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Kutztown Fair Scholarships

The Kutztown Fair Association is proud to introduce the winners of the Kutztown Fair Youth Scholarships.

The recipients have a proven record of leadership, community service, and participation in the Kutztown Fair. These outstanding young people will continue their education with the assistance of a scholarship presented by the Kutztown Fair Association. Scholarship funds are made available from proceeds provided by the Kutztown Fair Association and the Ag Benefit Auction.

Meet Our Previous Year Scholarships Recipients

2018 Kutztown Fair Scholarship Winners

 

Kennedi Cavalier, daughter of Chantel Cavalier, Kutztown, is a first-year student at Kutztown University. Her major is Accounting. She is a graduate of Kutztown Area High School, where she was an active member of the Kutztown FFA.

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She served as secretary for 2 years and has been very active in many FFA activities, including FFA State Days, Big E FFA Competition, National FFA Convention, FFA State Legislative Conference, and other local FFA projects. During high school she served as a cheerleader for 4 years and was a member of the Band Front for 4 years. Kennedi has also been active in several Berks County 4-H Clubs. Her involvement in 4-H includes membership in the Eastern Berks 4-H Dairy Club, serving as president for 1 year and helping to run several other 4-H projects. She has also been a 6 year member of the Kutztown Sew N ’Sews 4-H Textile Club, having served over the years as vice president and president. Her citizenship activities are quite impressive, having helped at numerous events sponsored by Friends Inc., Kutztown Bicentennial Celebration, Kutztown Historical Society, Gary Day Senior Day, Rotary International, Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, and Berks County Dairy Ambassador Program. Kennedi is also a graduate of the Pennsylvania School of Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences Class of 2017. In addition to all of these activities, Kennedi is a Junior Herdsman at Corner View Farm and a receptionist at Kutztown Auto Company. Her Kutztown Fair involvement has included exhibiting dairy cattle, flowers, and clothing projects. With a resume such as the one above, we see a bright future for Kennedi in the years to come.

 

Hannah Sanders, daughter of Shannon Sanders, Lenhartsville, is a first-year student at Arcadia University. She is majoring in Journalism/ Media & Communication. Hannah has a strong interest in photography and over the past few years has entered many photographs into competition at the Kutztown Fair.

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She won a Best of Show ribbon during the first year that she competed. Hannah is a 2018 graduate of Kutztown Area High School, where she was president of Leo Club, was a 4 year member of Student Council, and served quite a few years on the Student Advisory Committee. She also helped run the Minithon for 4 years, including a 2 year leadership role. Over the last several years Hannah has participated in 3 church youth mission trips. Some of Hannah’s citizenship activities include helping Opportunity House, Friends Inc., and Relay for Life (6 years). She has also been an important volunteer at the Kutztown Fair by being a tremendous help with set up and operation of the Beltzner Hall exhibits. Hannah’s enthusiasm for the Kutztown Fair and community service was emphatically expressed in her Scholarship Essay. She plans to continue volunteering and exhibiting at the fair for years to come.

Sarah Vamvakias is the daughter of George and Beth Vamvakias, Boyertown, PA. She is a 2018 graduate of Boyertown Area High School and is a freshman at the State University of New York Canton, majoring in Veterinary Technology. Sarah helps manage the Vamvakias Family’s flock of wool breed sheep and is a 10 year member of the Berks County 4-H Sheep & Lamb Club.

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For 6 of the 10 years, Sarah has served as a Secretary, Vice president, or President. Through the Teen Leader program, Sarah has mentored younger club members on numerous occasions and has a caring relationship with many club members. Several years ago Sarah was chosen as the Berks County Lamb and Wool Queen and did a fine job promoting the sheep industry at local events. During high school Sarah was a member of the Key Club, meals for the Marching Band, and the Stealth Club. She has volunteered in the Special Olympics and Meals on Wheels programs. Sarah was also a recipient of the Good Citizenship Award at Boyertown High School. Other Citizenship activities include church activities and B.A.R.N. Farm Tour events and demonstrations. Being a certified Lifeguard is another one of her accomplishments. Sarah has exhibited sheep & wool fleeces at the Kutztown Fair for many years and is very appreciative of the experiences she received from her fair participation. She hopes to become a veterinarian for large animals.

