Scholarships

Scholarship Program

Are you a college student looking to pursue a career in the dairy industry? We want to help.

Each year, Maryland & Virginia awards a series of five $1,000 scholarships, and thanks to the MDVA Fund, the cooperative is able to offer additional scholarships to deserving students.

Scholarships are available to students pursuing careers in the dairy industry who are currently enrolled in a two or four-year accredited college, and must be one of the following:

The child of a Maryland & Virginia member
An employee of a Maryland & Virginia member
The child of a Maryland & Virginia employee

Winners are chosen based on their commitment to the dairy industry, leadership ability, initiative, character, integrity, and participation in extracurricular activities.

For more information about the cooperative’s scholarship program, please contact Daniela Roland at 814-386-8000 or droland@mdvamilk.com.

Scholarship Details

The 2021 Scholarship Applications are now available. Click here for the application.

Applications are due February 19, 2021 and may be submitted either via email to contest@mdvamilk.com or mailed to the Reston Office at 1985 Isaac Newton Square West, Suite 200, Reston, VA 20190.

For more information about the cooperative’s scholarship program, please contact Daniela Roland at 814-386-8000 or droland@mdvamilk.com.

Where Are They Now

From business managers to large animal veterinarians, our scholarship program has helped to fuel a variety of successful, dairy-driven careers. Since the program’s inception, Maryland & Virginia has been proud to invest more than $80,000 in scholarships to benefit more than 75 future dairy leaders in the last decade.

Scholarship recipient Katelin Benkoski works as a Credit Analyst with AgSouth Farm Credit and in her free time, enjoys helping on her family’s dairy farm in Madison, Georgia. Katelin is a 2016 graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in Animal Science and Agribusiness, and she completed her Masters of Agribusiness degree in December 2018. Katelin makes time to advocate for dairy on social media, judge local dairy shows and help 4-H and FFA students who borrow heifers from her family’s farm for the Georgia Commercial Dairy Heifer Show program.

“I love having the opportunity to work with youth interested in dairy,” says Katelin," Katelin Benkoski .

Katelin Benkoski | 2014 Scholarship Recipient

Scholarship recipient Ellie Grossnickle is preparing to graduate from Virginia Tech in 2020.

Ellie is a dairy science major with a minor in communications. While at Virginia Tech, she has been involved in Collegiate FFA, Sigma Alpha and the Virginia Tech Dairy Club.

“I have a huge passion for advocating for the dairy industry,” said Ellie.

When considering her future plans, she hopes to change society’s view about farmers and the food industry.

“I think that farmers need to be transparent. It’s our time to stand up and educate consumers and make sure they are confident that milk is the best product. I want people to understand and appreciate where their food comes from,” she added.