ENFIELD, Conn. — Farm Credit East, the Northeast’s largest agricultural lending cooperative, recently awarded $49,500 in college scholarships to 32 student recipients. Farm Credit East’s scholarship program supports students with diverse career aspirations in agriculture, commercial fishing and the forest products industries from across the association’s seven-state territory.
“This year’s scholarship recipients aspire to make a difference in their communities and are well on their way to becoming agriculture’s future leaders and entrepreneurs,” said CEO Bill Lipinski.
Matt Beaton, Farm Credit East Board Chair commented, “The Farm Credit East Board of Directors is very supportive of the scholarship program. We congratulate these deserving students and their families, and wish them the best for a successful educational experience.”
The following students will each receive a $1,500 Farm Credit East scholarship:
New England Recipients
From the Auburn, Maine office territory:
- Katelynn Cayer, of Fairfield, Maine, majors in animal and veterinary sciences at the University of Maine. She plans to start her own large animal clinic.
- Sadee Mehuren, of Searsmont, Maine, is attending the University of Maine to major in animal science. She aspires to become an extension agent.
From the Bedford, N.H. office territory:
- Rachel Blasko, of Northborough, Mass., studies animal science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She plans a career as a large animal veterinarian.
- Jacob Tully, of Dunstable, Mass., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to major in dairy production and management. He plans to return to his family’s sixth-generation farm.
Representing the Claverack, N.Y. office:
- Megan Davenport, of Litchfield, Conn., will study animal science and ag education at Cornell University. She hopes to share her passion for agriculture through ag education.
From the Dayville, Conn. office territory:
- Elizabeth Antonelli, of Danielson, Conn., studies biology at Gordon College where her career goal is to improve food-source plants as a plant geneticist.
- Daniel Munch, of East Lyme, Conn., studies livestock management and policy and agricultural resource economics at the University of Connecticut. He plans for a career in the ag industry.
From the Enfield, Conn. office territory:
- Marissa Naclerio, of New Haven, Conn., will major in environmental and urban studies at the University of Connecticut. She aspires to become an urban planner.
- Natashia Sawabi, of Ware, Mass., will major in sustainable studies at Holyoke Community College. She hopes to own a farm and market local produce to the community.
Representing the Middleboro, Mass. office territory:
- Rachel Lawlor, of Weymouth, Mass., hopes her studies in horticultural science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will lead her to design and manage public floriculture.
From the Presque Isle, Maine office territory:
- Emily Lagerstrom, of Presque Isle, Maine, studies business administration and financial economics at the University of Maine at Orono. She plans a career in agribusiness.
New Jersey Recipients
From the Bridgeton, N.J. office territory:
- Anthony Matro, of Hammonton, N.J., will major in agricultural business at Pennsylvania State University. He hopes to manage his family’s fruit and vegetable farm.
- Brittany Specca of Bordentown, N.J., will study agricultural education at Delaware Valley University. She looks forward to connecting students directly to agriculture.
From the Flemington, N.J. office territory:
- Brittany Smith, of Oxford, N.J., will study animal science at Rutgers University. She hopes to own her own veterinarian practice.
New York Recipients
From the Batavia, N.Y. office territory:
- Allison Austin, of Lyndonville, N.Y., studies agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill. She plans to pursue a career as a high school agricultural educator.
- Clara Stilwell, of Albion, N.Y., is majoring in communications at Cornell University. She hopes her career will include advocating the importance of agriculture to youth.
From the Burrville, N.Y. office territory:
- Amanda Bond, of Adams, N.Y., studies agricultural sciences at Cornell University. She is working toward a career as an agricultural educator.
Representing the Claverack, N.Y. office territory:
- Claire Norman, of Pine Plains, N.Y., will major in agricultural science at Cornell University with plans to become an agriculture teacher.
From the Cooperstown, N.Y. office territory:
- Ellie Ainslie, of Little Falls, N.Y., studies animal science at Cornell University. She looks forward to a career in international agriculture.
- Damian Hill, of Harpersfield, N.Y., attends Cornell University’s entrepreneurship program. He hopes to return home to help expand his family’s maple operation.
- Allen Graulich, of Cobleskill, N.Y., will be attending SUNY Cobleskill to major in dairy management, before returning home to his family’s operation.
Representing the Cortland, N.Y. office:
- Justin Depue, of Homer, N.Y., is studying animal science at Cornell University with a goal of working as a herd manager and eventually becoming a partner in a dairy.
- Christina Lonkey, of Ithaca, N.Y., studies veterinary medicine at Cornell University. Her career goal is to become a food animal veterinarian.
From the Geneva, N.Y., office territory:
- Jaimee Frederick, of Clifton Springs, N.Y., studies animal science at Cornell University. Her goal is to diversify her family’s dairy operation.
- Jessica Skellie, of Newark, N.Y., attends Cornell University where she majors in animal science. She plans a career in agribusiness research and consulting.
From the Greenwich, N.Y. office territory:
- Janet Hanehan, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is majoring in animal science at Morrisville State College. She plans a career in marketing agricultural products or services.
From the Mayville, N.Y. office territory:
- Lauren Schwab, of Delevan, N.Y., plans to attend Pennsylvania State University to major in agribusiness management to grow her family’s businesses.
From the Middletown, N.Y. office territory:
- Nicholas Amodio, of White Plains, N.Y., studies business at the University of Rhode Island. He plans to return to his family’s nursery.
- Patrick Coombe, of Grahamsville, N.Y., will study agricultural business at Delaware Valley University. He plans to return to his family’s livestock operation.
From the Potsdam, N.Y. office territory:
- Kathryn Bosley, of Malone, N.Y., will study animal science at SUNY Cobleskill. She plans a career as a large animal veterinarian.
Representing the Riverhead, N.Y. office:
- Stephen Vaiano, of Wantagh, N.Y., plans to study sustainable horticulture, food and farming at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He hopes to become a farm owner.
Additionally, one of this year’s scholarship recipients received the Farm Credit East “Chair Scholarship” for $1,500, which is in addition to the $1,500 Farm Credit East scholarship. This is the second year of this special scholarship, and it was awarded upon a second tier, in-depth review of the applications.
This year’s Chair Scholarship was awarded to Thomas Coene, of Ontario, N.Y. Thomas attends SUNY Cobleskill where he majors in agricultural business management. Through his education, internships and extension involvement, he looks forward to a career as a partner in his family’s fruit operation. Thomas is from Farm Credit East’s Geneva, N.Y., office territory.
The Farm Credit East scholarship program is for college bound students with career aspirations in agriculture, forest products and commercial fishing. Farm Credit East makes a strong commitment to promoting diversity as part of the scholarship program.
To apply for a 2019 scholarship, contact a Farm Credit East branch office or visit FarmCreditEast.com. Applications will be available in January 2019.
–Farm Credit East