 

2017 Kutztown Fair Scholarship Winners

MEET ZAREN KERPER
Zaren Kerper, daughter of Richard and Rachel Kerper, Fleetwood, is a first-year student at Kutztown University.  Her major is English.  From an early age, Zaren has helped work on the family farm.  She is a graduate of Oley Valley High School, where she was a member of the Oley FFA for 4 years.  Besides having served as a vice president and a president of the organization, she has been very active in many FFA activities.  Some of her other high school activities include Color Guard, Drama Club, Chorus, PAWS Squad, and the National Honor Society.  Over the years, Zaren has been a member of every one of the Berks County 4-H Livestock Clubs.  Her involvement in 4-H includes membership in the Berks Sheep Club, Berks Rabbit & Cavy Club, Berks Goat Club, Northern Berks Dairy Club, Berks Beef Club, Berks Swine Club, Berks Livestock Judging Club, and the Berks Dairy Beef Club.  Zaren also has a sheep project that includes Lincoln Sheep, which are quite rare in our part of the country.  Zaren has been a very active volunteer in groups such as the local food bank, the Oley Library, Berks Graveyard Preservation Association, High School Teacher Aide, and the Oley Pot Pie Dinners.   In her application essay, Zaren expressed her great enthusiasm for the Kutztown Fair and how it has helped her develop a passion for agriculture.  After graduating, Zaren hopes to become an Agriculture Journalist.  As a college freshman, she has already written several articles that have appeared in local newspapers.  So, we see Zaren as being well on her way to becoming a valuable part of our agricultural community.

MEET COLLIN KAMP
Collin Kamp, son of Chad and Alice Kamp, Shoemakersville, is a first-year student at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas.  He is majoring in a two-year program in Agricultural Diesel Mechanics.  Collin’s family lives on a livestock farm near Adams Hotel and he is a 2017 graduate of Hamburg High School.  As a member of 4 different Berks County 4-H Clubs, Collin has served in several different offices.  He has been a member of the 4-H Swine Club for 10 years and served as a vice president, treasurer, news reporter, and a teen leader.  As a 7-year member of the Goat Club, he again served as vice president, treasurer, and a teen leader.  Collin was a 6-year member of the Beef Club and a 3-year member of the Dairy Beef Club, and again helped as a teen leader.  Some of his other organization memberships include Zion UCC Church, National Junior Swine Association, Junior Angus Association, and the Berks County Cattlemen’s’ Association.  Volunteerism is also an important part of Collin’s life.  He has been a 4-H camp counsellor, helped with Habitat for Humanity, helped prepare Little League baseball fields, helped clean up Perry Recreation Park, and went on a church mission trip to Maine.   In 2016, Collin earned 3rd place in the Penn State Skillathon Contest and went on to the national contest in Louisville, Kentucky.  He also served on the Berks County 4-H Development Board and was a delegate to the 2016 National Youth Agri-business Summit in Washington, D.C.  This past year, Collin exhibited 2 Dairy Beef, 2 Goats, 2 Market Hogs, and 2 Breeding Hogs at our fair. In his scholarship application essay, Collin thanked the Kutztown Fair for providing him with opportunities for growth. After he is finished with his academic pursuits, he plans to again be part of the Kutztown Fair and we look forward to him returning and helping area farmers repair their farm machinery.

Criteria for Scholarship Applications

1. Eligibility is open to any youth who has been a Kutztown Fair participant for at least 2 consecutive years
(including the current year).

2. The applicant must have graduated from high school and be currently enrolled in a school of higher learning as of August 1 of the current year.

3. Scholarship amounts may vary from year to year depending on available funds.

4. Selection will be based upon the following criteria:
a. Citizenship
b. Showmanship and ethics
c. Academic performance
d. Fair participation
e. Volunteer fair activities
f. Other activities

(Note: See invitation to volunteer projects on bottom of page.)

5. The scholarship money must be used to help finance a two to four year higher education program.

6. The applicant must complete the application and write a one-page essay including information such as their
background, future plans, past and current activities, and planned use of scholarship funds.

7. The application deadline will be Sept. 30.

Scholarship applicants are encouraged to volunteer to assist with the fair activities and functions. We need announcers, show clerks, and people to help keep the barns and grounds clean. Contact an Ag Committee member to volunteer for any of these jobs.

Apply by downloading this form, and mail it to P.O Box 177 Kutztown, PA 19530.

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