FREMONT – Sunrise Cooperative Inc. has announced the recipients of their annual Sunrise Cooperative college scholarships.
This year Sunrise offered 40 $1,000 scholarships for common stockholder’s children and grandchildren and 10 $1,000 scholarships for employee’s children and grandchildren. A total of 282 students entered to compete for the 40 common stockholder scholarships, while 20 competed for the 10 employee scholarships.
All students awarded are or will be enrolled in a two or four-year college program. Over the past 10 years, Sunrise has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships and is excited to continue the program this year.
Applicants were required to compete in a scholarship essay contest, writing a minimum of one page on the topic of agriculture. Essays ranged from describing the use of various technologies on the farm to the importance of agriculture in our growing world. Although the essay topic was agriculture focused, the contest was open to students of any degree so long as they or a family member (parent or grandparent) is a member or employee of Sunrise Cooperative.
Terra State Community College in Fremont reviewed the written entries and narrowed them down to 64 finalists for the common stockholder scholarship, and 15 finalists for the employee scholarship. Each finalist was invited to an oral interview to discuss his or her interest in agriculture and future education plans. From these interviews 40 students were chosen for the common stockholder scholarships, and 10 were selected for the employee scholarship.
“We feel it’s important for Sunrise to be involved in our local communities – offering these scholarships are a way we can give back to our youth,” says Sunrise Cooperative President and CEO, George D. Secor. “Our youth are the future, and it is our desire to invest in them and their education.”
Local students receiving $1,000 common stockholder scholarships were:
• Christina Bowen of DeGraff, Ohio. Bowen is a senior at Indian Lake High School, plans to attend Ohio Northern University and study Chemistry/Pre-Med to become a pediatrician. Bowen receives her eligibility from stockholder Max McGowan (grandfather).
• Calen Fledderjohann of New Bremen, Ohio. Fledderjohann is in his sophomore year at Wright State University and is pursuing a degree in Political Science. Fledderjohann’s eligibility comes from Mike Fledderjohann (father).
• Erin P. Gaerke of Russia, Ohio. Gaerke is attending the Ohio State University to pursue a degree in Ag Communication and Operations Management. Gaerke’s eligibility comes from stockholder Stephen York (grandfather).
• Michael Mallory of DeGraff, Ohio. Mallory is attending the University of Cincinnati and is studying Industrial Design. Mallory’s eligibility comes from stockholder Robert E. Maier (grandfather).
• Connor Rose of Fort Loramie, Ohio. Rose is currently attending Edison State Community College and plans to attend Wright State University to pursue a degree in Accounting. Rose receives his eligibility from stockholder Ron Rose (father).
Sunrise Cooperative employee scholarship recipients include Taylor Winner, of Versailles, Ohio. Winner is attending the University of Northwestern Ohio to pursue a degree in Accounting. Winner’s eligibility comes from employee Dale Winner (father).
