| CHRISTIAN DEGENER
$1000 Scholarship Over the past 12 years Chris Stanzione Degener has been an active member of Rensselaer County 4-H and has dedicated himself to the Wild Things 4-H Club, Teen Council, Teen Ambassadors, Teen Exchange, and the New York State Science Ambassador Team. He started out with projects in fiber arts, sheep, goat and foods and nutrition and now he is a teen leader that county staff often call on to help out with projects or events. You could always count on Chris to be a teen manager at the county snack bar, help with county dog classes, read during Ag Literacy Week, collect election results for the news channels, and attend 4-H Program Development Committee Meetings. He has been a representative at Capital Days the past two years; once as a NYS Science Ambassador and once as a county representative to talk with our state leaders about his experiences in 4-H and how it will help him as a young adult going off to college. Chris has also taken on the responsibilities of being a Focus Assistant at Career Explorations and presenting a short workshop at State Teen Action Reps Retreat (STARR). Chris will further his education at Hudson Valley Community College where he will study Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management |
CONNOR HOYT
$500 Scholarship
Connor Hoyt has been an active member in Rensselaer County 4-H for 11 years. His career in 4-H with Forest Friends, Teen Council, Teen Ambassadors and involvement at Dyken Pond has truly molded him into a responsible citizen and advocate for the environment. Connor excels in GPS technology, archery and is very knowledgeable and well versed in natural resources. He uses this awareness to help younger 4-H members when he is evaluating their projects at Winter Fair and teaching county wide programs for 4-H as well as programs at Dyken Pond. Connor has also taken on many leadership roles on the local, county and state levels. On the local level he has served as his club’s president and treasurer; on the county level he has represented 4-H at Grafton Winter Fest, served as Teen Council treasurer, lead activities at Pre-Teen Fun Day and helped run the Schaghticoke Fair Snack Bar as a teen manager; and lastly, on the state level he served as a Focus Assistant for Career Explorations at Cornell University. Connor will continue his education at SUNY Cortland where he will study Business Economics with a concentration in the Environment.
| MARILYN LAMB
$500 Scholarship Marilyn Lamb is a 12-year Rensselaer County 4-H member. Throughout her career her primary focus has been Dairy Cattle. Over the years, Marilyn has developed a successful line of Holstein Cattle in her dairy production project that she exhibits both in the 4-H Dairy Show as well as the Open Class Dairy Show at the Schaghticoke Fair. She has won several awards over the years and this past year she also exhibited at the New York State Fair. Marilyn has been very active in her county club as she has taken on every possible role including club educator, whose job is to mentor younger members. She has lead the Dairy Bowl Team as captain to the district competition for two years and will be concluding her year as the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess at the end of April. Marilyn has taken advantage of 4-H trips such as Career Explorations to Cornell University and the Ag Business Trip to SUNY Cobleskill. Through all these experiences, as well as growing up on a local dairy farm, Marilyn realizes the importance of educating consumers on where their food comes from. Marilyn will attend SUNY Cobleskill in the fall to pursue a degree in Agricultural Business. |