AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — The Alabama 4-H Foundation is helping 35 Alabama 4-H members achieve their dreams of higher education. This year, the foundation will award 33 $1,000 scholarships to graduating 4-H members in 23 Alabama counties. The foundation is also awarding two $1,500 endowment scholarships. Members can use these scholarships for any post-secondary education during the 2023–2024 academic year—including colleges, universities, community colleges or trade schools.
“The Alabama 4-H Foundation is committed to seeing young people succeed, and there is no better way to display this kind of dedication than through scholarship support,” said Seth Tuttle, development officer for the Alabama 4-H Foundation. “We’re honored to have awarded 35 scholarships to 4-H’ers from all across our great state. It is our goal to help these young people continue on their life journey and represent the values of Alabama 4-H.”
As part of the application process, students were required to submit a resume, a letter of recommendation and their 4-H story.
4-H makes an impact
Luke Stephens of Clarke County and Abby Burgess of Blount County are the recipients of the Alabama 4-H Foundation’s two $1,500 endowment scholarships. Stephens received the Barbara D. Thorne 4-H Endowment, and Abby Burgess received the Beth and Dr. Thomas Elliott 4-H Endowed Scholarship.
Abby Burgess, a Blount County 4-H member and scholarship recipient, said 4-H means the world to her.
“4-H has allowed me so many opportunities and brought me so many friends and connections that I will cherish forever,” Burgess said. “I have been doing 4-H projects since I was 9 years old but have been involved in 4-H since I was 5. The thing that I love the most about the 4-H projects are the diversity that they have and the fact that there is something for everyone. They are interactive, fun and–most of all—they are unique.”
Amy Burgess, the Blount County Extension Coordinator, said as a 4-H parent, the 4-H Foundation Scholarships are a completed circle.
“With the awarding of the scholarship, my daughter’s career-long 4-H project comes to completion,” Amy Burgess said. “She now has a tangible reminder of the heartbreaks and successes, as well as all of the life lessons learned while being a 4-H member. Because of this acknowledgement, she will be better equipped to meet the requirements of college life as well as become even more grateful to an organization that has been–and hopefully will continue to be–such a large part of her life.”
Scholarship recipients
Thomas Elliott, part of the namesake of the Beth and Dr. Thomas Elliott 4-H Endowed Scholarship, served for many years as the secretary/treasurer of the Alabama 4-H Foundation. He believes in the mission of Alabama 4-H.
“All of us have been assisted by different individuals during our life’s journey,” Elliott said. “Beth and I wanted to assist young Alabama 4-H Club members in their quest for a college education at Auburn University. Our vehicle to accomplish that desire was to endow a scholarship specifically for that purpose.”
In addition to the two endowment scholarships, the following 4-H members were awarded a $1,000 Alabama 4-H Foundation scholarship:
- Abbeigh Jo Gibson, Washington County
- Abbie Tomlinson, Monroe County
- Aiden MacKenzie, Limestone County
- Alexia Dockery, Tuscaloosa County
- Angelica Joy Vercher, Shelby County
- Breanna Black, Marshall County
- BreeAnna Centers, Etowah County
- Carrington Mariyah Robertson, Montgomery County
- Cecil Perry, Choctaw County
- Corey Jack Naylor, Lawrence County
- Courtney M. Thomas, Lee County
- Dalton Boykin, Clarke County
- Danielle Chapman, Calhoun County
- Elizabeth Kirkland, Henry County
- Emma Foster, Crenshaw County
- Emma Wiggins, Mobile County
- Heather Sinclair, DeKalb County
- Isaac Wilson, Talladega County
- James Quinlivan, Henry County
- Jensen Fallin, Blount County
- Kalen Alexander, Russell County
- Karlee Kirkland, Houston County
- Mack Hollis, Houston County
- Macee New, Etowah County
- Maggie McAbee, Lawrence County
- Makena New, Etowah County
- Matthew Padgett, Clarke County
- Naomi Claire Huckabee, Clarke County
- Rachel Webb, Barbour County
- Sarah Short, Jefferson County
- Stanley Stoutamire Jr., Shelby County
- Tyler Crim, Tuscaloosa County
- Wheeler Allen, Lauderdale County
Receiving Scholarship Recognition
“The youth that receive foundation scholarships represent the breadth and scope of the skills, passions and possibilities of our state’s young people,” said Molly Gregg, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System assistant director for Alabama 4-H. “Investment in our young people with time, finances and care sets the stage for a better and stronger Alabama that is ready to adapt to meet the challenges and opportunities of our collective future.”
4-H invites scholarship winners and their parents/guardians to attend the 4-H Competitive Events Day June 23 at the 4-H Center to receive formal recognition. Alabama 4-H is also recognizing scholarship recipients on social media. Visit the Alabama 4-H Facebook page to see daily posts recognizing high school seniors receiving scholarships. The scholarship winners will also be highlighted on the Alabama 4-H Foundation website at www.Alabama4HFoundation.org.
“These young people represent the best of Alabama and 4-H,” Gregg said. “They are positive forces for their communities and our world.”
About Alabama 4-H
For more than 100 years, Alabama 4-H has been helping young people develop into resourceful citizens and responsible leaders. Alabama 4-H is part of Alabama Extension and uses regional Extension agents as well as community volunteers, corporate partners, alumni and parents to deliver youth development programs in all 67 counties.
Alabama 4-H engages with more than 109,000 youth each year. It seeks to empower them with the skills to lead their communities and grow into future leaders. For more information, visit www.Alabama4H.com.
