2025 AWA Student Scholarships Awarded
The Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corporation (AWABC) awarded 19 scholarships totaling $15,250 to Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA) members during their annual AWA Day program on Saturday, April 5. Scholarships were awarded from the AWA Scholarship fund, Demeter, the Larry Satter Memorial Fund, the Nicole Bangart Memorial Fund, and the Kelsey Jo Olson Memorial travel scholarship.
One of the original scholarships offered through the AWA organization is in honor of Delma Donald Woodburn. Delma shared an interest in women’s success in agriculture and provided encouragement and resources to AWA. This year’s recipient of the $1,000 Delma Woodburn Memorial Scholarship is Faith Baerwolf, a junior from Columbus, Wis. majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Life Sciences Communication.
The $1,000 Dr. David Dickson Scholarship was presented to Jenna Gries, a junior from Manitowoc, Wis. studying Dairy Science with certificates in Agricultural Business Management and Life Sciences Communication. Dr. David Dickson was known around the world for his dairy cattle evaluation and coaching skills. He made significant contributions to AWA and mentored many members.
Cynthia Benevenga was a member of Demeter, a believer in women’s equality and scholarship, and a great supporter of AWA. The recipient of the $1,000 Cynthia Benevenga Memorial Scholarship is Amanda Bender, a junior from Walworth, Wis. studying Plant Pathology.
Five AWA Active Member Scholarships were awarded. Madison Kwak, a freshman studying Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, was the recipient of the $1,000 AWA Active Member Scholarship. Bailey Botterman, Haylie Habeck, Mariah Miller, and Christina Bochkova were recipients of a $500 AWA Active Member Scholarship. Bailey is a sophomore from Genoa, Ill. studying Legal Studies with a Public Policy certificate. Haylie is a freshman from Cascade, Wis. majoring in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences with a certificate in Agricultural Business Management. Mariah is a sophomore from DeForest, Wis. studying Genetics & Genomics. Christina is a freshman from Fitchburg, Wis. majoring in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences.
AWA House Resident Scholarships were awarded to three young women. Emily Sydow, a freshman from Columbus, Wis. studying Agricultural & Applied Economics with a Public Policy certificate, was the recipient of the $1,000 AWA House Resident Scholarship. Maryann Gudenkauf, a junior from Watertown, Wis. studying Dairy Science, and Olivia Uttech, a freshman from Oconomowoc, Wis. studying Dairy Science, were awarded $500 AWA House Resident Scholarships.
Lauren Breunig, Brianna Meyer, Josephine Ammons, and Alexandria McCourt each received $1,000 scholarships provided by Demeter. Demeter is a non-profit organization that provides fellowship and supports scholarships and internships for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Lauren is a junior from Sauk City, Wis. studying Life Sciences Communication. Brianna is a sophomore from Chilton, Wis. studying Dairy Science. Josephine is a sophomore from Wellesley, Mass. studying Agricultural Business Management with a Public Policy certificate. Alexandria is a junior from Fond du Lac, Wis. studying Textiles and Fashion Design.
Two $1,000 Dr. Larry Satter Memorial scholarships made possible by the Dr. Larry Satter Endowment Fund at the UW Foundation were awarded to Clarissa Ulness, a junior from Valders, Wis. studying Dairy Science with certificates in Life Sciences Communication and Art Studio and Kelsey Hardy, a sophomore from Dodgeville, Wis. studying Dairy Science with a Life Sciences Communication certificate. Dr. Satter, a dairy nutrition scientist at the USDA, was a staunch supporter of AWA as another early advocate of the AWA house.
The Nicole Bangart Memorial Scholarship was established in 2015 in memory of AWA and UW-Madison alumna Nicole Bangart through a partnership with the Bangart family, Brady Kees, and AWA. In 2021, this award was finalized through the UW Foundation. The recipient of the $1,000 Nicole Bangart Memorial Scholarship was Natalie Hensen, a sophomore from Waunakee, Wis. studying Agronomy and Animal & Veterinary Biosciences.
An additional scholarship was presented in honor of another AWA member. The Kelsey Jo Olson Memorial travel scholarship honors her memory by awarding a travel scholarship to a current AWA and NAMA member to offset the costs of the National Marketing Competition. Jenna Kudrna, a sophomore from Janesville, Wis. studying Life Sciences Communication with an Agricultural Business Management certificate, was awarded this year’s $250 Kelsey Jo Olson Memorial Scholarship.
