Nuffield Canada has announced four scholarship recipients for its 2017 program.
They are Jason Fransoo of Calgary, Alberta; Nicole MacKellar of Guelph, Ontario; Kristina Polziehn of Sturgeon County, Alberta; and Matt Hamill of Red Deer, Alberta.
All four will kick off their international studies with a trip to Brazil in March 2017, where they’ll meet with Nuffield scholars from other countries.
“Over the next two years, these four scholars will further develop leadership and organizational capabilities while investigating issues critical to Canadian agriculture,” says Kelvin Meadows, chair of Nuffield Canada. “The opportunities and perspective that a Nuffield Scholarship can provide are priceless in today’s global agricultural community. We are grateful to all of our program investors for their support in ensuring the award of these four scholarships.”
The scholarships are awarded to individuals who are judged to have “the greatest potential to create value for their industries and for Canadian agriculture through a program of international study.”
Applications for 2018 scholarships are due April 30, 2017.
Meet the ’17 recipients:
(bios courtesy Nuffield Canada)
Jason Fransoo, Calgary, AB; receiving the Glacier Media scholarship
Jason studied economics at the University of Alberta (Edmonton) and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Policy at the University of Calgary. With a strong background in the grain industry, he is the Commercial Manager, Fertilizers, for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Jason will study global grain transportation systems in the search for practices and policies that could offer benefit to systems in Canada.
Twitter: @JasonFransoo
LinkedIn: jasonfransoo
Instagram: jsoo27
Nicole MacKellar, Guelph, ON; receiving the Grain Farmers of Ontario scholarship
Educated at McMaster University, Nicole is an active member in her family’s cash crop operation and works as the Manager of Market Development at the Grain Farmers of Ontario. Nicole will study the possibilities for branding of commodities that are further processed into ingredients.
Twitter: @NMackellar
Instagram: nmackellar
Kristina Polziehn, Sturgeon County, AB; receiving the Alberta Wheat Commission scholarship, new in 2016
Kristina holds a Master of Science Degree from the University of Alberta with an extensive background in plant science and agronomy. Currently the President of Axiom Agronomy Ltd., an independent crop consulting company, Kristina plans to study the applications for remote sensing in crop production, through the use of manned and unmanned aircraft.
“Through the Nuffield Scholarship, my goal is to learn more about how remote sensing is being used and implemented in other parts of the world with different crops,” said Polziehn, in a news release from the Alberta Wheat Commission. “By sharing and showcasing how to implement remote sensing data, there is an opportunity to improve our understanding and see the value it can bring to crop production in western Canada.”
Twitter: @AxiomAgronomy
Facebook page: Axiom Agronomy
Website: axiomagronomy.com
Matt Hamill, Red Deer, AB; receiving the Western Grains Research Foundation scholarship, new in 2016
Matt studied business administration at Red Deer College, through Mount Royal College, and works as an ag lender. In 2014 he co-founded Red Shed Malting, one of the first specialty malt houses in Alberta. Matt will study craft malting company best practices, looking for ways to grow and improve the malt industry, and other value-added opportunities, in Canada.
Facebook: maltstermatt
Twitter: @HamillMatt
Instagram: redshedmalting
LinkedIn: mattredshedmalting
Related:
- Western Grains Research Foundation and Farm Credit Canada Partnering With Nuffield Canada
- Nuffield Canada Announces 2016 Scholars
