Scholarships
WCMA's student scholarships are an important part of the Association's investment in the industry's future leaders.
Apply by February 14, 2025 for WCMA's Student Scholarships!
Applications are open now for Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association’s (WCMA) annual student scholarships. The application window closes February 14, 2025. In April 2025, scholarships worth a total of $19,000 will be awarded to seven deserving applicants.
The WCMA Student Scholarship Program is funded by the annual Championship Cheese Auction, where gold medal cheeses from WCMA’s Championship Cheese Contests are sold to the highest bidders. The 2024 Auction, held at CheeseExpo, raised a record $423,480 to support dairy education and future scholarships.
Questions about WCMA's Student Scholarships may be directed to WCMA Communications Director Grace Atherton at gatherton@wischeesemakers.org.
WCMA Myron P. “Mike” Dean Cheese Industry Student Scholarship
Over 27 years, WCMA has awarded the Myron P. “Mike” Dean Cheese Industry Student Scholarship, named after Wisconsin's tireless educator and promoter of quality cheese, to 50 students.
This scholarship is open to employees or children of employees of a WCMA dairy manufacturing or processor/marketer member company. Applicants must be:
- Students attending a college, university, or technical school in the United States, or
- High school seniors registered to attend a qualifying school.
Applicants must supply a current transcript, letter of recommendation, and a completed application form. Priority consideration will be given to applicants pursuing studies that may lead to a career in the food and dairy industry. Two
applicants will be selected to receive awards of $3,000 each.
In 2024, this scholarship was awarded to Gabrielle Renard of Renard's Cheese and MaKenzie Skibbie of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery and Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese.
WCMA Cheese Industry Supplier Student Scholarship
Since 1999, 66 WCMA Supplier Student Scholarships have been awarded to suppliers to the dairy industry and their family members.
This scholarship is open to employees or children of employees of a WCMA supplier member company. Applicants must be:
- Students attending a college, university, or technical school in the United States, or
- High school seniors registered to attend a qualifying school.
Applicants must supply a current transcript, letter of recommendation, and a completed application form. Priority consideration will be given to applicants pursuing studies that may lead to a career in the food and dairy supply industry.
Three applicants will be selected to receive awards of $3,000 each.
In 2024, this scholarship was awarded to Jacob Kirsling of R.W. Baron Process Equipment, Danielle Mauhar of Novonesis, and Elijah Ronsman of HART Design & Manufacturing.
WCMA Brian Eggebrecht Student Scholarship
Supporting Skilled Trades in the Dairy Industry
Since 2021, WCMA has also selected two students each year to receive the Brian Eggebrecht Student Scholarship Supporting Skilled Trades in the Dairy Industry. This award, named in honor of Championship Cheese Contest Chairman and generous donor Brian Eggebrecht, who passed away in 2022, is open to students attending any technical school in Wisconsin, or high school students registered to attend a Wisconsin technical school.
Applicants must supply a current transcript, letter of recommendation, and a completed application form. Priority consideration will be given to applicants pursuing technical certificates, technical diplomas, or associate degrees that may
lead to a career in the dairy industry. Two applicants will be selected to receive awards of $2,000 each.
In 2024, the Brian Eggebrecht Student Scholarship Supporting Skilled Trades in the Dairy Industry was awarded to Kendall Luzinski of Dutch Dairy and Aaron Schulz of Sargento Foods.