The Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages Hispanic students to come and work for them. With an academic degree in agriculture, the USDA trusts that under represented groups will have a chance to find better paying jobs.

The Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program (HSINP), which advocates the continuing increase of Latino enrollment in higher education, has been working hand-in-hand with the USDA through this program. Partnering with colleges and across the nation, the HSINP is hoping to place emphasis on furnishing more fellowships, scholarships and intern chances for Hispanic pupils to stimulate the emergence of tomorrow's leaders within the community.

The program, initiated in 1986, at present offers full ride scholarships, compensated internships (minimum 640 hours) leading to lasting employment, and employee benefits like mentoring, career developing, leadership coaching, and use of a PC.

Receivers of a Public Service Leaders Scholarship enroll in an agreement with the USDA to receive full tuition scholarships for a specified number of years. Additionally, recipients intern at the USDA for a minimum of 640 hours before graduating. The interns are paid on top of the scholarship funds. Students may be expected to work during the coming summer. Recipients are compelled to work for the USDA for one year for each year of sponsorship once they have graduated.

The students the USDA is seeking are those desiring a doctoral level in economics along with undergraduate students studying Civil Engineering, Agriculture, Soils, Statistics, Business, Plant & Crop Sciences.

The scholarship recipients, once they have graduated, then become full time employees of the USDA and must be prepared to work for USDA for one year for every year of educational aid received. Not such a shabby deal.

Exactly what is the USDA looking for? Students who are devoted to community service, leaders withinin their community, as well as students who are intellectually inquisitive.

For those scholars who are only seeking an internship, there are plans that offer working training and experience, enabling students to work while completing their education. USDA provides undergrad and grad student with paid internships to serve as supporters to scientific, professional, administrative, and technical employees. Once you have your foot in the door, the USDA makes every effort to help students stay with their job and to climb the career ladder.

Whether you are interested their scholarship program or internship, opportunity knocks for those Latinos seeking careers in agriculture.