The College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State got $1 million richer last week.
Program director Suzanne Steel said CFAES announced on Aug. 30 that the J.M. Smucker Company will donate money to support three different areas within the college.
Part of the donation will go toward funding the new J.M. Smucker Company Innovation Research Award Grant, which will provide undergraduates, graduates and faculty with grants for research in the CFAES realm of study, with preference given to food innovation projects.
Funds will also be allocated to form part of the Pat and Bobby Moser Scholars Program, with preference given to students in food science and technology. Other companies are also expected to contribute to this fund for a scholarship honoring Bobby Moser, a recently retired dean of CFAES and former vice president of agricultural administration. He announced his retirement as of Sept. 2.
The Smucker donation also funded the creation of the Smucker Leaders Scholarship Fund for undergraduate students working toward a minor in leadership studies within the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership. It is the first scholarship within the college that is designated for students working toward a particular minor.
Each of the scholarship funds will total $250,000, while the research fund will total $500,000. Each year, 4.25 percent of the endowment will be available for scholarships.
Timothy P. Smucker, chairman of the J.M. Smucker Company Board and member of OSU’s Board of Trustees, said he hopes the donation will create more opportunities for lifelong learning.
“Our company has a special commitment to education because we feel strongly that lifelong learning is critical to the future and growth of our communities,” Smucker said. “Through these scholarship funds, we have the opportunity to help students further their education and to help support research that could lead to innovations within our industry.”
The amount of money each scholarship and grant will provide to students and faculty remains undecided at this time.