Financial Assistance for Outstanding Students
Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow offers two $3,000 scholarships to incoming undergraduate students who have completed and passed the Introductory to Dairy course and at least one of the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow certification exams and associated course work by June 1, 2025.
The purpose of these scholarships is to provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in academic programs that may support the dairy industry.
To Be Eligible, Students Must:
- Be a graduating high school senior enrolled in a college or university beginning in the fall following graduation.
- Completed and passed the Introductory to Dairy course and exam.
- Completed and passed at least one of the other DLT courses and exams.
To Apply, Students Must:
- Complete the online DLT Student Scholarship Application.
- Submit a letter of recommendation from their agriculture educator to Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
- Submit a recent and accurate school transcript to Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
- Submit a photo of themselves to Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
Selection of the scholarship winners will be based on the completed application within the following criteria: academic performance; evidence of leadership, character, and integrity; application compliance and commitment to working in or promoting the dairy industry after graduation. There is no GPA requirement. However, a student’s GPA is taken into consideration within the academic performance category.
Applications are now being accepted.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
If you have any questions about the application, please feel free to contact Michelle Shearer by phone at 570-768-8316 or via email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
Congratulations to the 2024 Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to this year’s Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Student Scholarship recipients! Emily Hornberger of Selinsgrove Area High School in Pennsylvania and Ava Kaskela of West Chester East High School in Pennsylvania were each recently awarded $3,000 scholarships to support their academic studies in dairy-related fields at a college or university this fall. Emily and Ava were selected based on their academic performance, evidence of leadership, character and integrity, and their commitment to pursuing a future career in dairy.
Emily Hornberger
Emily Hornberger is a freshman studying animal science at the Pennsylvania State University. She plans to continue her studies in Veterinary School.
The Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Program gave Emily the opportunity to learn about dairy cattle which she did not previously have knowledge. As she progressed through the lessons and courses, Emily found herself changing her future career aspirations. “I thought that I would do small animal medicine because I have extensive experience with dogs and cats, but now I am starting to question that because of my new knowledge of large animals like dairy cows. Overall, the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program has helped me learn more about dairy cows and has shaped some of my future plans,” Emily said. Her goal after college is to be a veterinarian of both small and large animals or solely large animals.
“This scholarship means the world to me! This donation towards not only my education, but also my future, is crucial in my future aspiration of becoming a veterinarian. I will be forever thankful for the Dairy Excellence Foundation and its generosity,” said Emily.
Ava Kaskela
Ava Kaskela is a freshman studying animal science at the University of Delaware. While Ava did not grow up on a dairy farm, she became involved in 4-H at age nine and started showing dairy cattle through the lease program.
Ava completed the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow courses on her own with a self-paced student account. “The Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program has impacted my perspective on the dairy industry by showing me how many opportunities there are available to me within the dairy industry. Completing the educational courses available through Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow has solidified my interest in becoming a livestock nutritionist and has introduced some of the resources available to me. Even though I am closely involved in the dairy industry, Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow has helped me make connections and learn aspects of the dairy industry more in depth,” Ava said. She hopes to become a Livestock Nutritionist after earning her degree as well as continue to grow her dairy herd.
“Being awarded this scholarship is a great honor, and I am extremely blessed and grateful to be a recipient. It has been an amazing experience being part of a program that is such a strong support for the dairy industry’s youth. This scholarship will aid me in furthering my agriculture education, and being able to give back to the industry that has given so much to me. Thank you!,” Ava said.
Feel free to contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org with any questions.
2025 Scholarship Applications are being accepted from March 1 – June 1, 2025.