ALBANY — The NYS Maple Foundation’s Terry Laubish Maple Scholarship returns for 2018. All applications for the scholarship must be postmarked by March 15th. Any high school senior with a connection to a NYS maple operation (either as a family member or employee) and is planning to attend a two or four year college beginning in fall 2018, should consider applying.
Applications and guidelines are available on request from Mary Jeanne Packer (518-854-7669) or via download at www.newyorkmaple.org.
The annual scholarship, established in 2016 in memory of Terry Laubish, provides $250 per student. The scholarship is payable after the first semester of freshman year for winners. “Terry was a strong advocate for the high-visibility state-wide Maple Weekend promotion and for the syrup judging contest and other educational activities at the New York State Fair,” said Mike Hill, president of the Foundation. “As a result of Terry’s tireless enthusiasm for communicating about the maple industry, public awareness and support for maple production in New York has been greatly improved.”
Winners of the 2017 Scholarship include Abigail Daniels of Cambridge, NY, Christian Fisher of Camden, NY, Vanessa Havens of Argyle, NY, Kevin Hubble of Halcottsville, NY, Brianna Larose of Warrensburg, NY and Paul Ruger of Malta, NY.
Ross Runfola, a 2016 winner of the scholarship, adds that his “dream is to see farming thrive in my state, and I want to support the industry through advances and innovations… thank you once again for making an investment in my personal future and in the future of farming.”
The New York State Maple Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Its mission is to plan and coordinate training for maple producers so they can increase their efficiency and competitiveness, and to identify and support maple-related research. The foundation also works to inform and educate the public of the diversity and quality of the state’s maple products, of how the industry has changed in NYS throughout the years and the environmental sensitivity needed to maintain a healthy sugar bush during maple production.
Funding for Foundation programs, including the Laubish Scholarship, comes from donations made to the Foundation when producers purchase Taste the Tradition™ branded maple syrup jugs available through local maple sugaring supply dealers and produced by Sugarhill Container for the NYS Maple Foundation.
–New York State Maple Foundation
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