Cascade 4-H Foundation Youth Scholarships - MSU Extension Cascade County

Please visit montana4h.org for Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarship information.

Foundation Scholarship Applications are submitted through ZSuite (those without a ZSuite account can apply through https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/36795) or emailed to Cascade 4-H Foundation at cascade@montana.edu.

CASCADE 4-H FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

PURPOSE

At the heart of 4-H is a commitment to learning, leadership and service. To help promote those endeavors, Cascade County 4-H foundation supports scholarships for pursuing continuing education opportunities after high-school graduation.

APPLICATION PREREQUISITES

Candidates remain eligible to be scholarship recipients for six years after high school graduation.

Procedure

DEADLINE

Complete on ZSuite (those without a ZSuite account can apply through https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/36795) or email on or before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on March 31 of the current year or the following business day if the 31^st falls on a weekend or holiday.

SUBMIT TO: Cascade 4-H Foundation at cascade@montana.edu

SELECTION:

Selections shall be made by the Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship Committee. Recipients shall be notified in May.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

45% 4-H Involvement

25% Community involvement and school activities

35% Essay

PAYMENT:

Payment shall be disbursed by July 15th annually, jointly payable to the recipient and the post-secondary institution of his/her choice contingent that all requirements are met.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST

Applicant must be/have been a Cascade County 4-H member at the time of his or her high school graduation or equivalent.

Please assemble application packet in the order listed below. Failure to include any of the following items below will result in application disqualification.

APPLICATION: Completed application, limiting essay questions to 300 words.
TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Two letters of recommendation, preferably one from a 4-H volunteer.
CURRENT TRANSCRIPT: A current high school or post-secondary transcript must be provided.

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

Complete the Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship Application to apply for the Cascade County 4-H Memorial Scholarship.

Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship
Up to seven scholarships of $500.00 each shall be awarded with priority given to first time applicants.
The scholarship money awarded to repeat recipients will be up to $1,000, allocating the proceeds equitably if less people apply than we have budgeted for.

Download Fillable Application

KEELY DRUMMOND-SCHEARER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

A poster with a pictures of a blonde woman with a horse and another picture of her with two sheep above the text Keely Drummond-Schearer Memorial Scholarship $1000 Seniors in horse and livestock projects - take a look! Due April 15, 2025 Find out more on the Cascade County 4-H website. Honoring a legacy. Empowering the Future.

A $1000 scholarship to be awarded to a qualified applicant. Tentatively set for a minimum of ten years: 2025-2034.

Purpose:

This scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a Cascade County 4-H member to honor Keely Drummond-Schearer.

Keely was a decorated 10-year member of Tiger Butte 4-H Club in Cascade County. She dabbled in many projects, but her favorites were Market Lamb and Horse. Keely had a passion for helping those in her community, traveling the world, and promoting the western lifestyle.

In 2020, Keely was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma, a rare cancer of the eye. She battled bravely for four years, never faltering in the pursuit of her grandest dreams. Keely passed away in August 2024 at age 23.

Prerequisites:

Applicant must be a Cascade County 4-H member at the time of his/her high school graduation.
Applicant must have been active for a minimum of two years in either the Horse or Lamb Projects OR a Grand Champion Intermediate or Senior Round Robin Showman at any time in his/her 4-H career with any 4-H animal species.
Applicant must be enrolled in a post-secondary education program or trade/vocational school program at time of application.

Application Procedure:

Submit the following to KDSMemorialScholarship4H@gmail.com.
- Completed application form.
- Official high school transcript.
- A 300-700 word essay discussing your journey through 4-H, including your projects, future plans, and the impact that 4-H has had on your goals.
- A 30 second to 1 minute video recording about how you would promote 4-H for future generations (Additional information attached).
- Two letters of reference—one from a high school teacher/administrator or 4-H leader AND one from another non-relative adult.
- Proof of enrollment in post-secondary education programs (not limited to Montana).

Criteria for Selection:

Applicants will be selected based on dedication to 4-H, accomplishments in school, community involvement, future plans, and professionalism in submitted work as well as multimedia presentation.

Application and all required documents are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025 and can be submitted to KDSMemorialScholarship4H@gmail.com.

The deadline for application to be submitted has been extended to Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Multimedia Submission Requirements

As part of your application for the Keely Drummond-Schearer Memorial Scholarship, please submit a short video that highlights your passion for 4-H and promotes its value to future generations.

Your video should address the following question, but feel free to be creative and open-minded with your answer.

Why is 4-H important for youth, and how can it inspire future generations to grow as leaders and changemakers?

Include in your thirty (30) second to one (1) minute video:

A brief introduction including your name, age, and 4-H club.
Your response to the posed question: Why is 4-H important for youth, and how can it inspire future generations to grow as leaders and changemakers?

Format:

Please submit in HD, MP4 or MOV format. Presentation video should be clear, audible and of good visual quality. Use natural lighting and ensure that your audio is free from background noise.

Creativity:

We encourage you to be creative! There are no requirements to how your video should be filmed: incorporate personal anecdotes, actors, or your 4-H projects! Just remember to address the question.

Submission Guidelines:

Submit your video to KDSMemorialScholarship4H@gmail.com with the rest of your application materials by the submission deadline.

Videos will be evaluated based on:

Message Clarity: Does the video clearly convey why 4-H is valuable?
Personal Connection: Does the video reflect your unique experience and passion for 4-H?
Creativity and Engagement: Is the video engaging, memorable, and appealing to the target audience?
Adherence to Guidelines: Does the video stay within the time limit and follow the submission instructions?

This video submission is not only a component of your scholarship application but also a chance to reflect on and celebrate your 4-H Journey. We look forward to seeing your creativity shine through as you share your story.