Harrisburg – The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania has selected the recipient of the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Student Scholarship for 2016. This $3,000 scholarship was established to support students pursuing undergraduate studies and encourage them to pursue a career specifically in the dairy industry.
Kaylah Gulley of Greenwich Junior-Senior High School in Greenwich, New York was named the recipient of this award in its inaugural year. Gulley, who served as the New York State FFA Treasurer in 2015-2016, grew up on a small dairy farm in Upstate New York and will be studying Agricultural Business Management at The State University of New York at Cobleskill this fall. Upon receiving her Associates degree from SUNY Cobleskill she then plans transfer to Virginia Tech to study Dairy Science.
In the future, Gulley hopes that she can get more youth involved in the dairy industry and sparking their interest in pursuing careers within agriculture by leasing out her own show animals as well as purchasing heifers to award as scholarship calves to deserving youth. She states that she wants to give more youth the same rewarding opportunities that she had growing up that shaped who she is today.
“The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is committed to ensuring that the dairy industry remains prosperous in future years,” said Mary Foote, Dairy Education Programs Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “We are thrilled to have the ability to invest in the next generation of dairy leaders through supporting their undergraduate endeavors. With this being the inaugural year of this scholarship, the recipient of this award showcases just how bright the future of the dairy industry really is.”
To be eligible for this scholarship award, students had to be a graduating senior enrolled in a college or university as well as completed and passed at least one of the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow certification exams and associated course work by the end of the 2015-16 academic year. Selection of the scholarship recipient was also based on academic performance; evidence of leadership, character and integrity while displaying a commitment to working in or promoting the dairy industry after graduation.
Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow is a comprehensive dairy education curriculum designed specifically to prepare high school students to work in the dairy industry. This program was developed with support from the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania to provide dairy business and herd management courses to high school educators and students interested in a dairy production career. More information about the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program can be found at www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com.
Questions regarding the 2016 Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Student Scholarship Program should be referred to Mary Foote, Dairy Education Programs Coordinator with the Center for Dairy Excellence, by phone at 717-346-0849 or via email at [email protected].