The Colorado 4-H Foundation has announced the recipients of 51 college scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year, and 22 scholarships have been provided directly by Colorado State University to provide financial support to 4-H members as they pursue a college degree.

In addition to other scholarships, 22 students from around the state received $1,000 foundation scholarships for their use as freshmen at CSU. 4-H members who received scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year were recognized at the State 4-H Conference Awards breakfast on June 22, on the CSU campus.

Developing relationships

“The most important experience in being a member of 4-H has been the relationships I developed with my fellow 4-H members, adult leaders and volunteers,” said Ryle MacLaughlin. “Their encouragement has taught me to take chances, trust my own decisions, and pursue my goals.”

MacLaughlin, a 2017 CSU scholarship recipient, will be majoring in biology, with the goal of working in the health care field.

The students’ intended majors range from civil engineering, wildlife biology, agricultural education and biochemistry to electrical and mechanical engineering, hospitality management, and animal sciences and genetics.

“Colorado 4-H’ers learn the value of education through their time and experiences in the Colorado 4-H program. We are thrilled when they decide to make CSU their choice for higher education,” said Kathay Rennels, assistant vice president in CSU’s Office of Engagement. “The awarding of the $1,000 scholarships to our 4-H’ers supports them and our land-grant mission.”

The recipients are:

CSU Extension Peaks and Plains region:

Alaina Akey, Wray

Tyler Camblin, Holyoke

Jarrett Schirmer, Pueblo West

(Alaina Akey also received the Kimberling FFA scholarship for $1,000.)

CSU Extension Western region:

Monique Archibeque and Tyler O’Donnell, Olathe

Tabitha Lindahl, Gunnison

Jacey Murphy, Kremmling

Rylie MacLaughlin, Silt

Aerica Melby, Glenwood Springs

CSU Extension Front Range region:

Kaitlyn Carson, Valerie Crouse and Ashley Schilling, Fort Collins

Olivia Brandt, Colorado Springs (who also received the Colorado Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Scholarship for $1000)

Jarred Bland, Colorado Springs

Anderson Worcester, Castle Rock

Kolby Moore, Gill

Lauren Thompson, Lakewood

Taryn Santeramo, Johnstown

Elizabeth Sage, Parker

Diana Litzenberger, Mead

Benjamin Morrow, Lafayette

Renee Alderman, Larkspur

Morgan Litchford, Loveland

“Beyond tangible skills I learned from my experiences in 4-H, I have also gained many personal skills,” said Weld County 4-H’er Kolby Moore. “All of these facets — speaking, interaction, converse, analytical, etc. — combine to make me as prepared as possible for college and the rest of my future,”

Moore, a 2017 CSU scholarship recipient, is majoring in biomedical sciences.

In addition to the freshman scholarships, this year CSU provided four $1,000 scholarships for transfer students. Recipients include Shelbylynne Enke, Wellington and Valerie Crouse of Fort Collins, and Tia Konig, Briggsdale and Randilyn Madison of Montrose.

Experiential learning

4-H teaches many life skills through experiential learning. “I believe the most important ones would be hard work and dedication,” said Larimer County 4-H member Bailey Schilling, a transfer student and 2017 CSU scholarship recipient. “By being involved in each step of raising an animal you gain more knowledge …and realize the job opportunities in the field of agriculture.”

“4-H has taught me to try things and find your passion as you help others find theirs,” said 2017 CSU scholarship recipient and transfer student Valerie Crouse, who is majoring in agriculture business and biology. “It’s about the relationships we make with other people and how to lift each other up to become successful.”

The Colorado 4-H Foundation provides additional scholarships for the 2017 academic year.

Pursuing higher education

“The Colorado 4-H Foundation awards annual scholarships through a competitive application and review process,” said Gary Small, Colorado 4-H Foundation executive director. “When the Colorado 4-H Foundation was established in 1952, the mission to solicit and disburse financial resources has been captured in the scholarship process, and to stimulate 4-H’ers to pursue their higher education goals.”

Close to 400 high school-aged 4-H’ers spend time each year on the CSU campus in Fort Collins. In addition to the many events and competitions where they present on various topics, they make new friends, bond over shared interests, step into leadership roles, and get a taste of life living in CSU residence halls for several days. This year included tours of many campus facilities, including the equine center, animal science labs and the campus human nutrition center.

The annual event is timed to precede local county fairs, where the students will again present their best work for judging.

For more information, visit co4hfoundation.extension.colostate.edu.

Photos are available at the Colorado 4-H Youth Development Flickr site.

About 4-H

Colorado 4-H Youth Development is a diverse program aimed at meeting the needs of young people through hands-on learning. Through a wide variety of programs guided by adult volunteers, Colorado Youth can stimulate their creativity, build self-confidence and learn life and decision-making skills.

Currently, more than 113,000 youth throughout Colorado are enrolled in 4-H Youth Development programs annually. Youth participate in organized 4-H clubs, special-interest short-term programs, school enrichment programs and individuals studies. The Colorado 4-H Youth Development program offers learn-by-doing activities in projects such as rocketry, photography, child development, electronic, international exchanges, raising livestock and training dogs, just to name a few. The 4-H program educational focus is on healthy lifestyles, citizenship (youth in governance, community service, and leadership) and also on science, engineering and technology. 4-H ranges from natural resources and environmental stewardship to food science and nutrition – all using research-based knowledge from the land-grant university system. Because of the variety of programs, Colorado 4-H Youth Development reaches a diverse population of Colorado’s youth.