PPQ William F. Helms Student Scholarship

PPQ William F. Helms Student Scholarship

This scholarship offers you:

Financial aid while pursuing a degree (Up to $5,000 in financial assistance each year they are enrolled in a degree program)
Mentoring
Paid work experience during school breaks (both summer and holiday periods)
Possible permanent employment upon graduation

William F. Helms Scholarship recipients will further their education and gain valuable real world experience in the field of agriculture by:

Trapping for invasive species
Performing outreach activities to spread the word about invasive species
Performing inspections on goods for export
Meeting personnel from around the country with extensive backgrounds in plant protection and quarantine activities
Performing surveys for invasive plant diseases
Learning how to use pesticides properly under guidance of licensed USDA PPQ applicators
Working with other Federal, State and local agriculture employees to determine best practices to use when outbreaks occur

PPQ will offer scholarship recipients employment during school breaks, both summer and holiday periods. PPQ may offer full-time professional employment to Helms scholars who successfully complete the necessary education, training, and work requirements.

To apply, you must:

Be a United States citizen
Be enrolled in an accredited college or university within the U.S.
Be a sophomore or junior in good academic standing (students must maintain at least a 2.5 grade-point average)
Be enrolled in programs related to agriculture or the biological sciences
Agree to work for the agency during school breaks (both summer and holiday periods) a minimum of 640 hours prior to completion of studies

Your application must contain the following items:

An Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) or Resume
A personal letter that:
- Describes your interests, goals, and chosen career plans
- Explains how you envision your ability will contribute to the PPQ mission
- Outlines why you should be selected for this program over other candidates
- Lists a permanent address where you can be contacted all year
Transcripts of your college work to date
Three letters of recommendation (from people not related to you)
If you have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, please submit documentation of service with your scholarship application

Applications must be postmarked by March 1 of each year to be considered. Students selected will begin receiving scholarship benefits at the start of the fall semester.

This scholarship may not be available every year. Please call (202) 690-4759 to check the status.

Submit your completed application packets to the following address.

United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave. SW Room 1710
Washington DC 20250
Attention HR/Recruitment

You may obtain further information about the William F. Helms Scholarship by calling (202) 690-4759.

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For more information, contact Tim Lapanne

Last updated: 01/7/2011