Since National Dairy Shrine (NDS) began making its mark on the dairy industry in 1949, it has also established an impressive number of scholarship opportunities for students. Currently, the scholarship recognition awards total over $40,000 to assist students each year.
Whether you’re interested in dairy products, marketing, communication, production, furthering your education past an undergraduate career, or more, there is a National Dairy Shrine scholarship waiting for you to apply.
Nothing you can’t gain
One of my most impactful professors at Virginia Tech, Dave Winston, once explained scholarship applications to me this way: “Let’s say you spend three hours compiling the required materials for a $1,500 scholarship. There is nowhere else in this world you could make $500 like that as a student.”
That idea has resonated with me ever since. What’s even more special when going for dairy-specific scholarships is the connections you make by just simply applying.
I’ll be honest. I’ve had years where I have been fortunate to have been selected as an NDS scholarship recipient, but there’s also been times where I haven’t received the ones that I applied for, too. Then I remember that there are dairy leaders reading these applications, and they just might recall reading mine one day down the road.
Another perk is attending the NDS Scholarship Banquet held each year at World Dairy Expo if chosen as a recipient! There is no better time to greet and make contacts for your dairy future than meeting with those sponsors and individuals that believed in you for that opportunity.
History and impact
Although students are encouraged to apply for any and all scholarships they qualify for, I especially encourage them to continue to be a part of the strong history between dairy students and National Dairy Shrine.
Many former scholarship recipients are also active as lifetime NDS members to cultivate the robust past into a prominent future. Believe in yourself and know your worth when applying for these scholarships. This one step could spark something for your future!
Sarah Thomas grew up in Pittsboro, N.C., showing and raising dairy heifers. Thomas attends Virginia Tech, majoring in dairy science with minors in agricultural economics, communication, and Spanish. On campus, she’s involved with Dairy Club, Sigma Alpha, and has been a member of the Virginia Tech dairy judging team. Thomas was the 2019 Hoard’s Dairyman summer editorial intern.
