Professional Development Opportunities
Annually, two scholarships are available to Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow educators seeking professional development opportunities. These funds are made available through contributions made to the Dairy Excellence Foundation.
To Be Eligible, Educators Must:
- Be registered members of the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program and have taught the curriculum portion.
- Have at least one student who completed and passed the Introductory to Dairy course and at least one of the certificate courses since January 1, 2023.
To Apply, Educators Must:
- Complete the Online DLT Educator Scholarship Application
- Submit 1 letter of reference that is either from an administrator, a peer agricultural educator or from an individual in the dairy industry.
* Letter should demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to agriculture education and to preparing students for agriculture and dairy-related careers.
* Submit the reference letter to Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org
Scholarships are designated to fund the registration, accommodations and travel costs associated with an educationally-focused professional development conference or workshop totaling no more than $1,000.
Applications are not being accepted.
Applications will open on March 1, 2025.
If you have any questions about the application, please feel free to contact Michelle Shearer by phone at 570-768-8316 or via email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
Congratulations to the 2024 Scholarship Winner!
Congratulations to this year’s Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Educator Scholarship recipient! Amanda Gagne of Penn Manaor High School in Pennsylvania was recently named to receive reimbursement of up to $1,000 each to support professional development opportunities during this school year.
Amanda Gagne
Amanda Gagne teaches at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pennsylvania. She uses Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow in the animal science major, for her FFA Career Development Events and with SAE experiences for some of her students. “In my Animal Production Management class, students complete the Introduction to Dairy and the Herd Management Certifications through Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow. We complete these as a class doing the guided worksheets, notes and quizzes together.” Amanda took students to the 2023 DLT Berks County Farm Tour and gave those students who had little background in dairy the opportunity to see how the farm operates and learn about career opportunities in the dairy industry. She said, “this educational experience helped students learn about possible careers in dairy and one student is now attending Delaware Valley University this coming fall for a major in Dairy Science.”
Amanda said, “this program has allowed me to learn about the dairy industry myself as someone who had a little background in dairy science when starting my teaching career. It has instilled confidence in me to be able to teach about an industry that is such a large asset to Lancaster County. I like how everything is laid out for an educator to come in and start it with their class while providing inquiry and hands on learning opportunities to students.”
“Receiving this scholarship means a great deal to me. It not only acknowledges my commitment to the future of the Dairy Industry but also provides invaluable support for my professional development. I am excited about the opportunities this scholarship will afford me to enhance my skills and knowledge, ultimately benefiting my students and the industry as a whole.”
Feel free to contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org with any questions.
2025 Scholarship Applications will be accepted from March 1 – June 1, 2025.