The 2008 - 2009 school year will begin shortly and 31 of Arizona’s 4-H members will find their studies easier to focus on thanks to scholarships recently awarded by the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation.

This year a total of over $29,000 was awarded to some of Arizona’s top 4-H youth who are continuing their education with the help of awards made possible by some of our named scholarship endowments and specially designated funded donations. Over 80 young men and women applied for the educational grants. Our Scholarship Committee is comprised of a well-rounded group of individuals with 4-H history, education, business experience and a “give back to the community” spirit. Applicants are rated by the Scholarship Committee on financial need, ability, aptitude, grades, references, 4-H history & involvement along with completeness of applications meeting the criteria for the specific scholarships. This year we have recipients from 10 of Arizona’s 15 Counties who will be attending schools around the state and out of state as well.

The following is our 2008-2009 list of recipients of endowed scholarships:
• The Betty Accomazzo Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Carol Ann Lipinski of Coconino County. Jimmy Accomazzo established this endowment (in memory of his mother).

• The Jimmy Accomazzo Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Ryan Klenke of Maricopa County. Established in August 1993 by the many friends and family of Jimmy Accomazzo to support educational scholarships for 4-H members pursuing higher education.

• The Margery and Gene Bayless Scholarships have been awarded to Dru Palmer of Yuma County and to Loren Wilson of Graham County. In 1983, Marge and Gene Bayless created the first endowment with the Foundation. The Bayless family has given more than 20 years of service to youth in Arizona.

• Becker-Baguley 4-H Scholarship was awarded to Courtney Breckon of Pima County. The Becker-Baguley 4-H Endowment fund provides support to the Arizona 4-H Scholarship program for students who have been active in the 4-H program for at least two years.

• Leonard & Rita Cheatham Scholarship was awarded to Sara Williams, Maricopa County. This scholarship to recognize good standing in ALL aspects of leadership and/or livestock was established in 2007 by their children and benefits students from either Maricopa or Santa Cruz Counties.

• Farm Credit Services Southwest award went to Kylee Gauna of Yuma County. Farm Credit Services Southwest established this endowment to provide merit based educational scholarships for 4-H members in Arizona.

• The Jim Faul Memorial Book Fund Scholarships were awarded to Tyler Bingham, Kristen Brown, Renae Dubois and Merle Robinson of Pinal County and Amanda Zamudio of Cochise County. Established in 2007, these scholarships are to assist some of the winners of the Faul Millstone Ranch Scholarships in purchasing their books. This endowment was created by Mary Faul as a memorial to her husband Jim.

• Mildred and Larkin Fitch recipient was Katie Goodwin of Mohave County and Joseph Zamudio of Cochise County. Established in 1989 by Mr. and Mrs. Fitch to provide educational grants to 4-H youth pursuing a higher education.

• Fleming 4-H Scholarship was awarded to Zachary Ross of Pinal County. Established in 2007 by Richard Fleming, this scholarship was created to help 4-H Youth in Pinal County achieve their goal of additional education following high school graduation.

• June Gibbs Memorial was awarded to Ashley Rigas of Santa Cruz County.
Ruth Lovik, long time friend of June Gibbs, established this fund to support educational grants in the area Family and Consumer Science. Until her retirement, June served as the Extension Foods-Nutrition Specialist in the School of Family and Consumer Resources.

• Everett Grondin Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Emily Klutch of Pima County. Established in Everett’s memory by his wife Cecilia, this scholarshipto provides perpetual support for the 4-H Scholarship program in Arizona.

• Ralph Hall Memorial Scholarship recipient was Jessica Nielsen, Pima County. Established in 2001, the Ralph Hall Memorial is in remembrance of a longtime Pima County 4-H leader and volunteer. This memorial provides perpetual support for today’s youth.

• Eugenia Scott & Ralph Rodgers Hawthorne Scholarships awarded to Lindsay Gregston of Yuma County and Cotey Noble of Mohave County. The Eugenia Scott & Ralph Rodgers Hawthorne Scholarship was established to provide continual support for 4-H’ers in the field of sciences and fine arts.

• Don Landeen Memorial Scholarship awarded to Nicole Ward of Pima County. Established in 2005 by his wife, Sharon, The Don Landeen Memorial Scholarship is given annually to Pima County 4-H’ers.

• Millstone Ranch / Mary & Arthur Faul Scholarship Awards were given to Tyler Bingham, Kristen Brown, Amanda Conley, Renae Dubois, Robyn Ollerton, Merle Robinson and Kayla Woehlecke all from Pinal County and Amanda Zamudio of Cochise County. This endowment was established through the generosity of Mary A. and Arthur "Jim" Faul, who have given many years of service to 4-H and Pinal County Cooperative Extension.

• TPima County Horse Project 4-H Scholarship has been awarded to Krista McNaughton of Pima County. This merit scholarship was established in 2005 and is awarded to applicants who have been enrolled in the Pima County 4-H Horse Project for a minimum of two years, including the current year.

• Pima County Junior Livestock Scholarship was awarded to Danelle Dobbins of Pima County. The scholarship is provided for Pima County 4-H and FFA members who have completed beef, sheep, swine, rabbit, cavy, poultry, pigeon, pygmy goat or market goat projects.

• Pima County 4-H Leaders Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Rebecca Rimsza of Pima County. This merit scholarship is awarded to high school seniors in Pima County who have been an enrolled Pima County 4-H Member.

In addition to the endowed scholarships, we were also able to award these funded scholarships.
• Colorado River Small Stock Show Merit Scholarship – Katie Radosevic of Yavapai County.

• Cochise County Junior Livestock Auction Scholarships – Natashia Forsyth and Amber Young of Cochise County.

• Valley Telephone Scholarship – Jessica Richardson of Cochise County.

If you are interested in helping to support the 4-H scholarship program in the future please call the Foundation office @ 520-621-7211 or visit our website http://ag.arizona.edu/4-h_foundation. Applications for next year’s scholarships will be available on our website starting in September or you can obtain copies at your local county extension office.

Congratulations recipients and thanks again to all of our 4-H supporters!