2023 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Ava graduated in May 2022 from Hermann High School in Hermann, MO with a 4.02 GPA and 27 ACT score. Ava plans to attend the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana to pursue the medical field and nursing.

Extracurricular Activities: Ava has been in 4-H for 12 years holding offices such as secretary, and more recently vice president and president. She has been in FFA all four years being an officer for three of them. She is also a member of the National Honor Society (NHS).

Honors and Awards: In 4-H, Ava was awarded Group 1 High Individual in Soils and Horses Evaluation. She is also an All-Around Academic Athlete for four years. She was awarded Outstanding Girl twice in 4-H out of the county.

Community/Service Activities: Ava participated in community service countless times including trash pick-up for 4-H and NHS. Ava tutored young students. She also worked the Horsin’ Around Fun Show and Church Fish Fries.

Work Experience: Ava works 16-32 hours/week in retail. She helps to care for the many animals on the family farm. This includes mucking out living areas, filling feed and water, and giving baths. She occasionally helps with record keeping and cleaning in the company business.

Ava believes she is qualified to receive the MDTA scholarship because she is well-rounded, hardworking, and an aspiring individual. She has been very active starting at a young age and puts 110% effort into her work. She will carry this mindset into her career choice of nursing where she hopes to care for those in need and progress in the medical field.

The school counselor recommended Ava for the scholarship because of her involvement in clubs and activities. Ava is currently involved in FFA, 4-H, and the National Honor Society. Ava shows leadership qualities every day at school by being a great support to other students. She also spends time out of school as an officer and goes on various trips for FFA and 4-H. Ava’s GPA is currently 4.02. She has worked very hard and has taken multiple honors and dual credit courses. Ava has an ACT score of 27 composite. Ava qualifies to take the math and science senior scholar test due to her high ACT score. The counselor based her recommendation on her ability to be successful and achieve any goal she sets her mind to. Her grades and GPA prove her ability to be successful.

Ben is a May 2022 graduate from Hermann High School in Hermann, MO with a 3.81 GPA and 19 ACT. Ben plans to attend State Fair Community College in Sedalia to study agri-business returning to the family farm or something related to agriculture.

Extracurricular Activities: Ben is a highly involved member of FFA from 2018 to 2022. Ben is a member of 4-H Big Springs Busy Beavers showing animals and items at the fair from 2009-2015. He is a member of the National Honor Society 2021-2022 and a member of the Student Council 2018-2019.

Honors and Awards: In FFA, Ben placed sixth on the national farm management team, Chapter Scholarship, and Chapter Leadership, first place diversified agriculture proficiency award, and twice a member of the month.

Community/Service Activities: Ben is a member of the St. George Catholic Church and helps with a lot of events they hold to help out the church. He is an usher for Mass on the weekends and he also helps with their fundraisers and participates in them.

Work Experience: Ben gets paid for working and helping to manage the family farm which is 20-30 hours after school. He makes sure everything runs smoothly in his father’s absence which requires a lot of responsibility when there is a lot going on.

Ben’s family have been MDTA members for a long time and he attended the MDTA conventions at a young age.  He is active in school and community and his grades are good. Ben is a hard worker and wants to be an MDTA member as well.

The school counselor recommended Ben for the scholarship as he is deserving of getting help in reaching his goals. He is a great student who continues to challenge himself academically. He is a model student who shows great character and determination. His leadership qualities include being responsible, kind, caring, determined, and very self-driven.

Gabriella currently attends Truman State University in Kirksville, MO majoring in accounting with an overall GPA of 3.60. She is a 2020 graduate from Hermann High School in Hermann, MO with a 4.11 GPA and was sixth in rank.

Extracurricular Activities: Gabriella is a member of Delta Sigma Pi (Fall 2020-Present), a professional business fraternity, where she is the Vice President of Community Service. She is the chair of Junior Achievement for the organization. Gabriella is a member of Alpha Sigma Gamma (Fall 2021-Present), which is a service sorority, where goal is to do community service in the Kirksville community. While in high school, Gabriella was a Member of St. George Catholic Church; Student Council Treasurer (2020); Future Business Leader of America (2016-2020); National Honors Society (2017-2020); Future Farmers of America (2016-2018); Distributive Educational Club of America (2018-2019); Varsity H (2018-2020); Ignite Mentor Program (2020); A+ Program (2016-2020); Volleyball (2016-2019).

Honors and Awards: Gabriella has received the President's Leadership Award from Truman State University. While in high school, Gabriella was inducted into the National Honors Society in 2017; Future Business Leaders of America: 5th place Accounting II, advancing to State (2020); Volleyball; Academic All-Conference (2018, 2019), Academic All-State (2018, 2019); Future Farmers of America: 1st place conduct of Chapter meetings, districts (2017).

Community/Service Activities: When Gabriella is home she does service through her church parish, including fish fries and singing in the church choir. At school, she is able to do community service through both of the organizations in which she is involved such as highway clean-ups, raising money organizations, and picking up trash at the local parks.

