WCMA Supports Dairy Industry’s Future Leaders with Scholarships Worth $15,000

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is pleased to announce the names of 2019 scholarship recipients.  Each year, WCMA shows its support for the dairy industry’s next generation of leaders through scholarship awards worth a total of $15,000.

“WCMA is honored to invest a portion of the proceedings from our Championship Cheese Auctions to offer five scholarships to students destined to be among the next generation of dairy leaders,” said John Umhoefer, WCMA Executive Director.

Dairy processors and their family members are eligible for the WCMA Myron P. “Mike” Dean Cheese Industry Student Scholarship.  Over 23 years, WCMA has awarded these $3,000 scholarships to 40 students.  Winners of the 2019 Mike Dean Scholarships are as follows.

• Chris Eckerman, a product development specialist at Agropur in Appleton, Wisconsin, is pursuing a Master of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and maintains a 4.0 grade point average. A licensed cheesemaker and cheese grader, Chris is expanding his business skills to enhance his career within Agropur.
• Emily Franke is a dairy science student at University of Wisconsin-Madison active in Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club and Collegiate Dairy Judging. Emily’s father, Scott Franke, is employed at Grande Cheese Company and, this summer, Emily will serve as a milk marketing intern at Grande, as well.

Suppliers to the dairy industry and their family members have earned the WCMA Supplier Student Scholarship since 1999.  This year, the 49^th, 50^th and 51^st winners include the following students.

• Morgan Haumschild, a high school senior, is set to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study dairy science. Morgan’s mother, Laura Haumschild, is an employee of Roehl Transport in Marshfield, Wisconsin.  Morgan is a member of 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, and she has earned a grade point average of 3.967.
• Paul VanderKelen, a six-year employee of HART Design and Manufacturing, Inc. in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a grade point average of 3.935. Paul plans to continue working for HART following his graduation in May 2020.
• JunHyuk Yoon, an intern at Excel Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is attending the Milwaukee School of Engineering to earn a degree in Architectural Engineering. JunHyuk is on the Dean’s List, and is set to graduate in May 2020.

This year’s Champion Cheese Auction supporting WCMA scholarships will take place on Wednesday, April 17 at the 2019 Cheese Industry Conference, during the Chr. Hansen Reception, beginning at 5:00 p.m.  All are welcome at the auction, and more details are available at CheeseConference.org.