Kansas 4-H awards 53 scholarships; three new scholarships introduced this year

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas 4-H Foundation is making more than $40,000 in scholarships available to 4-H members for post-secondary education for the 2011--2012 academic year. One of the recipients is Caitlin Jackson, from Uniontown. She was awarded the Extension Step Ahead SE Scholarship. Jackson is the daughter of Dale and Alicia Jackson.

Scholarship recipients are selected by an application and review process, and the scholarships vary in value from $400 to $1,500, said Gordon Hibbard, president of the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

In announcing and presenting the educational awards at the annual 4-H Emerald Circle Banquet held June 2 in Manhattan, Hibbard noted that the event creates an opportunity for scholarship donors to meet the beneficiaries of their gift.

Many of the scholarship donors are former members who give back because they value the lessons learned during their 4-H experiences, Hibbard said.

Others have connections through business or community organizations and observe 4-H members' leadership, citizenship and commitment to community service, and give because they want to help youth continue to grow. In addition to the academic scholarships, the Kansas 4-H Foundation also is providing a $400 travel award to each of the state's 31 4-H state project winners invited to attend National 4-H Congress, Nov. 25--29, in Atlanta.