During her high school years, Gabriella was involved in Various church activities such as fish fries, children’s liturgy, and cleaning the church; Middle School Volleyball assistant coach; Raked leaves for the Serve St. Louis Organization; Worked at a soup kitchen in St. Louis; NHS volunteer activities such as Special Olympics, trash pick-up, read across America day, and blood donation fundraisers.

Work Experience: Gabriella is currently not working but working on the farm has always been a big and important part of her life. She has always enjoyed working around the cattle. At this stage in her life, it is harder to stay involved; but anytime she comes home she is working around the farm. This past summer and winter break, she had a bank internship with Jonesburg State Bank. This helped her grow more in her accounting major and got her into the business field.

In 2020, the Hermann High School counselor wholeheartedly endorsed her by stating Gabriella is a conscientious student with an incredible work ethic. Gabriella is a leader in multiple activities at the high school. She leads in a quiet but confident manner. She is well respected by both peers and adults. Gabriella will use this scholarship to further her education. She will be a good steward of the contribution to her education by finishing what she starts.

Ashley is currently enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia pursuing the field of business in pharmaceutical sales or marketing with a cumulative GPA of 3.959. She is a 2021 graduate from Warrenton High School in Warrenton, MO with a GPA of 4.53 weighted/4.0 unweighted.

Extracurricular Activities: Ashley is a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority (2021-Present).  She is a lifetime member of the Warrenton FFA. Ashley was a member of the Prairie View 4-H (2016-2021) and Treasurer (2020-2021). While in high school, she was the Treasurer of the National Honor Society (2019-2021) and was a varsity player with Warrenton Volleyball (2017-2021). She was in the Student Mentoring Group (2019-2021).

Honors and Awards: Ashley is on the Mizzou 2021 Dean’s List (Fall Semester). She was the Warren County Fair queen (2021-2022). While in high school, Ashley was valedictorian (2020-2021). In volleyball, Ashley was All-Conference, All-State Academic Player (10th-12th), 2020 Volleyball Coaches Award; Warren County Fair-2019 Intermediate Beef Showmanship Winner; and 4-H Top Club Achiever-Senior Division 2020.

Community/Service Activities: Ashley helped raise money for domestic violence victims through True North of Columbia.  She helped raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis through Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis. Ashley was a speaker at a Veteran’s Day event and she was an active participant in the Warren County Fair showing steers. Ashley has shown and sold steers at the Warren County Fair for five years. She is responsible for feeding, grooming, and training them for the shows.

During high school, Ashley’s activities were: Summer School Tutoring (30 hours); Volleyball Youth Summer Camp Assistant (40 hours); and volunteering through the National Honor Society (3 Hours/Week).

Work Experience: Ashley is currently not working to focus on college but plans to go back to working at Rural King during the summer break.  In high school, Ashley worked an average of 25 hours a week in agricultural retail at Rural King.

Ashley was honored to be a recipient of the scholarship because it is a great organization that supports its members. In her first semester in college, she was very dedicated to her studies receiving all A’s.

Savannah graduated in May 2022 from Monroe City R-1 High School, Monroe City, MO with a 4.143 weighted GPA and 25 ACT score. Savannah plans to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO undecided on a major. However, she is leaning towards a pre-medical major in pharmacology to become a pharmacist.

Extracurricular Activities: Savannah was president of the National Honor Society (2021-2022); in Student Council (2018-2022); Junior Class President (2020-2021), Senior Class President (2021-2022); Future Business Leaders of America Treasurer (2018-2022), Choir Member (2018-2022); Choir President (2021-2022); Panther Players Club (2018-2022); Science Club (2021-2022) and Basketball (2021-2022).

Honors and Awards: Savannah is on the A Honor Roll.  She was accepted into District, Conference, and Chamber Choir.  She was accepted into the National Honor Society and was elected as her school’s President. Savannah was the Science Fair Grand Champion and received Future Business Leaders of America District placings and made it to State.

Community/Service Activities: Savannah was involved in two events of community service activities each semester for the National Honor Society. Examples are helping at the local Fall Festival, trash pick-ups, food bank, helping at Miracles ‘N Progress Kids Fishing Tournament, and nursing home volunteer work.

Work Experience: Savannah does not work through the school year, but instead, helps at home doing dishes, laundry, playing with her sister, and taking care of her cat, Walter. Throughout the past two summers, Savannah has worked at Indian Creek Marina on Mark Twain Lake.

Savannah believes that receiving the scholarship would motivate and inspire her to give her full effort each day in college. Receiving the scholarship would help ease the college’s financial burden. It would allow her to be more selective in how she spends her free time and to be passionate throughout her schoolwork. It would motivate her to strive towards her goals.

The school counselor appraised Savannah as a leader in academics, athletics, and theater and as a student with outstanding abilities. No matter where you go for post-secondary education it is a huge expense and recommended yes for financial aid.