At Southern AgCredit, we believe in encouraging our youth, and the board of directors is dedicated to assisting these future leaders in their career pursuits through the cooperative's scholarship program.

Eleven scholarship recipients were recently recognized at the two Southern AgCredit annual stockholder meetings. Each of this year's scholarship recipients is very active in nearly every aspect of school. Their various activities range from student councils and sports and band programs to several clubs, including 4-H and FFA, where they are involved with the care and showing of animals.

Likewise, the students' career interests vary, from nursing and pre-med to veterinary medicine, forestry and agricultural science. But in their essays about their career choices and the biggest influences in their lives, the subject matter had a common theme - deep family values and a desire to make a difference in their chosen fields.

We are confident that these young leaders have already acquired some valuable tools for attaining their professional goals by demonstrating strong work ethics and being positive influences in their communities. We wish them much success in the future.

2011-2012 Scholarship Recipients:

• Noel Cumbaa of Leland, MS., received the $2,500 Jimmie Dick Carter Scholarship. The award is named in honor of a longtime Southern AgCredit board member.
  
  Recipients of $1,000 scholarships were:
  
  
• Anna Danielle Brasher of Holcomb, Miss.
• Jessica Marie Brunston of Simsboro, La.
• Clark Travis Carlisle of Shreveport, La.
• Ivey Nicole Nazary of Carthage, Miss.
• Karly Newell of Wesson, Miss.
• Jessica O'Reilly of Pickens, Miss.
• Shannon Lee Sessions of Woodville, Miss.
• Taylor Smith of Meridian, Miss.
• Jordan Emory Taylor of McComb, Miss.
• Shelby Marie Wood of West, Miss.