CLEARFIELD – Penn State Cooperative Extension of Clearfield County is pleased to announce that Benjamin D. Kline is the 2009 recipient of the Mary Fisher-Owens Memorial Trust Scholarship. Benjamin is the 18 year old son of Kevin and Christine Kline of Clearfield. Benjamin is a 2009 graduate of Clearfield Area High School, where he graduated with honors, and he is currently a freshman at Penn Stat University – DuBois campus, majoring in Animal Science. His future career goal is to become a large animal veterinarian.
Benjamin currently belongs to the Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council, the Clearfield FFA Chapter, and the Clearfield County 4-H Beef Club, where he currently serves as club president. Over his years in the 4-H and FFA programs, Benjamin has made several contributions to both organizations. Benjamin helped implement the Clearfield County 4-H & FFA Master Showman Contest held during the Clearfield County Fair the past two years. Benjamin was a co-chairperson of the event this year, which is sponsored by Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council. For the past two years, Benjamin along with fellow 4-H teen council members, has been involved with Clearfield County’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Days and has helped organize and present the animal safety station each year. Benjamin actively participates in Clearfield County Fair and has held 4-H and FFA projects in the areas of beef steer, dairy cattle, and poultry. Benjamin received the honor of having the Grand Campion Market Beef Steer of the Clearfield County 4-H & FFA Livestock Show & Sale consecutively in 2008 and 2009.
Outside of his involvement with the 4-H and FFA program, Benjamin is an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church and was a past recipient of the Christian Leadership Award. While in high school Benjamin was active on the prom committee and Clearfield Bison Baseball Team.
“It has been a true honor having Benjamin as part of the 4-H program. Again and again, Ben has proven extreme dedication to all of his 4-H projects and responsibilities and is one of the hardest workers I know. Ben always maintains a positive attitude and has served as a great role model and mentor to younger members. I am confident that Ben’s determination to achieve all the goals he sets for himself will take him very far in life” Jana Davidson, Children & Youth Development Educator
The Mary Fisher-Owens Memorial Trust Scholarship is open to all Clearfield County residents entering into Penn State University’s College of Agriculture Sciences as full-time, first-semester freshman. Applications are available at the Clearfield County Cooperative Extension Office and that deadline to apply is May 1st. The Mary Fisher-Owens Memorial Trust Scholarship is sponsored by Hazen Owens of Olanta and is based on the interest of a $10,000 trust fund.
4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Cooperative Extension for all youth between the ages of 8 and 18 as of Jan. 1, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, or veteran status. To learn more about the 4-H program or to locate a 4-H club, contact Jana Davidson at the Clearfield County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-765-7878 Ext. 3.
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.