Agriculture is a fertile field, and the Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District wants to keep it that way.

The agency’s directors announced they are accepting applications from graduating high school seniors for the sixth annual Raymond H. Krueger Scholarship award. The district established the scholarship in 2000 as a tribute to Krueger, a longtime farmer and conservationist who worked 49 years to preserve the Valley’s natural resources.

Krueger, an alfalfa rancher, died in July 2000. He served as president of the district for more than 30 years and was chairman of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts and the Southern California Coalition of Resource Conservation Districts.

He received a commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Unsung Hero Award from the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

The district’s board of directors seeks applicants who uphold Krueger’s standards of community involvement, demonstrate the same level of concern for environmental protection and plan careers in agricultural-related fields.

“Ray Krueger was the moving force for many years” behind the district, said agency President Jim Dodson.

“We usually give about $1,000 a year” for scholarships, Dodson said. If two students are selected, they will receive $500 each.

“We’re hoping to generate a lot of interest. We hope a lot of kids apply for it,” said Kathleen Burr, the agency vice president and executive secretary.

Board director Steve Rodrigues concurred.

“We only had one applicant last year,” Rodrigues said. “Debbie (Phillips, the agency business manager) was trying to get notices to all the (high) schools and guidance counselors to let them know that we have money so we get a better response in the future.

“Debbie has done a great job calling everybody,” Burr noted.

“Money is tight in the Valley. It’s a great opportunity for high school kids,” even if the scholarship only pays for college textbooks, Burr said. “I put my son through college and it was very expensive. One down and one to go. I’m raising my nephew. His mom was killed by a drunk driver.”

Applications can be downloaded from the agency Web site at www.avrcd.org. Information must be printed legibly or typed. The application packet must include a copy of high school transcripts through the last semester completed, along with at least two letters of recommendation from school counselors or school club advisors, or a recent employer or religious leader.

Applications must be postmarked by April 15 and mailed to the AVRCD Scholarship Committee, 44811 Date Ave., Suite G, Lancaster, CA 93534.

Winners will be announced by June 1.

For details, call (661) 945-2604, Ext. 107.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 at 2:52 am and is filed under Scholarship. Tags: College, Scholarship, Student. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.