National Dairy Shrine announces 2009 scholarship winners

The National Dairy Shrine announces the winners of its scholarships which will be presented at the awards banquet at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. on Thursday, October 1. National Dairy Shrine will provide more than $35,000 of scholarship awards to students at that event. For information about Awards Banquet or ticket reservations, please contact the office of National Dairy Shrine at 920-863-6333 or e-mail at info@dairyshrine.org.

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 $1,500 award, the second a $1,000 award and the other winners receive $500 awards.
The top awardee is Jennifer Rassler from Kempton, Pa. She is 4.0 grade point student at Penn State University majoring in animal science. The second award goes to Aaron Horst of Chambersburg, Pa. He is a dairy science major at Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
Next is David Wilson from Port Royal, Pa. He is an animal science student at Penn State University. Then Andrew Birch from Derby, Vt. He is majoring in animal science at the University of Vermont. Next is Clayton Wood from Littlestown, Pa. He is an animal science major at Cornell University. Next is Julia Hudyncia from Fort Plain, N.Y. She was an animal science major at Cornell University. The next awardee was Katherine Boesch from DeKalb, Ill. She was an animal science major at the University of Illinois. Following is Clint Harre from Nashville, Ill. He was an animal science major form the University of Illinois. The final recognition awardee is Ashley Messing from Bad Axe, Mich. She was a animal science major form Michigan State University.

Kildee Scholarship Awards
Receiving the Kildee Graduate Studies Scholarship is Lora Wittenberg of Fort Collins,Colo.
Jessica Achen of Sauk Centre, Minn., has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the Kildee Undergraduate Studies Scholarship.

NDS/DMI Milk Marketing Scholarships
Londa Johnson, of LaCrescent, Minn. has been awarded the 2009 National Dairy Shrine /DMI Milk Marketing $1,500 Scholarship. Additionally, six other undergraduate students have been awarded $1,000 scholarships and are listed alphabetically. These generous scholarships are made possible by DMI and NDS to encourage students to pursue careers in dairy product marketing.
Londa Johnson is majoring in dairy science with a minor in business and professional communication at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. Jessica Achen, of Sauk Centre, Minn., is an animal science major with a dairy production emphasis at the University of Minnesota. Stephanie Beeman, of Carlisle, Pa., is majoring in agribusiness management at Penn State University. Skylar Ryll, of Royalston, Mass., is majoring in animal science/agribusiness at Cornell University. Charlie Schiller, of Freeport, Minn., is an animal science major (dairy emphasis) at the University of Minnesota. Brandon Thesing, of Winona, Minn., is studying animal science with a dairy industry emphasis at the University of Minnesota. Abby Udermann, of Sartell, Minn., is an animal science (dairy production emphasis) major at the University of Minnesota.

McCullough Scholarships
Each year, two scholarships are awarded by National Dairy Shrine in memory of Marshall E. McCullough, the well-respected nutrition researcher and educator from Georgia. National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce the 2009 McCullough Scholarship Winners - Angela Boesche of DeKalb, Ill. and Kyle Schirm from West Salem, Ohio.

Core Scholarship
Danielle Brown of Dodgeville, Wis., has won the first-ever Maurice Core Scholarship to be awarded at World Dairy Expo by National Dairy Shrine. The $1,000 award is given in honor of Maurice Core, the long-time executive secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Association, and, more recently, the executive director of the National Dairy Shrine.

Iager Scholarship
The Iager Scholarship for $1,000 is awarded annually to a second-year student in a two-year agricultural school to pursue a career in the dairy industry. The recipient this year is Ariel Garland from Northfield, Mass. She is attending SUNY Cobleskill and majoring in dairy cattle management. This scholarship was started by a generous donation from the Charles and Judy Iager family of Fulton, Md.

Klussendorf/McKown Scholarship Winners
Robb Bender of Cleveland, Wis., and Maureen Lee of Johnson Creek, Wis.,have been named the 2009 Dairy Shrine-Klussendorf Association Scholarship Award winners and Matthew Mitchell of LaFollette, Tenn., has been named the first Robert “Whitey” McKown Scholarship winner. These $1,500 scholarships are awarded by the National Dairy Shrine and the Klussendorf Association. They were made possible by generous gifts by the late Klussendorf member, Chris Kampf, numerous friends of Robert “Whitey” McKown, and gifts from fund raisers by the Klussendorf

Maurice Core Fund to be established

National Dairy Shrine has a long and storied 60-year history of awarding scholarships to young people. Last year alone, over $30,000 in awards was given to America’s dairy youth. In order to honor more deserving young people, the National Dairy Shrine is establishing a fund to permanently honor the distinguished career of Maurice Core, the former executive secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Association and recently retired executive director of National Dairy Shrine. As a testament to Core’s accomplishments, he was just selected as the 2009 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year. The Maurice Core Scholarship will be awarded to college freshman who are majoring in dairy science or animal science related fields with long-term interests in working in the dairy industry. This scholarship will be based on leadership abilities, volunteer work, activities, and future plans.

Last fall, National Dairy Shrine Board authorized the Maurice Core fund to be established with a fund-raising goal of $50,000. National Dairy Shrine is pleased to announce that we have met 60 percent of our targeted goal but still need help from other dairy industry enthusiasts to reach the fund-raising goal. Initial response has been so generous, National Dairy Shrine will offer the first Core Scholarship this year.

Those interested in making a donation to the Maurice E. Core Scholarship Fund may send it to National Dairy Shrine, Dr. David Selner, Executive Director, P.O. Box 1, Maribel, WI 54227 or call (920) 863-6333 or e-mail info@dairyshrine.org.

Since National Dairy Shrine is a 501-3C education-based charity, all donations are tax deductible, and your donation will be recognized via letter. Additionally, your contribution will be recognized in National Dairy Shrine’s newsletter The Chronicle. During Maurice Core’s tenure as National Dairy Shrine’s executive director, he most graciously and effectively guided National Dairy Shrine to accomplish the organization’s mission of: (1.) Recording dairy history, (2.) Inspiring future dairy leaders, (3.) Honoring top dairy cattle breeders and pioneers, and (4.) Honoring present dairy pioneers.