Congratulations to the 2022 Minnesota 4-H scholarship recipients! These 15 outstanding 4-H youth and alumni across Minnesota stood out among approximately 97 applications.
Kern Scholarship
Three $1,500 scholarships for entering freshmen attending one of the University of Minnesota campuses or an institution within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (formerly known as MnSCU) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better to qualify. Selected recipients may reapply annually, up to three times.
Recipients
- Bennet Capelle, Crow Wing County – Bennet has been an active member of the Nisswa Black Bear 4-H Club. He has served as his club’s vice president and treasurer and was secretary of the Crow Wing County 4-H Federation. He has taken his leadership role a step further by participating in the Crow Wing County 4-H Ambassador program and attending youth development trainings offered through the University of Minnesota Extension program. He has been an active member of numerous planning committees through his 4-H career. Bennet has received the Comet Award for emerging leadership from the Crow Wing County 4-H Federation and various awards at club level for his participation. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to study engineering. His goal is to design technology through his job that will positively benefit people in medical need.
- Grace Moeller, Blue Earth County – Grace is heavily involved in multiple leadership roles in Blue Earth County 4-H as a club leader, several county level roles including current Federation president, and a Blue Earth County and Minnesota 4-H Pollinator Ambassador. In the past two years, she has stepped into the role of a 4-H Teen Pollinator Ambassador. She has always been passionate about the environment. She has presented about climate change and the importance of pollinators at several conferences to youth and adults, including to the Minnesota Department of Education, as well as participated in a national radio media tour, in partnership with National 4-H, to promote the importance of pollinators and youth voice. Grace plans to attend Minnesota State University- Mankato to pursue a College of Education degree. After graduating college, she plans to pursue her Juris Doctorate degree in the field of International Law to continue advocating for better environmental and humanitarian standards in the fast fashion industry.
- Katherine Kraemer, Stearns County – Katherine has been in 4-H for over 12 years. She is very involved with the fair and has brought multiple projects to both the Stearns County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair. The most recent of which includes cake and cookie decorating, veterinary sciences, and rabbit showmanship and judging. She has been very helpful with other members that are new to animal showing, specifically rabbits. She has held multiple offices with the club and is currently the president. She plans to attend University of Minnesota - Morris, to pursue her medical degree. After graduating college, she intends to take up a job within the community of Stearns County, and allocate her time educating others in the matter of their physiology. She may continue past her medical degree to gain experience in more specialized fields of medicine such as orthopedic hand surgery or obstetrics and gynecology.
- Victoria Shafer, Hennepin County
Two one-time $1,000 scholarships awarded annually to either an entering accepted freshman or a continuing sophomore, based on leadership experiences in 4-H, school and community. Awarded funds must be applied toward educational expenses at an accredited college or university within the United States of America.
Recipients
- Abigail Jopp, Stearns County – Abigail has participated in many activities and events offered through the 4-H program where she is an active member of the Cold Spring Flyers 4-H Club. Over 10 years in the Stearns County 4-H program, she has held many leadership positions such as vice-president, treasurer, and reporter. She has dedicated her life of developing her passions around leadership and community service. Her agriculture background has influenced every aspect of her life, and will continue in college and her career. She plans to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison, with a major in engineering mechanics, in the aerospace engineering field. She wants to pursue an aerospace engineering career with an agricultural background. Her dream is to obtain a career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration developing satellites to understand the Earth and space.
- Natalie Beckendorf, Renville County – Natalie has been an active member of 4-H for the last 13 years. She has participated in many different project areas, including robotics, aerospace, agronomy, etc. She has earned many champion ribbons and many state fair trips. In addition, she has participated in regional events such as BLU and YELLO, and has been a 4-H regional camp counselor for the past four years. She has served in her local 4-H club as treasure, secretary, and vice president. She became Renville County Leader’s Council officer. She is also an active county Ambassador and past 4-H Minnesota State Ambassador. She will attend South Dakota State University, with a major in agricultural communications and marketing, and a minor in animal science. Her career goal is to work closely with the public through agriculture literacy and social media, specifically in a livestock company to share and positively promote agriculture.
- Haley Van Nurden, Kandiyohi County
Seven one-time $1,000 scholarships awarded to present or former Minnesota 4-H members who will be entering their freshman year at a Minnesota college or university, based on scholastic achievements, community and 4-H involvement, leadership roles, and positions.
