HARRISBURG, Pa. — The annual Student Leader Scholarship program is now open for undergraduate students who are pursuing an education in a dairy-related field. Ten $3,000 scholarships are available through a new partnership between the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, the Dairy Excellence Foundation, and Tröegs Independent Brewing for the 2022-23 academic year. The scholarships opened for applications on March 1 and must be submitted online by May 1.
“This annual scholarship program allows us to invest in the passionate, hardworking students who make up the next generation of dairy,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “Thanks to the new partnership between the Dairy Excellence Foundation, PA Dairymen’s Association and Tröegs Independent Brewing, we are collaborating to create innovative learning opportunities and offer financial assistance to students who are committed to future careers in dairy.”
The Student Leader Scholarships are offered annually to provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. Undergraduate students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarships. One scholarship is specifically designated for an incoming freshman.
“With this scholarship program, our goal is to help ease the financial burden for agriculture students, giving them more time to focus on their studies and to make their mark on the dairy industry,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director at the PA Dairymen’s Association.
To qualify for the scholarships, students must demonstrate a commitment to working in the dairy industry. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, interest in a dairy-related career, evidence of leadership, character and integrity, and application compliance.
“I cannot express just how grateful I was to be named a recipient of the Student Leader Scholarship. The scholarship has helped me pay off a portion of my tuition at The Pennsylvania State University. As the cost of college continues to increase, I am able to worry less about paying off school and focus more on class material,” said Katerina Coffman, a 2021 scholarship recipient. “I am humbled to be named a recipient and hope to use the knowledge acquired from my post-secondary endeavors to serve the hardworking American dairy farmer.”
Pennsylvania residents who are full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in a qualifying field of study or high school seniors who are planning to enroll in a qualifying field of study are given consideration for this scholarship.
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. Students employed by the Center for Dairy Excellence as an intern or in another capacity are not eligible to apply during the period in which they are working for the Center.
To submit an online application and learn more about the scholarship opportunities, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/scholarships or contact Michelle Shearer at 570-768-8316 or by email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
–Emily Barge, Center for Dairy Excellence
