US dairy students awarded national checkoff scholarships
Top applicant receives $3,500 Loper Memorial Scholarship
3 September 2025
1 minute read
By: US dairy checkoff has awarded 12 academic scholarships to students pursuing degrees with a focus on dairy and showing strong potential as future industry leaders, according to a recent press release.
The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB), through Dairy Management Inc.—which manages the national dairy checkoff—annually awards $2,500 scholarships to 11 students. One recipient is also selected to receive the $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
Eligible fields of study include journalism, communications and public relations, marketing, business, economics, nutrition, food science and agricultural education. Criteria include academic achievement, interest in a dairy-related career, and demonstrated leadership, initiative and integrity.
Rachel Visser, a student at the University of Minnesota double majoring in agricultural and food business management and agricultural communications and marketing, has been named the 2025–26 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship recipient.
The 11 students receiving $2,500 scholarships are:
- Cassie Bohnert (Iowa State University)
- Shelby Butler (University of Kentucky)
- Sara Kennedy (Pennsylvania State University)
- Katie Ketchum (University of Wisconsin–River Falls)
- Clancey Krahn (Oklahoma State University)
- Sienna Mahaffy (Oklahoma State University)
- Ava Mitchell (Michigan State University)
- Emma Parrigon (Ozarks Technical Community College)
- Chloe Rogers (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo)
- Iris Schilderink (Texas Tech University)
- Jessemy Sharp (South Dakota State University)
