The Board of Directors for CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest, is awarding eight college and technical-school students with $1,000 scholarships to help pay for post-secondary education.
In addition to being children of cooperative member-stockowners, applicants were asked to summarize involvement and experiences that demonstrate their commitment to the agriculture industry. In addition, they answered five, short essays on various topics: agriculture-industry involvement, community volunteering, work experience, awards, and plans for the future.
“Our scholarship-selection team includes three board directors and one leadership-level employee team member,” commented Dori Lichty, CentralStar communication specialist. “Applicants must be pursuing agriculture majors, so the selection committee really enjoys reading about their industry knowledge and experiences; the hard part is picking winners out of the group.”
The following students will receive scholarship funds. Adam Baker, Clayton, Mich., son of Kim and Donna Baker, is attending Michigan State University, Lansing, Mich. Rick and Peggy Bangart’s daughter Emma Bangart, Stratford, Wis., is in college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, Wis. Rachel Durst is from Richland Center, Wis. Her parents are Loren and Julie Durst; she is attending University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville, Wis. Austin Fahey, Edgar, Wis., is a student at Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis.; his parents are James and Tammy Fahey.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wis., student, Jenna Gries, Manitowoc, Wis., is on the scholarship-recipient list. Jenna’s parents are Greg Gries and Lori Edwards. Lora Korth, New London, Wis., child of Mike and Amy Korth, is attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, Wis., student, Mary Lewandowski, Hatley, Wis., is the daughter of Bill and Sandy Lewandowski. The final scholarship recipient is Kelsey Pasch, Weidman, Mich. Attending Michigan State University, Kelsey’s parents are Abe and Misty Pasch.
One of the eight CentralStar scholarships, this year, was awarded in honor of retiring board member, Steve Abel, Eden, Wis. He served on the former East Central/Select Sires and CentralStar Cooperative Boards of Directors for 18 years.
CentralStar’s goal of enhancing producer profitability through integrated services is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations, and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy-records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. The cooperative serves dairy and beef producers throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, with additional DHI territory in various surrounding states. For more information, visit CentralStar Cooperative Inc. at www.mycentralstar.com.
