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Scholarship winners earn success

La Plata County 4-H would like to congratulate all local students graduating from high school. This is a major accomplishment, and we wish you the best going forward.

We also are pleased to announce that we will be awarding six $500 higher-education scholarships to deserving 4-H members. These members have shown great dedication and commitment to the 4-H program through the years.

For instance, Allen “Cole” Crawford has been enrolled in the Mountain Shadows 4-H Club for 12 years. Cole has shown great leadership in his club through his participation in 4-H Shooting Sports.

“I have learned that responsibility and self-confidence are things that you have to learn over time, not things you get over night,” said Cole, who will be attending San Juan College in Farmington in the fall.

Cole will be joined at San Juan College by 4-H scholarship recipient Martina Moreno. Martina has been a dedicated member of the Country Roads 4-H Club for eight years. While in 4-H, she has participated in the market-steers, market-lambs, cake-decorating and livestock-judging projects.

“4-H has made a lasting impact on my life and has definitely shaped who I am and what I value,” Martina said. “Responsibility, time management, hard work, meeting my commitments and following through are all skills and behaviors I will take with me.”

Martina will pursue a degree in physical therapy at San Juan College.

For the last nine years, Michael Fusco has excelled at the Pine River 4-H Club.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 4-H experience,” Michael said. “My involvement has made me be a better person by enhancing three important life skills: service to my fellow man, interpersonal communication skills and working hard to achieve my goals.”

Michael has seen his hard work pay off after building fine furniture in his 4-H woodworking projects. He will take his life skills with him as a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. He will be studying aerospace engineering and astrophysics.

A nine-year veteran of the program, Markieah O’Rand will be heading to Arizona as well. Markieah, a member the Mountaineers 4-H Club, will attend Grand Canyon University.

“Being in 4-H has taught me responsibility, leadership, speech skills, dedication and the ability to do what I want to do with the help and support from the community,” she said.

Scholarship recipient Katie Kallaher of the Animas Valley 4-H Club will take her 4-H experience with her to the University of Wyoming. Katie has shown such amazing leadership during the last five years in 4-H. She has helped conduct after-school poultry classes in local schools and represented 4-H at state-level leadership trainings.

“4-H helped me to decide the career I’d like to pursue, the public speaking skills have helped me with interviews and phone calls, and my 4-H experiences and adventures have been used in many essays,” she said.

Finally, Morgan Walts received a scholarship for his 11 years as a member of the Pioneer 4-H Club. Morgan is a young man of great character who has grown over the years.

“4-H has helped me develop the discipline to focus on my personal leadership skills, my personal public speaking skills, record-keeping, finance, livestock market and trends,” he said.

Morgan will be taking his skills to Fort Lewis College in the fall.

felsengh@co.laplata.co.us or 382-6463. Greg Felsen is La Plata County 4-H youth development agent.



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