Hawaiʻi who will be attending an accredited college or university to pursue a discipline related to the life sciences. Related fields may include agriculture, agronomy, biology, botany, genetics, horticulture, plant physiology, chemistry, crop science and soil science.

“We’re proud to recognize the achievements of these deserving young people as they continue to pursue higher education,” said Dan Clegg, Monsanto’s Hawaiʻi Business Operations Lead. “The life sciences play a critical role in helping us to better understand human health, environmental issues, and broader matters such as life on earth. We’re excited for this year’s scholarship recipients as they pursue these exciting fields that help to improve the quality and standard of our lives.”

Monsanto representatives say the company is “committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world.”

“We produce seeds for fruits, vegetables and key crops that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other resources more efficiently. We work to find sustainable solutions for soil health, help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources, and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease,” according to a company announcement.

“Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others,” to help tackle world challenges, company representatives said.

Megan Andrada

Gabrielle Dang

Kelly Kennedy

Ciara-Lyn Lee

Mike Nguyen

Ria Oba

Jacy Sera