Michigan State University, Michigan 4-H Youth Development and the Michigan 4-H Foundation  annually offer scholarships to 4-H’ers.  For details about all of the available 4-H scholarships, continue reading below:
 
The Michigan 4-H Scholarship web page is available with all of the application materials for you to download and share with 4-H volunteers and families. The direct link for the Scholarship page is
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/scholar.html. Following is a summary of the information available:
 
General Eligibility
 
The web page includes a summary sheet of scholarships and deadlines for 2010-11. This handout can be included with mailings and would be helpful to share during leader orientation meetings.
 
Michigan 4-H Youth Development Scholarships
 
Next is information on the Michigan 4-H Youth Development Scholarships. There is one application packet for the four scholarships listed, with a December 1, 2010 deadline. Applicants complete pages 1 to 3 and on page 1, check off which of the four scholarships they’re applying for. Each of the four scholarships has separate information pages with requirements that must also be completed to be considered for that award. The four scholarships are:
·         Alpha Gamma Rho 4-H Scholarship ($400, must have 4-H club participation for at least one year, be an MSU undergraduate for fall 2011)
·         Michigan Farm and Garden Association 4-H Scholarship (range in value from $360 to $1000. Several are awarded annually to college undergraduates with financial need and are enrolled in specific programs. More details are available in the application packet.)
·         Michigan Rabbit & Cavy 4-H Scholarship ($400-$500, 4 given annually, must have 4-H rabbit/cavy participation for at least 3 years, be a college freshman for fall 2011)
·         John J. Schunk Memorial 4-H Beef Scholarship ($1000, must have at least 3 years of 4-H beef participation, be a college freshman for fall 2011)
 
Selection committees for Alpha Gamma Rho, John J. Schunk Memorial 4-H Beef and Michigan Rabbit & Cavy scholarships meet in January and winners are announced shortly thereafter. The Michigan Farm and Garden scholarship award selections are made during summer and nominees are notified directly by the Michigan Farm and Garden Association.
 
 
Michigan State University Scholarships
 
1.  Michigan State University 4-H Scholarship.
·         Awarded to Michigan 4-H'ers who are currently high school seniors and applying as freshman for a four-year degree program at Michigan State University.
·         This scholarship award provides $2,500 for four successive years of full-time study at MSU (a $10,000 value).
·         Six recipients are selected annually based on their 4-H involvement, achievements, leadership and service and academic excellence.
·         To be considered, applicants apply for MSU admission by November 1, and submit their MSU 4-H scholarship application to their local county 4-H staff by October  22, 2010. County 4-H staff complete the staff section and forward it to the MSU Office of Admissions by November 1, 2010. 
Alternates to the MSU 4-H scholarship are considered for other scholarship awards thanks to the generosity of donors to the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Selections for MSU 4-H scholarships and Michigan 4-H Foundation scholarships are determined by spring 2011.
 
2.     Michigan State University Grade Pre-College Scholarship.
·         Available to 8th, 9th & 10th graders who attended a 2010 MSU pre-college summer program such as 4-H Exploration Days or 4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp (GLNR).
·         Youth can apply for a $2000 Pre-College Achievement Scholarship (PAS), awarded each year to eighth graders who have attended a pre-college program at MSU. The PAS will be applied toward the student's first year at MSU as a degree-seeking student. Scholarship recipients are not guaranteed admission to MSU and are expected to meet admission requirements upon MSU application.
·         The deadline for this scholarship is December 1, 2010.
 
The application includes a nomination form, personal essay, academic release form, seventh-grade transcript or report card request, teacher recommendation and 4-H staff/program director nomination forms. New this year as page 1, is a helpful checklist for nominees and county staff.
 
Applicants are asked to submit applications to county staff by November 15. County staff complete the 4-H Staff/Program Director Nomination Form and submit the entire application packet to the State 4-H Pre-College program director, Judy Ratkos, by December 1. All applications will be reviewed at the State 4-H Office, before being sent to MSU Admissions.
 
Because about 350 eighth graders attended Exploration Days this past year, each county is limited to no more than five nominees from their Exploration Days participants. There isn’t a limit per county for 4-H GLNR Camp since no county has more than 5 eligible candidates from this pre-college program.

If you have further questions or need more information about Michigan 4-H Scholarships, feel free to contact your local county MSU Eatension Office at 348-1770.