National DHIA awards $1,000 scholarships to 9 students

The National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) Scholarship Committee chose nine high school seniors and college students to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Committee members ranked applicants based on scholastic achievements, leadership in school and community activities, and responses to DHI- and career-related questions. To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, applicants must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a National DHIA member.

This year’s National DHIA scholarship recipients are Doreen Dyt, Crows Landing, Calif. (parents: Rich and Jacquie Dyt); Anna Euerle, Litchfield, Minn. (parents: Vaughn and Joan Euerle); Brianna Meyer, Chilton, Wis. (parents: Larry and Jennifer Meyer); Maggie Molitor, St. Cloud, Minn. (parent: Joe Molitor); Holly Niefergold, Lawtons, N.Y. (parents: David and Emily Niefergold); Josephine Sutherland, Flandreau, S.D. (parents: David and Dawn Sutherland); Libby Swatling, Clifton Park, N.Y. (parents: Robert and Heather Swatling); Kelli-Jo VanValkenburgh, Prattsville, N.Y. (parents: Karen VanValkenburgh and the late Walter Havrish); and Laureen Walter, Villard, Minn. (parents: Nathan and Angela Walter).

For the 15^th year, National DHIA awarded a scholarship in memory of Joe Drexler, who worked for NorthStar Cooperative DHI Services (now known as CentralStar Cooperative Inc. – DHI Services). Brianna Meyer is this year’s recipient. NorthStar members and employees, friends and family contributed nearly $10,000 to establish this scholarship fund.

Money generated from the annual National DHIA Scholarship Auction primarily funds the organization’s scholarship program. Investments and donations also help build the fund. Support the National DHIA Scholarship Program by donating $15 or more and receive a copy of The Big Book of Moo by Leigh Rubin. The Big Book of Moo features nearly 300 cow-centric cartoons. To order, e-mail BookOfMoo@dhia.org. To donate to the National DHIA Scholarship Fund, contact Leslie Thoman at 608-848-6455 ext. 108 or lthoman@dhia.org.

On July 1, 2023, the 2024 National DHIA Scholarship application will be posted on the National DHIA website at: www.dhia.org/scholarship.asp. Applications are due Oct. 31, 2023.

National Dairy Herd Information Association, a trade association for the dairy records industry, serves the best interests of its members and the dairy industry by maintaining the integrity of dairy records and advancing dairy information systems.