The PA Dairymen’s Association and Dairy Excellence Foundation Are Offering Twelve $3,000 Scholarships
The annual Student Leader Scholarship program is now open for undergraduate students, including college students and high school seniors, who are pursuing a career in a dairy-related field. Twelve $3,000 scholarships are available through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and the Dairy Excellence Foundation for the 2026-27 academic year. The scholarships opened for applications on March 1 and must be submitted online by May 1.
“We have so many students across Pennsylvania who are passionate and invested in the future of dairy, so we look forward to this scholarship program every year. The program allows us to support students’ educational interests, while making the financial aspect of pursuing higher education a bit more manageable for them,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “If you know a student who is pursuing a future career in dairy, please encourage them to consider applying for the scholarship this spring.”
The Student Leader Scholarships are offered annually to provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. Undergraduate college students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarships. One scholarship is specifically designated for an incoming freshman.
To qualify for the scholarships, students must demonstrate a commitment to working in the dairy industry. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, interest in a dairy-related career, evidence of leadership, character and integrity, and application compliance.
“Being awarded this scholarship allows me to focus more on school, clubs, and the countless opportunities that come with them. It provides the financial support I need to explore different avenues within the agricultural industry and helps me pursue the career I’m passionate about. I am truly thankful for this support as I continue to follow my passion for the dairy industry,” said Ainsley Sellers, a 2025 scholarship recipient who attends The Pennsylvania State University.
Pennsylvania residents who are full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in a qualifying field of study or high school seniors who are planning to enroll in a qualifying field of study are given consideration for this scholarship. Qualifying fields of study include dairy and animal science, agricultural marketing and business, nutrition, food science, agriculture and extension education, agricultural communications, agricultural engineering, or related fields.
Students can receive the $3,000 scholarship twice during their undergraduate academic career. Students employed by the Center for Dairy Excellence as an intern or in another capacity are not eligible to apply during the period in which they are working for the Center.
“Being involved in the dairy industry has given me a passion, and I am glad this passion led me to the Dairy Excellence Foundation. The Student Leadership Scholarship will give me the resources to continue my education and focus on finding a way to give back to this industry that has given me so much in my own life. I am extremely thankful for all the opportunities that the dairy industry continues to give me,” said Breann Poole, a 2025 scholarship recipient who attends Northwest Missouri State University.
To submit an online application and learn more about the scholarship opportunities, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/scholarships or contact Michelle Shearer at 570-768-8316 or by email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.