The National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce the winners of their scholarships for 2014. National Dairy Shrine will provide more than $50,000 of scholarships and awards to students at their annual banquet on Thursday October 2 in Madison, Wisconsin.

NDS Student Recognition Awards

The NDS student recognition program recognizes graduating seniors planning a career related to the dairy industry who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, academic ability, and a sincere interest in dairy cattle. Each university is allowed to nominate up to two candidates for this recognition in any given year. The highest winner receives a $2000 award, the second a $1500 award and the other winners receive $1000 awards.

The top award winner is Erin Daninger from Forest Lake, Minnesota. Erin has had internships with the American Farm Bureau and the Winfield company, had leadership roles in Minnesota FFA and been very active in the Gopher Dairy Club. She will begin her career as an agricultural education instructor this fall. The second award goes to Roxanne Seltzer of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. She is a Dairy Science and Communication major at Virginia Tech. She has been very active in many dairy related activities at Virginia Tech and has held leadership roles in the Virginia Tech Dairy Club.

Next is Jessica Hammerand from Epworth, Iowa, who is pursuing a double major in Dairy Science and Biology at Iowa State University. Following next is Taylor Pires of Los Banos, California, who is majoring in Dairy Science at California Polytechnic State University. Next is Emilie Strand, of Cazadero, California, who is an Animal Science major at Cornell University. Following is Tyler Otte from Randolph, Minnesota, who has a major in Animal Science-Dairy Production Emphasis at the University of Minnesota. The final recognition awarded is Brandon Scharping from West Salem, Wisconsin, who has a major in Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Kildee Scholarship Awards

Receiving the Kildee Graduate Studies Scholarship is Hayden Bush of Tillamook, Oregon. Hayden is attending Oregon State University. He is an outstanding student and has held numerous leadership roles on the campus of Oregon State. He has plans to get a Masters Degree in Agriculture Education and pursue his passion for the dairy industry and education.

Jessica Sentelle of Jefferson, Maryland, has been selected as this year's recipient of the Kildee Undergraduate Studies Scholarship. She is currently attending Virginia Tech, majoring in Dairy Science & Agribusiness Management.

NDS/DMI Milk & Dairy Products Scholarship

Robert Sexton, of Millville, Minnesota has been awarded the NDS / DMI Milk & Dairy Products top scholarship of $1500. Robert is an Agricultural and Food Business Management major at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, five other undergraduate students have been awarded $1000 scholarships. These generous scholarships are made possible by Dairy Management Inc. and NDS to encourage students to pursue careers in dairy product or milk marketing, dairy product development and/or quality control or similar roles in the dairy & food industries.

Christine Reitsma is an Applied Economics and Agriculture Education – Leadership & Communication major at the University of Minnesota. Maggie Jennissen of Brooten, Minnesota is an Applied Economics and Psychology major at the University of Minnesota. Hillary Hall, of Marysville, Ohio is a Food Science and Technology major at The Ohio State University. Emily Plapp of Malta, Illinois, is a Food Science major at Kansas State University. Sarah Kappel from Fort Collins, Colorado, is attending Colorado State University as an Animal Science/Pre-Vet major.

NDS/DMI Education & Communication Scholarships

Rebecca Groos, of Howard Lake, Minnesota has been awarded the NDS / DMI Education & Communication top scholarship of $1500. Rebecca is an Agricultural Education-Leadership & Communications major with minors in Mass Communications and Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, seven other undergraduate students have been awarded $1000 scholarships. These generous scholarships are made possible by Dairy Management Inc. and NDS to encourage students to pursue education or communication careers in the dairy product industry or related food industries. Major areas include Marketing, Education, Food Science, Nutrition (Human), Public Relations, Promotion, Social Media and Communications.

Hayley Potts is a Food Science & Technology Science Option major at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Katie Schmitt of Rice, Minnesota, is attending the University of Minnesota and majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Communications. Mariah Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, is majoring in Dairy Science and Public Service & Administration in Agriculture at Iowa State University. Abby Mills of Lake City, Minnesota, is an Animal Science – Dairy Production major at the University of Minnesota. Margaret Stiles of Lakeville, Minnesota, is majoring in Dairy Production and Speech Communication at South Dakota State University. Emily Selner of Denmark, Wisconsin, is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and majoring in Life Sciences Communication and Ag & Applied Economics. Heather Hunt of Orange, Maine, is majoring in Animal Science at Cornell University.

