Annual Scholarship Program Open for Students Pursuing Careers in Dairy

The PA Dairymen’s Association and Dairy Excellence Foundation Are Offering Twelve $3,000 Scholarships

The annual Student Leader Scholarship program is now open for undergraduate students, including college students and high school seniors, who are pursuing a career in a dairy-related field. Twelve $3,000 scholarships are available through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and the Dairy Excellence Foundation for the 2024-25 academic year. The scholarships opened for applications on March 1 and must be submitted online by May 1.

“With so many students who are passionate and invested in the future of the Pennsylvania dairy industry, this annual scholarship program allows us to support their dreams and their educational endeavors — and makes the financial aspect of furthering their education a little less daunting for them,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “We encourage students who are pursuing a future career in dairy to consider applying for the scholarship this spring.”

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 college students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarships. One scholarship is specifically designated for an incoming freshman.

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.

“The Dairy Excellence Foundation has played an integral role in building my professional portfolio through internship opportunities as well as financing my education. By receiving the Student Leader Scholarship, I am grateful to divert my energy from worrying about paying for school to focusing on my academics. Thank you to the supporters and donors for helping launch me into the future of dairy,” said Katerina Coffman, a 2023 scholarship recipient who attends The Pennsylvania State University.

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.

“As a sixth-generation dairy farmer, it is an honor to have received funds from these organizations. Thanks to their generosity, I can continue my education and family’s involvement in dairy farming. I look forward to being a dairy advocate as I prepare for a future career in the dairy industry,” said Alex Empet, a 2023 scholarship recipient who attends SUNY Cobleskill.

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.

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization that is Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved. Established in 2010, the foundation’s mission is to build and invest in programs that cultivate and empower the next generation of producers, consumers, and advocates for the Pennsylvania dairy industry. Learn more at centerfordairyexcellence.org/our-foundation/.

The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association is the oldest dairy group in Pennsylvania. The Dairymen’s Milkshake is the top-selling food item at the Food Court. The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association has been supporting “Fill a Glass with Hope®” with agriculture partners, Feeding PA, American Dairy Association North East, corporate partners and food banks since 2015. Over the past three years, the PA Dairymen have donated more than $1.4 million to programs including The Calving Corner; agricultural and educational projects; initiatives and scholarships; the Fill A Glass with Hope® fresh milk campaign for neighbors in need; the Choose PA Dairy consumer education and awareness campaign; the PA Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Education Lab that travels to schools; and the PA Dairy Princess and Promotion Program. Their philanthropic efforts build a brighter future for all Pennsylvanians. For more information, visit www.padairymens.com.