News Release Distributed 05/11/15
BATON ROUGE, La. – Monsanto and the Thomas A. Plein Foundation are helping support students in the LSU College of Agriculture by establishing two new scholarships.
Fran DeVille, a distinguished field scientist with the agricultural company Monsanto and a College of Agriculture alumnus, said Monsanto sees the need for more agricultural scientists.
“We partnered with the LSU College of Agriculture because of the strong relationship we have, and several of us are alumni,” DeVille said. “Monsanto has a long-standing commitment to educating and developing agriculture scientists. This is one way to show our commitment to Louisiana and the university.”
The scholarship will benefit students studying in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness or the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences.
The scholarship established by the Thomas A. Plein Foundation will benefit a student in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The foundation was established by Thomas A. Plein, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the 1980s to advance his family’s philanthropic interests. Plein owned bottling plants in the Midwest.
Matthew Frazier, the foundation’s president, said the unique structure of the foundation allows each branch of the Plein family to take part in continuing the family’s philanthropic legacy.
“This has allowed us to make meaningful relationships throughout the country with family members and their connection to their local communities and schools,” Frazier said.
Frazier said it is the donor’s desire that recipients have a proven record of working with Ducks Unlimited, as well as being self-starters and hard workers passionate about the outdoors and preserving nature.
“The Plein Foundation is excited to work with LSU as we begin a relationship that will benefit students for years to come,” Frazier said.
Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture, said scholarships like these help attract and retain high-achieving students.
“Monsanto and the Plein Foundation see the need for educating more agricultural scientists. With these scholarships we can ensure that more students pursue careers in agriculture,” Richardson said.
Tobie Blanchard