Ten $3,000 scholarships are available thanks to support from the Dairy Excellence Foundation and Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. The scholarship program is designed to recognize outstanding undergraduate students and high school seniors who are pursuing an education in a dairy-related field for the 2021-22 academic year. Online applications for this year’s Student Leader Scholarships are due by June 1, 2021.
“This is an annual scholarship program that has helped support and ease the financial burden of students who are passionate about the future of dairy. With only a few weeks left to submit applications, consider encouraging a neighbor or a student you know to apply for the scholarship,” said Michelle Shearer, Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Curriculum Coordinator. “It’s more imperative than ever that we all come together to support the next generation — the students who will ensure the Pennsylvania dairy industry remains vibrant and growing.”
The scholarships are offered annually to provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. The scholarship applications are available online to allow students to apply easily from home. Undergraduate students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarships.
To qualify, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Pennsylvania resident
- Demonstrate a commitment to working in the dairy industry in the future
- Be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a qualifying field of study
- Be a high school senior planning to enroll in a qualifying field of study
“To be chosen as one of the few recipients only instilled in me a desire to uphold the qualities of leadership. Receiving this financial award helped ease the burden of my financial obligations and allowed me to focus less on the monetary aspect of my education and more on the experiential aspect,” said Donald Opp, a 2020 recipient of the Student Leader Scholarship.
Recipients are selected based on academic performance, interest in a dairy-related career, evidence of leadership, character and integrity, and application compliance. Qualifying fields of study include dairy and animal science, agricultural marketing and business, nutrition, food science, agriculture and extension education, agricultural communications, agricultural engineering, or related fields.
Students can receive the $3,000 scholarship twice during their undergraduate academic career. To submit an online application by the June 1 deadline, visit Center for Dairy Excellence scholarship website or contact Michelle Shearer at 570-768-8316 or by email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
