New York State 4-H Foundation

Opportunity Scholarship Program

The NYS 4-H Foundation believes in the need to provide dedicated, hardworking youth an opportunity to pursue their dreams of obtaining an advanced degree and distinguishing themselves in productive careers that will provide benefits to society.

2011 Scholarship Winners

We are pleased to announce the eight 4-H Foundation Opportunity Scholarship winners for 2011-2012. Seven  4-H’ers will receive $1,000 scholarships and one 4-H’er will receive a $3,000 scholarship.  Congratulations to the recipients and to all the outstanding 4-H members who applied this year.

The 2011 scholarship recipients are:

• Katherine DeWitt, Ulster County
• Erica Freeman, Steuben County
• Miranda Hughes, Saratoga County
• Andrew Kittleson, Wayne County
• Kathryn Lawson, Ontario County
• Courtney Luckman, Niagara County
• Rebecca Smith, Oswego County
• Elizabeth Spoth, Erie County

(Bios on each recipient are below.)

Recipients attended a reception and award ceremony at Cornell University on June 28.  They were presented certificates by Foundation Board Chair, Tom Facer, and introduced at the opening ceremony of Career Explorations where more than 500 4-H’ers from across the state applauded their accomplishments.

The NY State 4-H Foundation Opportunity Scholarships are awarded annually. 

Interested in Applying?

The NYS 4-H Foundation and generous sponsors are pleased to provide scholarships to members for their accomplishments as a result of 4-H experiences, and to support future educational goals.

Important Dates

July 1, 2011	Scholarship applications available
February 15, 2012	Scholarship applications must be sent to the NYS  4-H Foundation Office (via mail or email) with a postmark or date stamp no later than February 15, 2012.
June/July	Announcement of Scholarship recipients at the 4-H Career Explorations Program


Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant must be eligible for 4-H enrollment. Youth who have reached their nineteenth birthday before January 1, 2012 are not eligible to apply for scholarships.
• Applicant must have been a 4-H member in New York State, or participated in a Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program for at least one year.
• Applicant must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited university, college or technical school.
• Applicant must have a current grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale unless otherwise stated for specific scholarships.

Scholarship Application procedures. Download the following form and follow the instructions carefully.

Scholarship Application 2012

Applications can be sent electronically as an attached file to esearle@nys4hfoundation.org or mailed to NYS 4-H Foundation, 248 Grant Ave., Suite II-A, Auburn, NY 13021. The application and all required materials are to be postmarked or date-stamped NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 15, 2012. Notification of scholarship awards will be made in June.

Distribution procedures.

Awards will be distributed upon completion of the first semester of enrollment at the university, college or technical school. Prior to receiving the scholarship award, recipients will need to provide the NYS 4-H Foundation office:

• A collegiate or technical school academic transcript for the completed academic term showing a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or academic good standing on another scale.
• A copy of current term fee slip or other document that confirms continued enrollment at the university, college or technical school.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated personal growth and development through 4-H projects and activities
• Held leadership roles in 4-H and other organizations
• Active in community or public service activities
• Sense of direction in future educational goals
• Academic record

Bios of all the 2011 Scholarship Recipients are below:

Katherine DeWitt, Ulster County

Katherine is a 10-year 4-H member from Ulster County.   She has held numerous leadership roles in several different 4-H Clubs, ranging from cattle and dairy to poultry.  She has also participated in dog shows, and volunteered with her therapy dog at area nursing homes and elementary schools.  Katherine grew up on a dairy farm.  She has shown dairy cows successfully and received numerous awards at both the county and state level.     She was also selected as the Ulster County Dairy Princess by the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council.  Katherine has promoted the dairy industry for many years through her various 4-H projects, especially public presentations, and now she officially serves as Ulster County Dairy Ambassador.  Katherine has also had a wide range of experiences outside of 4-H, including filling many leadership roles, such as Secretary of the National Honor Society and Captain of the Varsity Cross-Country Team.  Katherine’s many accomplishments and experiences with 4-H have prepared her well for her future.  Now her goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian is one step closer, as she has been accepted into the Animal Science program at Cornell University.   

Erica Freeman, Steuben County

Erica is an 8-year 4-H member from Steuben County.  Throughout 4-H, Erica has focused much of her time in the areas of equestrian arts and fine arts and crafts.  While riding horses has always been a hobby for Erica, she has honed her skills as a competitor through 4-H Quizbowl matches and horse shows.  As the Quizbowl Team Captain, she led her team to participate in the Eastern National competition in Kentucky.  She also led her Hippology team as top senior individual at both regional and state levels.  Erica’s community service includes maintaining the county fairgrounds, raising money for cystic fibrosis with her 4-H club, and pursuing community service projects through her school’s National Honor Society.   Erica’s art awards at both the Steuben County Fair, and the New York State Fair, include high premiums and best of show.  Complementing her 4-H experiences, Erica is the President of her high school Debate Club and Secretary of her school’s National Honor Society.  As a member of her school’s “Academic All Stars,” she is clearly on the path to achieving her goal of becoming an attorney. With her commitment to public service and equal opportunity, she will begin this journey at Cornell University, where she will study Industrial and Labor Relations in the fall. 

Miranda Hughes, Saratoga County

Miranda is a 13-year 4-H member from Saratoga County.   Miranda attributes her confidence, sense of responsibility and leadership skills to 4-H.   She was elected the President of the Saratoga County Teen Council, the Teen Manager of the Saratoga County Teen Council Snack Bar, and was a Planning Committee Member for STARR, the State Teen Action Representative Retreat.  Her involvement with Operation Military Kids and Adopt-A-Soldier was as inspiring to Miranda as it was to the young people she worked with from the National Guard Youth Program.  4-H has helped shape Miranda’s desire to become a designer.  Her participation in clothing and textiles, photography, and art, has resulted in a variety of awards at the county and state level.  She was the Photography Champion for the New York State Youth Department, received the Best in Show award at the National Junior Horticulture Conference for photography, and has received many blue premiums for her garments, drawings and paintings.  At the county level, she has also participated in Public Presentations, receiving a blue ribbon for each of her 12 years of participation.  Outside of her 4-H activities, just last year Miranda was awarded the OMK Award of Excellence for Community Service.  Miranda will pursue study this fall in the field of Graphic Design at SUNY Purchase.   

Andrew Kittleson, Wayne County

Andrew is a ten-year 4-H member from Wayne County.   He has been involved in many areas of 4-H, including Public Speaking, Home Environment, Clothing and Textiles, and Teen Leadership.  But Andrew really hit his stride when he discovered 4-H’s Geospatial Sciences program.   No t only has Andrew learned GPS technology, but he has used his knowledge for community service and to teach others.  Andrew assisted his local fire department by collecting data to create a map of fire hydrants, and worked on GIS mapping service projects for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  His expertise led to his membership in the NYS 4-H Geospatial Leadership Team.  Andrew was later invited to join the National 4-H GPS/GIS Leadership Team, where he served as a youth representative from New York to the ESRI Educators and Users Conferences in San Diego, California in 2009 and 2010.  Aside from being a great representative for 4-H youth in New York, Andrew’s outside interests include music education.  He has managed to combine community service with his love of music and technology by being elected President of both the Media Club and Select Chorus.  Andrew plans to use the leadership and community service skills he learned in 4-H to continue achieving his goals.  Andrew graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 2011 from Wayne Central Schools.  Andrew plans to study Music Education and Sound Recording Technology at Lebanon Valley College.  

Kathryn Lawson, Ontario County

Kathryn is our $3,000 Scholarship recipient.   She is a 12-year 4-H member from Ontario County.  Kathryn’s many years of involvement in her 4-H Club’s programs have not only given her valuable life skills, but also allowed her to give back to her club and her community.  She has participated in virtually every aspect of 4-H, including being a teen leader, a project leader, and also receiving a host of achievement awards.  She has been very successful at the county and state level with Poultry Science contests and clinics. Kathryn’s achievements include placing 1^st at the NY State Avian Quiz Bowl.  She has placed 2^nd and 1^st in Poultry Judging, and traveled to Louisville in 2008 and 2010 to represent New York State, where her team placed in the top ten in the nation.  In addition to her participation in 4-H, school activities find Kathryn serving as Mary H. Preston Junior Board President and Team Captain of the Master Minds School Team.  She also attended Empire Girl’s State in 2010.  When Kathryn has the time, she also works on her family’s dairy farm.  Her community service activities include volunteering at her local church and in her school’s theater program.  Kathryn graduated as Valedictorian of the Midlakes High School Class of 2011.  Kathryn plans to pursue a career in environmental or chemical engineering at Clarkson University, and she credits 4-H and Cornell with helping her to discover her career choice. 

Courtney Luckman, Niagara County

Courtney is an 8-year 4-H member from Niagara County.   As one of her 4-H program leaders put it, “Courtney epitomizes the 4-H motto, Learn by Doing.”  Her hands-on involvement in 4-H demonstrates this in many ways.  Courtney has been involved in a long list of animal project areas including swine, beef, sheep and rabbit, just to name a few.  Courtney began as a Cloverbud, showing market and breeding animals, and learning everything from genetic traits and production value, to judging and marketing.  She has participated in the 4-H Livestock Skillathon, from 2003 to 2010, where she and her team competed nationally at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Kentucky.   She also volunteered for New York State Empire Market Hog Program Promotion and Swine Education, where she represented the industry, conducted tours and helped with marketing.  This experience led to her winning the New York Pork Producer Scholarship, and she was also named the New York State Empire Market Hog Project Champion, both in 2010.  As a representative of her local 4-H club, she has always assisted and taught younger members, and this helped form her decision to become a teacher and education administrator.   Courtney will attend Niagara University in the fall. 

Elizabeth Spoth, Erie County

Elizabeth is an 11-year 4-H member from Erie County.   Elizabeth’s experiences growing up on a farm and being a part of 4-H have given her a clear vision of how she can combine two things she enjoys; educating the public and being involved in politics.  For many years, Elizabeth has been involved with the Erie County Textile Review, given county and district-level Public Presentations, showed beef cattle and lambs, and has also functioned as Junior Judge or Judge’s Assistant.  She has been elected to Secretary and Vice President of her 4-H Club.  Elizabeth has also been a delegate at Capitol Days in Albany, and was selected to be a delegate at the National 4-H Conference in 2010.   Elizabeth has had the opportunity to educate others about agriculture and farming, both at her family farm, and also at the Erie County Fair.  She routinely speaks to the media and the public on the topic of agriculture, about which she is passionate.  Elizabeth also gives back to her community by offering pony rides to children with developmental disabilities free of charge.  She was the team captain of her school basketball team, and works as a camp counselor, educating young people each summer.    Elizabeth has been accepted to Cornell University where she plans to study communications.   

Rebecca Smith, Oswego County

Rebecca is an 11-year 4-H member from Oswego County.  Rebecca’s diverse experiences in 4-H include clothing and textiles, food and nutrition, Public Presentations, 4-H Club President, and Oswego County Fair Booth Committee and Teen Leader.  She also served as Achievement Night MC, Cloverbud public presentation Judge, and worked as Assistant Judge at county and state fairs.  Outside of 4-H, Rebecca had the unique experience of raising a puppy for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization.  She helped the puppy gain early socialization skills by taking it to 4-H events, and also taught it verbal commands and hand signals.  Rebecca’s other interests include music and being active in her church.  She combines community service with these interests by singing at church, school, and local events.  She is also a Worship leader at her church, a student conductor at her high school, and even travelled to Mexico to help lead a drama production workshop with members of her church.  Rebecca is a member of National Honor Society, and has been a member of “Top 25” of her class for all four years of high school.    Working for the past three years as a Teacher’s Assistant at her school has helped Rebecca with her career choice.  She will be pursuing a music education degree at Roberts Wesleyan College.