Junior Merit Scholarships

The National Dairy Shrine Junior Merit Scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue careers in the dairy industry or related occupations. Michael Schmitt, of Rice, Minnesota has been awarded the top scholarship of $1500. Michael is an Animal Science-Dairy Production major with a minor in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, five other undergraduate students have been awarded $1000 scholarships.

Amanda Moretti of Petaluma, California, is attending Cornell University and majoring in Animal Science. Amy McBirney of Morgan Hill, California is majoring in Dairy Science, Pre-Veterinary at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. Chelsey Johnson of Heron Lake, Minnesota, is Dairy Production and Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership major at South Dakota State University. Allison Culp of Nappanee, Indiana, is an Animal Sciences/Pre-Vet major and Farm Management minor at Purdue University. Andrea Smaciarz of Raymond, Washington, attends Oregon State University and majors in Animal Sciences and Agricultural Business Management.

Sophomore Merit Scholarships

The National Dairy Shrine Sophomore Merit Scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue careers in the dairy industry or related occupations. Bethany Dado of Amery, Wisconsin has been awarded the top scholarship of $1500. Bethany is double majoring in Dairy Science and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Additionally, three other undergraduate students have been awarded $1000 scholarships.

Mary Liebenstein of Dundas, Minnesota, attends the University of Minnesota and majors in Animal Science – Pre-Veterinary Medicine with a minor in Spanish. Shannon Rodeffer of Snohomish, Washington is majoring in Dairy Science at Iowa State University. Colleen Smith of Pine Plains, New York is majoring in Animal Science with a Dairy Concentration at Cornell University.

Maurice Core Scholarship

These $1000 scholarships are given in honor of Maurice Core, the long-time Executive Secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Association, and former Executive Director of the National Dairy Shrine. The funds for this award were donated by the friends of Maurice Core. The Core Scholarships are given to freshman status students working toward a degree in dairy or animal science related majors.

Receiving Maurice Core Scholarships are Amber Gabel of Newport, Pennsylvania, who is a student at Pennsylvania State University. Next is Sydney Endres from Lodi, Wisconsin, who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The final recipient is Johanna Knorr from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, who is attending the University of Minnesota. All of these college freshmen have been excellent students and very active in campus activities.

Iager Scholarship

The Iager Scholarship for $1000 is awarded annually to students in a two year agricultural school pursuing a career in the dairy industry. It is based on academic standing, leadership ability, interest in the dairy industry and plans for the future. This scholarship was started with a generous donation from the Charles and Judy Iager family of Fulton, Maryland.

The two recipients this year are; Derrek Kamphuis of Brandon, Wisconsin, who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course and Allison Pung of Portland, Michigan, who is attending the Michigan State University Institute of Ag Technology majoring in Dairy Management. Both are good students with definite plans for a future in the dairy industry.

McCullough Scholarships

Each year, two scholarships are awarded by National Dairy Shrine in memory of Dr. Marshall E. McCullough, the well-respected nutrition researcher and educator from Georgia. Eligible students must be entering their freshmen year of college and plan to major in dairy science/ agricultural journalism or communications with a dairy emphasis. National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce this year's McCullough Scholarship Winners are Gabriella Sorg of Hastings, Minnesota, and Kristin Broege of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Gabriella Sorg will receive the $2000 top scholarship to be used towards her continued education at the University of Minnesota as an Animal Science - Business & Industry Communications major.

Kristin Broege will receive a $1500 scholarship to be used towards her pursuit of a Life Sciences Communication / Dairy Science degree at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

The annual National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, Thursday October 2nd. For more information about the students being recognized by National Dairy Shrine or tickets for the awards Banquet, contact the NDS office at info@dairyshrine.org. Information on National Dairy Shrine membership or other activities is also available on our website at www.dairyshrine.org. Dairy enthusiasts are encouraged to become a part of the most important dairy organization that is helping to honor our dairy heritage, inspire future dairy leaders, and promote the dairy industry.
Return to Industry Buzz.


7.1.2014