The V.I. Department of Agriculture and Fort Valley State University (FVSU) near Macon, Ga., recently awarded a St. Croix student an academic scholarship to study agricultural science at FSVU beginning January 2012.
Lucas LaPlace, a 2009 graduate of Central High School, was selected to attend FVSU as part of an ongoing collaboration between DOA and the university to advance agricultural development in the territory. The scholarship will cover LaPlace’s cost of tuition and dormitory accommodations for a maximum of four years in support of studies leading to a bachelor of science degree.
LaPlace was selected because of his clear academic objectives and professional goals, and also because of the overall quality of his application.
According to the V.I. Department of Agriculture’s press release, LaPlace has consistently demonstrated his interest and passion for agriculture as well as engineering. Lucas will be leaving the territory on Jan. 6, to pursue his aspirations of becoming an agricultural engineer; classes will commence on Jan. 9.
Commissioner of Agriculture Louis E. Petersen, Jr., expressed his appreciation to his colleagues at FVSU – particularly Mark Latimore, associate vice president for Land Grant Affairs and FVSU President Larry E. Rivers.
“I am truly pleased about the partnership that we have established with this historically black university,” Petersen said. “I am even more gratified that a young Virgin Islander will be able to pursue his academic studies and realize his vision and dreams in the field of agriculture.”
In 2009, FVSU launched the Young Farmers Training Program in collaboration with DOA, exposing 10 young adults from the territory to professional opportunities in the wide field of agriculture through four weeks of intensive classroom instruction and practical exercises. LaPlace participated and successfully completed the four-week program; as a result he decided to seek a career in agriculture.
“In order to ensure the sustained growth and success of the local agricultural sector, we must continue to train, expose, and involve our young adults in every aspect of the industry,” Petersen said. “My hope is that once Lucas has completed his studies he will return to the Virgin Islands to make his contribution to our farmers and the economic development of our community.”