Three Michigan State University (MSU) students have been awarded the Jack and Betty Barnes Scholarship from the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation for the 2015-16 academic year. Silas Bonczyk, food science senior from West Branch, Anne Meyers, animal science senior from Clawson, and Louise Vanderploeg, animal science senior from Ithaca, each received the $1,000 scholarship earmarked towards completing an international study experience. The students were selected as recipients of the scholarship based on their cumulative academic achievements and involvement in extracurricular activities.
The scholarship is named after the late Jack and Betty Barnes. Jack Barnes was employed with the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) for 39 years and served 26 of those years as general manager.Bonczyk, the son of Janice Heuer and Andrew Bonczyk, enrolled in the "Ecology of the Mountains" study abroad program in India during summer 2015. While at MSU, Bonczyk has worked in the MSU dairy processing plant for three years and participated on the MSU dairy product evaluation team. His future career aspirations include cheese-making and dairy sensory studies.
Meyers is the daughter of Renee LeVasseur and James Meyers. She aspires to become a production animal veterinary. Meyers completed a 10-day study abroad program to Vietnam in March 2015 called "Emerging Issues and Sustainability in International Agriculture in Vietnam." While at MSU, she has been involved in the Animal Science Undergraduate Research Student Association, the International Relations Organization and the MSU Model United Nations. She received the American Society of Animal Science Scholastic Achievement Award in June 2013.
Vanderploeg, the daughter of Klaas and Mares Vanderploeg, completed a one-month study abroad trip to South Africa in 2015. At MSU, she is a member of the MSU Dairy Club and competed on the MSU collegiate dairy cattle judging team in 2015. Vanderploeg completed a lab technician internship with NorthStar Cooperative and has worked in the MSU Mastitis Laboratory.The Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation awarded $95,000 in scholarships to 33 MSU students pursuing dairy industry-related programs of study for the 2015-16 academic year.
For information on making contributions to honor members of the dairy industry or to support student scholarships, please contact the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources External Relations at 517-355-0284. To learn more about the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation, contact Dr. Miriam Weber Nielsen; msw@msu.edu in the MSU Department of Animal Science at 517-432-5443.
2.25.2016
