MEMPHIS, TN - The National Cotton Council is encouraging graduating high school seniors who are sons and daughters of U.S. cotton producers to apply for three new college scholarships. Applications are now available for the new "Grown and Made in the U.S.A. Grow Smart" college scholarships, and must be submitted by June 1, 2001.

Cotton producers' high school seniors graduating spring 2001 with at least a B average and who plan to enroll in a four-year agriculture-related curriculum beginning fall 2001 are eligible. Applicants also are required to write an essay on the importance of cotton to U.S. agriculture.

The three $1,500 scholarships are funded by Aventis CropScience through a grant to The Cotton Foundation.

"We are delighted that Aventis CropScience has chosen to initiate this Grow Smart program," said Cotton Foundation President Talmage Crihfield, who is a Ripley, TN, cotton producer. "These scholarships can help strengthen the U.S. cotton industry by expanding the resource of well-educated and experienced agricultural professionals."

Al Luke, Aventis' cotton marketing lead, said, "We want to demonstrate our commitment to American cotton growers, their families and the future of U.S. agriculture."

Applications may be obtained by contacting Scholarship Headquarters, 400 E. Diehl Rd., Naperville, IL 60563. Submissions must be mailed and postmarked by June 1, 2001, to Scholarship Headquarters. Applications also may be submitted online at www.cottonexperts.com. For more information, contact Scholarship Headquarters at (630) 505-1100.

Finalists and winners will be chosen from a panel consisting of representatives from Aventis CropScience, the NCC and the National Cotton Women's Committee. The inaugural "Grow Smart" scholarship winners will be announced in July 2001, and the scholarship funds will be distributed by August.