The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

The National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce the recipients of the NDS / Dairy Management Inc Education & Communication Scholarships for 2020. These generous scholarships 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.

Nicole Guise of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania has been awarded the NDS / DMI Education & Communication top scholarship of $1500. Nicole is an Agricultural & Extension Education major at Penn State University. Nicole has been active in the Penn State Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association. Nicole is a Penn State Schreyer Honors Scholar, a member of the Coaly Honors Society, Gamma Sigma Delta and Alpha Tau Alpha. Nicole plans on becoming a dairy educator. She wants to take the positive experiences and mentor relationships she had and pass on those attributes to future generations.


Additionally, three other undergraduate students have been awarded $1000 scholarships. They are,


Sarah Thomas of Pittsboro, North Carolina who is attending Virginia Tech majoring in Dairy Science. Sarah is very active in campus organizations at Virginia Tech, being Vice President of the Dairy Science Club, President of Sigma Alpha and a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador. In 2018, Sarah was the High Individual at the PA. All American Judging contest and was named an All-American awardee at the National Intercollegiate Judging Contest. In 2019 Sarah served as the Hoard’s Dairyman summer intern and this year she has an internship with Cargill. In the future, Sarah would like to be a communications specialist for a dairy company or working specifically with dairy youth.


Kathryn Gardner of Fayetteville, Arkansas, who is attending the University of Arkansas double majoring in Agricultural Communications and Agribusiness Marketing. Kathryn has served as an Associated Student Government Senator for 2 terms, is active in the Razorback Foundation and Leadership Academy, Arkansas FFA, and the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. Kathryn is a member of the National 4-H conference Leadership team and was selected as one of 20 nation-wide students to attend a Public Policy and International Affairs Workshop at Georgetown. She had internships with the USDA Pathfinders Program and an internship with the White House Communications Office. Ms. Gardner’s career goals are to obtain an advanced degree in Strategic Communications and connecting public relations, policy, and legislative affairs while continuing to be an advocate for agriculture.


Robert Marchy of Ceres, California, who is attending Oklahoma State University majoring in Agricultural Communications. Robert has served as the Student Government Association as a Senator and a committee Vice Chair and currently serves as Vice President of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He has also been active in Collegiate Farm Bureau, Junior Brown Swiss Association, and the Junior Holstein Association. He proudly served as the California State FFA Sentinel in 2018. Mr. Marchy would like to become a marketing director for an agricultural company.


Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is the nonprofit domestic and international planning and management organization responsible for increasing demand for dairy products and ingredients on behalf of dairy producers and importers. DMI manages the American Dairy Association® and National Dairy Council®. DMI has also established affiliate organizations, including the U.S. Dairy Export Council®, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® and the Dairy Research Institute®. For more information, please visit www.dairy.org


For more information about the students being recognized by National Dairy Shrine or details about a future NDS Awards Banquet, contact the NDS office at info@dairyshrine.org. Additional information on National Dairy Shrine membership or other activities is also available at www.dairyshrine.org. Dairy enthusiasts are encouraged to become a part of the most important dairy organization helping to inspire future dairy leaders, honor current or past dairy leaders and preserve dairy industry history.