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CORVALLIS - An Oregon State University student from Pendleton has earned a full-tuition scholarship from the East Oregonian Publishing Co.

Ryan DeGrofft, an OSU senior in business administration and agricultural and resource economics, will use the East Oregonian's E.B. Aldrich Scholarship at OSU beginning fall term.

A graduate of Pendleton High School, DeGrofft is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta national scholastic honor society, which established its OSU chapter in 1933.

DeGrofft will spend the summer working at Corvallis' Stahlbush Island Farms as part of an OSU internship program.

"It's hands-on farm work," he said, adding that he will also conduct an economic analysis of new farm equipment.

After graduation, DeGrofft plans to gain experience working for a large agricultural company, but he doesn't plan to forget Oregon.

"After a few years, I'd like to return to Pendleton and possibly start my own business."

The East Oregonian Publishing Co. awards full-tuition scholarships annually to OSU and University of Oregon students who live in the circulation area of the company's newspapers - the East Oregonian in Pendleton; The Daily Astorian in Astoria; The Blue Mountain Eagle in John Day and the Chinook Observer in Long Beach, Wash.

The award is named for E.B. Aldrich, an OSU graduate who was editor and owner of the East Oregonian from 1908 to 1950.

DeGrofft is the son of Duane and Patty DeGrofft of Pendleton.