Following graduation from Virginia Tech, Laura Gaver hopes to utilize her business degree to work on her family's dairy and Christmas tree farm in New Market, Md., the co-op said. A Linganore High School graduate, Gaver is active in 4-H, FFA, National Honor Society and is the former Frederick County and Alternate Maryland Dairy Princess. Gaver, who received a $750 scholarship, is the daughter of Michael and Lisa Gaver.
Following her graduation with a degree in dairy science and agriculture business from Delaware Valley College next spring, Jennifer Herbst will return to her family's farm near Smithsburg to continue producing milk, the co-op said. Herbst, the daughter of David and Betsy Herbst, is active in the dairy society, Sigma Alpha and Delta Tau Alpha. She received a $500 award.
A junior at Delaware Valley College and $250 scholarship recipient, Brian Forsythe hopes to help manage the dairy and roadside produce stand his family operates south of Hagerstown, the co-op said. Forsythe, the son of Michael and Christine Forsythe, is active in the dairy society and is co-herdsman of Delaware Valley's dairy farm.
Several other scholarships were awarded to students in other areas, the co-op said.
Each year, it said, it awards five $1,000 scholarships. This year, it presented an additional $5,000 in awards, thanks to contributions from anonymous donors and industry partners.
Maryland & Virginia is a milk marketing and processing cooperative representing nearly 1,500 dairy farmer-owners from Pennsylvania to Alabama. The cooperative includes two fluid processing plants: Marva Maid in Newport News, Va., and Maola Milk and Ice Cream in New Bern, N.C.; manufacturing plants in Laurel, Md., and Strasburg, Va.; and an equipment and farm supply business in Frederick, Md.
