January 4, 2013
Cargill launches new Cargill Global Scholars program
Cargill, working with the Institute of International Education, or IIE, has launched a new scholarship program to help build future potential leaders. The Cargill Global Scholars program will provide financial support, leadership development and enrichment opportunities to nearly 200 talented and high-performing undergraduate students in five countries. The selected individuals will be chosen based on their demonstrated high level of academic performance and leadership potential. Kansas State University is one of 13 U.S. colleges participating in the program.
Students who are selected as Cargill Global Scholars will receive scholarship funds of up to $2,500 per year for up to three years and will be invited to take part in a series of leadership and enrichment activities designed to enhance their critical thinking skills and equip them with the tools necessary for becoming leaders and decision-makers in their chosen fields.
In the first year of the program, each Cargill Global Scholar will participate in leadership training modules. They will also be paired with a Cargill employee, including company executives, who will serve as a mentor over the next several years. These mentors will help students identify and realize short- and long-term academic and professional goals.
In addition, five top-performing students from each country who are in the second year of their program will be selected to attend an event at Cargill’s global headquarters in Minnesota or a Cargill-related facility to take part in a weeklong Global Leadership Program. As part of their time in Cargill’s Global Scholars program, the students will participate in individual and group leadership experiential learning opportunities led by non-governmental organizations that specialize in youth leadership development. The students will also have the opportunity to learn from and network with Cargill executives. Finally, as the Global Scholars complete their leadership and enrichment activities under this program and graduate from selected universities, they will join a global alumni network of Cargill Global Scholars, where enrichment and networking opportunities will continue.
Initially, students from five countries will be selected as Cargill Global Scholars. These countries include Brazil, China, Russia, India and the United States, where Cargill has significant operations or interest. The institute will work with specific universities in each of these countries to identify the Cargill Global Scholars. Targeted outreach will be conducted to reach under-represented groups in higher education in each country or region.
Approximately 50 to 70 Cargill Global Scholars from these five countries will be selected each year. The first group of nearly 60 students will be selected in May and June 2013 and will begin a three-year program of activities in June and July 2013. In total, nearly 200 Cargill Global Scholars will participate in this scholarship program over the next seven years.
For more information on eligibility requirements and participating universities, please visit www.cargillglobalscholars.com.
About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.
About Cargill community giving and education
Cargill gives back to communities by contributing 2 percent of its global consolidated pre-tax earnings — based on a three-year trailing average. Cargill donated $69.9 million in 57 countries during its 2012 fiscal year. They provide support to organizations, projects and programs that fall in three focus areas: nutrition and health; education; and environmental stewardship. In the education area, they support innovative programs that improve academic achievement and increase access to education for socio-economically disadvantaged children. Their commitment to education also includes grant making to selected higher education institutions, a higher education employee-matching-gifts program, and post-secondary educational scholarships. In fiscal 2012, Cargill donated more than $18 million to support education programs.
About the Institute of International Education
The Cargill Global Scholars Program is administered by the Institute of International Education on behalf of Cargill. Founded in 1919, the institute is one of the most experienced not-for-profit organizations in the field of international education and scholarship management and has worked extensively in areas of leadership development. The institute currently administers more than 200 programs benefiting more tha 25,000 men and women from 175 nations.