NOPHNRCSE has the mission to motivate and mentor members for leadership roles to assist NRCS and partners in delivering natural resources conservation. Following our mission, NOPHNRCSE is proud to present every year with the NOPHNRCSE scholarship program for Martha Guerra-Arteaga and Milton Cortés Colón scholarship and Ray T. Margo Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

This year NOPHNRCSE will award a total of four $1,000.00 academic scholarships to qualified students that are pursuing a degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources, or Natural Resources Conservation related field of study at an accredited school of higher education.

One of the four scholarships NOPHNRCSE offers is a specially funded scholarship established by a notable member and her family to encourage new generations of Hispanics to pursue careers in Public Affairs, Agriculture or Natural Resources Conservation. The Martha Guerra-Arteaga Scholarship is specifically for a female student with a major in Public Affairs, Communications or Natural Resources Conservation.

Martha Guerra-Arteaga was born May 27, 1967 in McAllen, Texas. Martha graduated from Texas A & M University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication. Martha served as a Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS) for thirteen years. During her years of service, she received the prestigious USDA Group Honor Award from the Chief of the NRCS for providing outstanding outreach programs aimed at the Hispanic Community and socially disadvantaged. She was a member of the National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees and the Southwest Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

One of the four scholarships NOPHNRCSE offers is a specially funded scholarship established by a notable member and his family to encourage new generations of Hispanics to pursue careers in Agriculture or Natural Resources Conservation. The Milton Cortés Colón Scholarship consideration will be given to qualified students that are pursuing a degree in Soil Science, Agriculture, Natural Resources, or Natural Resources Conservation-related field of study at an accredited school of higher education.

Milton Cortés Colón began his professional career as an Extension Agent with the Puerto Rico Agricultural Extension Service in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico (1981-1990). In 1990, he took his first Federal assignment with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS). Milton’s exceptional efforts earned him an award in 1997 for his outstanding support to the “St. John Island Global Climate Changes Project”. Also, in January of 2002 he was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the success of the “USDA Hurricane Mitch/Georges Reconstructions Project in Central America and the Caribbean.” Among the many accomplishments throughout his 40 years of public service, Mr. Cortés collaborated to complete the publication “Soil Survey of San Germán Area of Puerto Rico.” He assisted in the translation of two editions of the NRCS worldwide-used soil taxonomy. He was also instrumental in the translation (English/Spanish) of the document “From the Surface Down (Desde la Superficie Hacia Abajo),” a keystone agency-wide publication.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FOR 2023 is HERE!!!

Deadline is August 25, 2023

For additional information, please contact:

Scholarship Chair 

Phone (507) 774-3211   Email: scholarships@nophnrcse.org

or

Jesus Lopez Vargas

Scholarship Vice-Chair

Phone (307) 223-3272   Email: scholarships@nophnrcse.org

Below mailing address for application: