The National Dairy Shrine is again looking for applications for its annual scholarship program. Applications are accepted from March 1 until April 15. Official scholarship application award forms are available online.

The NDS Student Recognition Program recognizes and rewards graduating seniors planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $2,000 cash award given to the winner, a $1,500 award for second place, and from three to seven $1,000 cash awards, depending on the number and quality of applicants.

The NDS/Dairy Management Inc. Milk Marketing-Dairy Products scholarships are available to encourage students to pursue careers in the marketing or development of dairy products. The top winner receives a $1,500 scholarship, while other winners receive $1,000 scholarships. Up to five winners are recognized annually. 

The NDS/Dairy Management Inc. Education and Communication scholarships are available to encourage students to pursue careers in the education or communication of the value of dairy products and the dairy industry. The top winner receives a $1,500 scholarship, while other winners receive $1,000 scholarships. Up to five winners are recognized annually. 

The Kildee scholarships are offered in two categories. Graduate study applicants may include the top 25 All-American contestants in one of the past three National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Contests, plus the first- and second-place teams in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge national contests. These students are eligible to apply for up to two $3,000 graduate school scholarships. Undergraduate students may apply in their junior or senior year of college for one $1,000 Kildee undergraduate scholarship. Applicants for this scholarship must have been one of the top 25 contestants at the National 4-H or FFA dairy judging contests.

The NDS Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarship recognizes and rewards current college juniors planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $1,500 cash award given to the winner, and from two to five more $1,000 cash awards, depending on the number and quality of applicants.

The NDS Mike Lancaster Sophomore Merit Scholarship recognizes and rewards current college sophomores planning a career in the dairy industry. There will be a $1,500 cash award given to the winner, and from two to five more $1,000 cash awards, depending on the number and quality of applicants.

Depending on the number and quality of applicants, there will be from two to four Maurice Core Dairy Scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,000 to a freshman college student attending a four-year agricultural college. This scholarship is sponsored from a fund created in honor of Maurice E. Core, longtime industry leader and past executive director of National Dairy Shrine.

Two NDS Marshall McCullough scholarships of $2,000 and $1,500 are awarded annually to high school seniors intending to enter a four-year college or university and major in dairy or animal science with a communications emphasis, or agriculture journalism with a dairy or animal science emphasis.

Up to two NDS Iager Dairy scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 to second-year college students enrolled in a two-year ag college. This scholarship is sponsored by a fund created by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Iager of Fulton, Md.

Three Klussendorf scholarships are given in the amount of $1,500 to students in their first, second or third year at a two- or four-year college or university. Applicants need to major in dairy or animal science with intentions to enter the dairy cattle industry.

Four McKown scholarships are given in the amount of $1,500 to students in their first, second or third year at a two- or four-year college or university. Applicants need to major in dairy or animal science with intentions to enter the dairy cattle industry.

If you would like to apply for any of these scholarships, visit the NDS website to download the applications. If you have any questions, please contact the NDS office at [email protected]. Winners of these awards will be announced this summer, with the presentation of awards to be held at the annual NDS awards banquet in Madison, Wis., on Oct. 4.

Source: NDS