– Winners Hail From Idaho, Oregon and California –
RIALTO, Calif., Jan. 8, 2013 – Innovacyn, the makers of Vetericyn animal wound and skin care products, today awarded three $2,500 scholarships to FFA members. The winners are Isabella Curtoni of Farmington, Calif., Katelin Walker of Clackamas, Ore., and Brett Wilder of Meridian, Idaho.
More than 130 high school seniors submitted entries for the scholarships, which were open to current FFA members planning to attend a two- or four-year college in the fall. Applicants were judged on their answers to three essay questions, as well as their demonstrated commitment to the agriculture industry through classes, internships and life experiences.
“After meeting so many bright, articulate students at last year’s FFA convention, we wanted to increase our support of these future leaders as they advance their education,” said Bob Burlingame, CEO of Innovacyn and former FFA member. “The skills I learned as an FFA member have helped me throughout my career. It’s truly rewarding to come full circle and help students as they begin their professional journey.”
About the Winners
Isabella Curtoni attends Escalon High School in Farmington, Calif. She has competed in various sectors of FFA, was named a national finalist, and was awarded the Star Greenhand and Star Chapter Farmer awards. In her essay, she stated, “The lack of agriculture literacy and an increase in negative media attention has made it very difficult for agriculture to thrive.” This belief led to her decision to major in agricultural communications in the fall. She also believes that “as agriculturalists, we need to spread our knowledge and experiences to those unaware of agriculture.”
Katelin Walker, vice president of the North Clackamas FFA Chapter and president of the Mt. Hood District FFA in Oregon, won a gold medal in this year’s FFA National Agriscience Fair. She said that her involvement in FFA helped her to develop “a passion to speak with people, help people and educate them.” She plans to attend Oregon State University to become an agricultural educator and one day, start her own FFA chapter.
Brett Wilder of Meridian, Idaho, serves as the president of the Meridian FFA Chapter and the Boise Valley District FFA. He is still deciding which college he will attend in the fall, but knows that he wants to study public policy with the goal of becoming a U.S. Senator. He says FFA has given him the skills necessary to prosper: “My status as a
certified parliamentarian will give me a head start in the political world, and has prepared me to ensure agriculture always has a voice.”
About Vetericyn
Vetericyn provides immediate-acting, one-step wound and skin care products for animals. The sprays and gels are non-toxic, steroid-free, antibiotic-free, and do not contain alcohol or tea tree oils. Vetericyn doesn’t harm healthy tissue and is safe for use on all animal species of all ages.
Vetericyn products are available: in pet stores nationwide, including Petco; at feed and tack stores; via licensed veterinarians; and through the company’s network of distributors.
About Puracyn
The Puracyn line of human health care products help flush and clean abrasions and wounds. Available in OTC sprays and gels, the products have no known drug/treatment interactions or contraindications. As proven by testing, the antibiotic-free sprays and gels are non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-toxic.
About Innovacyn Inc.
Based in Rialto, Calif., Innovacyn Inc. is a privately held company that provides premier human and animal healthcare products based on advanced scientific research. For more information about Innovacyn, visit www.innovacyn.com. To learn more about Innovacyn’s products for the human market, visit www.puracyn.com, and for animals, visit www.vetericyn.com. All Innovacyn products are made in the U.S.A.
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