2015 Kentucky 4-H Foundation Scholarship Program

By Keith L. Rogers

With the support of our sponsors, the Kentucky 4-H Foundation is excited to announce its 2015 Scholarship program.  For over 100 years, 4-H has been instrumental in providing Kentucky’s youth opportunities for leadership and citizenship development while also assisting them in reaching their highest potential through furthering their education.  Through the support of our sponsors, we are again offering six college scholarships to help in brightening the future of young adults as they enter their college careers.

The Foundation will be awarding 4-H’ers the James W. Kidwell Memorial, Farm Credit Mid-America, and the Michael Bandy/Ale-8-One Scholarships.  To be eligible to receive one of these scholarships applicants must have been an active 4-H member for the last two years, must graduate from high school in 2015, and also be a resident of Kentucky.  The deadline for scholarship applications is Friday, May 15, 2015; the applications MUST be postmarked by this date.  All winners will be recognized during the 4-H Teen Conference held June 8-11, 2015.  To learn more about this year’s scholarship opportunities and to view the current applications and additional guidelines click on the links below or contact your county 4-H agent.

Julia Scott received the 2014 James W. Kidwell Memorial Scholarship presented by Clark Kidwell

James W. Kidwell Memorial Scholarship

For the second year the Foundation will be awarding the James W. Kidwell Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,500.  The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving 4-Her who will be pursuing a career in agriculture or a related field while attending the University of Kentucky.  The scholarship helps memorialize Mr. Kidwell’s dedication to improving the agricultural community while encouraging Kentucky’s youth to pursue higher education.

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholarships

Farm Credit Mid-America proudly sponsors four scholarships at $500 each.  The scholarships are awarded based on the applicant’s level of 4-H involvement, financial need, academic achievement and attending a post-secondary institution in Kentucky.  Farm Credit Mid-America is an agricultural lending cooperative serving farmers, rural resident and agribusinesses.  Farm Credit Mid-America is one of the Foundation’s longest, dedicated annual donors.

 The Michael Bandy/Ale-8-One Scholarship

For the sixth year, the Michael Bandy/Ale-8-One Scholarship is made possible by an endowment established by the late Ms. Brenda Bandy, mother of Michael Bandy, and the annual support from the Ale-8-One Bottling Company.  This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a deserving 4-Her based on financial need and their level of 4-H involvement.

The Kentucky 4-H Foundation would like to say thank you to the sponsors that make these six scholarships possible including Ms. Courtney Barancin, Mr. Matthew Barancin, Ms. Dorie Smith, Farm Credit-Mid-America, the late Ms. Brenda Bandy, and the Ale-8-One Bottling Company.  The support of these sponsors has created and endowed these scholarships for the future of our Kentucky 4-Her’s.

We know there are many deserving 4-Her’s across the commonwealth for each of these scholarships.  Help us get this information in their hands!  The foundation would love to see a record number of applicants this year!

We also encourage you, in the 4-H community, to provide your own scholarship opportunity to a deserving 4-H member through the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.  Please feel free to contact me if this is an opportunity that you would like to take advantage of.  The Foundation would love to include your scholarship in next year’s program.

Scholarship applications can be found here.

2015 Farm Credit Mid-Am Scholarship Application

2015 James W. Kidwell Memorial Scholarship Application

2015 Michael Bandy Ale-8-One Scholarship Application