New York College Students Win American Dairy Association North East Scholarships

Annika Donlick of Cortland, N.Y., was selected to receive the Dawn Houppert Memorial Scholarship, and Aidan Ainslie of Otsego, N.Y., received the Leo Briggs Memorial Scholarship, both presented by American Dairy Association North East, at the New York State Dairy Ambassador Competition on February 21, in Syracuse.

Annika Donlick

Aiden Ainslie

Donlick earned the $1,000 Dawn Houppert Memorial Scholarship, given to a college student who is a current or former dairy promoter in New York State, and has completed one year of post-secondary education. The scholarship was developed in memory of Houppert, who worked for dairy farmers and ADA North East for more than two decades, including managing the dairy princess program for 10 years.

Donlick served as the 2021-2022 Cortland County Dairy Ambassador and 2022 New York State Associate Dairy Ambassador. She is currently a junior at SUNY Cobleskill studying animal science with a minor in agriculture education. Donlick credits her involvement in dairy promotion for fostering her interest in agriculture, and for her interest in educating consumers about dairy and the agriculture industry.

“I learned many aspects of the dairy industry in the way a consumer would, and this allows me to connect with them,” said Donlick. “Now also being strongly connected to the dairy industry, I can use both aspects to answer consumer questions while promoting farmers.”

Ainslie received the $500 Leo Briggs Memorial American Dairy Association North East Scholarship given annually to a college student who also has completed one year of post-secondary education and is from the ADA North East territory. The Briggs award is given to someone who followed Briggs’ legacy of leadership in dairy promotion.

Ainslie is a sophomore at Cornell University studying animal science with a dairy concentration. “I want to pursue a career in agriculture because there is a need to feed the world’s growing population, and feed it sustainably,” said Ainslie. “I have a deep passion for science and the improvement of crop and animal products.”