Recipients
- Cecilia Sanborn, Kanabec County – Cecilia has been a member of the local 4-H program for the past seven years. She has been involved in so many activities such as sports, band and choir, and has been named to the National Honors Society the last couple of years. She was recently named as the senior class vice president and has served on other committees and clubs such as Own It and the Yearbook. She has also volunteered for several organizations such as local food pantry and school blood drives. She is involved in her church, 4-H club, and volunteers in other areas such as showing sheep, reading to elementary students, and lifeguarding for physical education classes. She plans to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth, with a major in psychology. Her goal is to become a psychologist or therapist to help people who are struggling with their mental health.
- Dyllon Lohman, Olmsted County – Dyllon has been an active member of the High Forest Chippewa Champions Club, in Olmsted County, for 10 years. She has served as the club reporter, historian, secretary, vice president, and president. She is also active with the Olmsted County Executive Council as youth treasurer. She is the youth representative for the Olmsted County llama/alpaca project development committee. She is also serving as a youth representative for the state llama/alpaca show committee. She is involved with community interest through 4-H by working with the lease program kids on her parents’ alpaca farm. She has also participated in many extracurricular activities, including band, choir, church youth group, cross country, track and field, etc. She will attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, with a major in history and business. Her biggest goal for the future is to work with youth and educate them in any way she can.
- Grant Pribyl, Nicollet County – Grant has been an active member of the North Kato Explorers 4-H Club in Nicollet County. He has excelled at showcasing and many projects. He strongly focuses in the areas of geology, engineering, piano, breeding lilies, and cats. He has been involved in community and volunteer projects such as the Rake the Town event, Kiwanis Holiday Lights project, flowers, roadside clean-up and helping to pack food for the hungry. He also serves on the North Star Lily Society Board. He has received several awards including Herdsmanship Award, 4-H Record Book Awards, 4-H Wildlife Bowl and blue ribbons for geology exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair. Grant plans to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato, with a major in geology. His ultimate goal is to become a geologist specializing in studying damage mitigation from natural hazards, and hydrology.
- Jazlynn Folland, Kittson County – Jazlynn has been an active member of the Halma Ideal 4-H Club for 13 years. She has been elected to several leadership roles in her 4-H career, including president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. She is a member of the Kittson County Leaders’ Council. She is also active as a Kittson County 4-H Ambassador. She was a recipient of the 2021 Red River Valley Development 4-H Leadership Award and received the 2021 4-H Key Award in recognition of her leadership in 4-H. She has volunteered with project days and day camps as well as other club activities. She is also very active in extracurriculars and other activities besides 4-H. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a junior coach with the Hallock Figure Skating Club, and participated in the school robotics program. She was also selected as the 2020 Minnesota Teen Miss Agriculture USA. Jazlynn will attend University of Minnesota - Crookston, with a major in animal science. She wants to become a veterinarian to provide a needed service in her community, and to mentor youth in her community to pursue their career options in agriculture.
- Kassidy Kalka, Washington County – Kassidy has been an active member of the Wranglers 4-H Club in Washington County. She has served in multiple club officer roles such as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. On the county level, she currently serves as secretary of the county 4-H Federation, and has also served as a county Ambassador the past few years. Kassidy participates and excels in a variety of project areas in 4-H, but her passion lies in the horse Projects and activities, as well as serving on the county horse project development committee. She won the highly prestigious Dan Patch Award for the state of Minnesota, and also won the Horse Project Hippology State Competition and the 4-H Horse Bowl State Competition. She plans to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston, with a major in animal science/equine science - pre-vet, and minor in business. Her goal is to become a large animal veterinarian.
- Olivia Nienaber, Chisago County – Olivia has been active in the local 4-H club in Chisago County for over 12 years. She has been responsible for many activities at the club and county level, including serving as chair of committees, and being the treasurer of her club. She has shown exemplary service and leadership within the 4-H program throughout her 4-H career. She has taught several workshops for younger 4-H’ers at both the club and county level, and has been a solid mentor to younger 4-H’ers. Olivia has strong convictions about making a difference in the environment. She founded her 4-H OWLS (Outdoor Wilderness Leadership and Service) capstone project called “Improving the Environment for Early-Migrating Birds.” Olivia will attend Bethel University, St. Paul, with a double major in art and environmental science, and a minor in photojournalism. She hopes to be a founder and director of a non-profit that offers programs to connect artists and people with the environment. She also plans to continue to volunteer and serve her community in 4-H, a Lions Club, and the Master Gardener program.
