Eric Billingsley is a happy young man these days.

The young Billingsley, of Dexter, is a student at the new Three Rivers College center in Dexter. He’s studying in the new “green diesel” program offered by Three Rivers at the local center, and he feels has selected a course of study that is “just right” for him and for his future.

And these days, he’s thankful, too, because Billingsley  is the recipient of a new scholarship for local students from the Stoddard County Farm Bureau.

Local Farm Bureau President Edwina Woolard of Puxico and Billingsley met recently at the college center, where he was presented with his scholarship from the local organization.

“This is the first scholarship for us to award to Three Rivers,” Woolard said. She said scholarship recipients must pursue a degree program that has something related to agriculture or rural life.

The Three Rivers green diesel program trains students to repair and maintain vehicles that operate on both diesel and green diesel. Three Rivers offers the new unique green diesel-training program at the Dexter campus, which opened in January 2011.

Photo Above: The Stoddard County Farm Bureau has awarded Eric Billingsley a scholarhsip to attend Three Rivers College and study green diesel technology. On hand for the presentation of the scholarship award were (from left) Ann Matthews of Three Rivers College Center at Dexter, Stoddard County Farm Bureau President Edwina Woolard, Billingsley, his mother LaRhonda Billingsley, and TRC Center Director Bill Hampton. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)