January 24, 2012

Westgen is pleased to announce the four recipients of its inaugural Westgen Education Awards. A contribution from the Westgen Endowment Fund made it possible to double the size of the previous scholarship program, to provide four $2,000 awards in 2011. Westgen’s former scholarship program consisted of one $1,000 award at each of the four provincial universities with an agriculture program in western Canada. In the new program, eligibility was broadened to include students from western Canada studying agriculture or veterinary medicine at any university or college.

The overall quantity and caliber of applicants this year was impressive, with the 2011 awards going to very worthy students.

Beverly Chard from Dewdney, BC is in her first year of an Animal Science degree at the University of Saskatchewan with plans to continue on to study veterinary medicine.
Brittney Schurmann, a University of Saskatchewan Animal Science grad originally from Abbotsford, BC, has recently begun her Masters project on ruminant nutrition at the U of S.
Danielle Saelman of Abbotsford, BC is in the third year of an Animal Science degree at the University of Saskatchewan.
Lorene Vanderwal of Abbotsford, BC is completing her final year of an Agricultural Economics degree at the University of Guelph.

Congratulations to each of the recipients. Westgen and the Westgen Endowment Fund are strong supporters of western Canadian dairy youth, in the knowledge that these are the future leaders of the dairy industry.

Applications for the 2012 awards will be available in August. Students enrolled in post-secondary agriculture or veterinary medicine programs are eligible to apply. Applicants that did not receive an award are encouraged to apply again in the future.