- Victoria Shafer, Wright County – Victoria has been an active member in the Wright County 4-H program. She has held various offices in 4-H, including Wright County Ambassador, club president, and Minnesota State 4-H Ambassador. She has also engaged in expanding her understanding of diverse identities and learning how to be an ally for social justice. She has taken part in developing two pilot series - “Let’s Talk about Race," and “Let’s Talk about Gender Identity," and delivered them to youth across the state. At school, she created a club called INDECO (Inclusive, Neutral, Dynamic Education on Culture Online). This year she was selected to attend a national institute to design and carry out an equity-building program for Minnesota 4-H. She is currently planning to implement this project at the 2022 YELLO state leadership conference. Victoria plans to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth, with a major in accounting. After graduation, she wants to pursue a law degree. Her career goal is to become a politician, and to make policy changes to make our world a better place, or to educate people about inequities in our world.
- Olivia Huck, Polk County
A one-time $1,250 scholarship to be used toward education expenses at a post-secondary institution in the United States. Applicants must intend to pursue a degree in agriculture, with a preference for students pursuing a degree in agronomy, soil science, horticulture, plant science, Ag economics, agribusiness or a closely related field.
Recipient
- Makayla Moline, Nicollet County – Makayla has been a member of the local 4-H club in Nicollet County where she has been the treasurer for 7 years. She has also been a part of the Nicollet County 4-H Federation as secretary, vice president, and president. She was the youth representative for the County Extension Committee. She is also a Nicollet County Ambassador, a Nicollet County Pork Ambassador and a State Agriculture Ambassador. In addition to showcasing and excelling at her personal livestock and general projects, Makayla holds leadership positions at all levels of the program. She is a go-to senior youth leader for many county wide program initiatives. This year she was awarded the Nicollet County Outstanding Youth 4-H Leader. She will attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, with a major in pre-vet, animal science. After graduating college, she plans to become a large animal veterinarian.
- Haley Mouser, Beltrami County
A one-time $500 scholarship for a present or former Olmsted County 4-H’er who will be entering their freshman year of college, based on scholastic achievements, community and 4-H involvement, leadership roles, and positions.
Recipient
- Dyllon Lohmann, Olmsted County – Dyllon has been an active member of the High Forest Chippewa Champions Club in Olmsted County for 10 years. She has served as the club reporter, historian, secretary, vice president, and president. She is also active with the Olmsted County Executive Council as youth treasurer. She is the youth representative for the Olmsted County llama/alpaca project development committee. She is also serving as a youth representative for the state llama/alpaca show committee. She is involved with community interest through 4-H by working with the lease program kids on her parents’ alpaca farm. She has also participated in many extracurricular activities, including band, choir, church youth group, cross country, track and field, etc. She will attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, with a major in history, business. Her biggest goal for the future is to work with youth and educate them in any way she can.
4-H Adult Scholarship
A one-time $3,000 scholarships for 4-H alumni or volunteers who have been a 4-H member for a minimum of 5 years and/or a minimum of 2-year volunteer, and are/will be 30 years old or older by January 1 of the calendar year, for pursuing training or education with the purpose of job re-entry or transition.
Recipient
- Julie Hellendrung, Brown County – Julie was a 4-H alum in Brown County. She has been volunteering as a leader of the Golden Rose Riders 4-H Club and a horse project superintendent for the local 4-H program. Julie has supported county and state-wide 4-H programs from nearly every angle. Over 20 years, Julie has cultivated community involvement and service through leading by example as a committee member, donor, coach, leader and more. She has been working as a 911 dispatcher for the past 15 years. She continues her education by enrolling at South Central College in Mankato to earn certificates and degrees in AAS - Administrative Office Specialist or AS in Administrative Office Management. The new skills that she learns will benefit her in a re-education process, and a plan to re-enter a different work field.
Extension Development and Minnesota 4-H is committed to continuing development efforts for college-bound 4-H youth and alumni scholarships. If you know of a person or business who might sponsor a scholarship, please contact Jane Johnson, Chief Development Officer of Extension Development and Minnesota 4-H, at 612-626-3717 or johns350@umn.edu.
Related topics: YD News 4-H Featured news
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