Maola Local Dairies™ is pleased to announce the selection of 11 outstanding students as recipients of a 2026 Maola Scholarship.
This year, Maola is awarding a total of $5,500 from the Maola Fund to support students as they pursue their educational goals. These scholarships are designed to help offset college expenses for the upcoming academic year and reflect Maola’s continued commitment to supporting education and investing in the future of our farmer families and employees.
“Education plays a meaningful role in supporting strong farms, families, and communities,” said Lindsay Reames, EVP of Membership and Brand. “Through the Maola Fund, these scholarships reflect the commitment our cooperative has to our farmers and employees as they foster the next generation of dairy industry leaders.”
A few of the winners are spotlighted below:
Atley Shafer from Jefferson, Maryland, is the daughter of Brent and Dee Shafer of Shafdon Farms. Atley is the fourth generation on her family farm and hopes to continue the tradition of dairy farming. She will be a freshman this fall at Frederick Community College, where she will major in Business Administration with a minor in Financial Planning Concentration. Atley has been very active in her local 4-H and FFA chapters, where she has held numerous leadership positions. She plans to use her education in business and finance to manage her farm efficiently, support its growth, and contribute positively to both the dairy industry and her local community. “I want to pursue a career in the dairy industry because of my agriculture roots and love for the work. Dairy farming is not an easy job, but it is essential and fulfilling,” said Atley.
Dakota Bush of Lykens, Pennsylvania, is the son of Rebecca Fultz, Field Program Specialist at Maola. Dakota will be a sophomore this fall at Penn State University, where he is majoring in Agricultural Extension and Education, to become an Agricultural Educator in a high school setting. He has been a strong leader in his local 4-H and FFA as well as President of his high school senior class. Dakota said, “Educating, competing, and promoting the agricultural industry and more specifically the dairy industry is important to who I am and who I want to be as an educator.”
Nathan Myers from Union Bridge, Maryland, is the son of John Mike and Sue Myers of MD-Locust Crest Farm. Nathan will be a sophomore this fall at Caroll Community College with plans to transfer to Delaware Valley University. He will be majoring in Animal Science to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. “The biggest reason why I find this profession so interesting is because of how important the veterinarian is to the farmer. Our veterinarians have served as such a blessing to our animals, but also such a blessing to us as friends,” said Nathan.
Norah Bechtel of Curryville, Pennsylvania, is the granddaughter of Jerry and Becky Bechtel of JoBe Farm. She will be a freshman this fall at Penn State University and plans to major in Animal Science, then later pursue a career in nutrition. She has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to agriculture as President of her FFA chapter and a Keystone Degree recipient, while gaining valuable industry knowledge and national-level experience through 4-H dairy judging, the National 4-H Dairy Conference, and Jersey Youth Academy. “Outside of my career, I hope to stay involved in different organizations and associations that will help promote the industry, as well as try to get the youth involved and educated. I find that the younger generation is going to be so important to educate and work with because they will become our future,” said Norah.
Owen Forsythe of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, is the son of Grant and Samantha Forsythe of Valley View Farm. Owen will be a freshman this fall at Delaware Valley University. He will be working toward a degree in Turf Management, a field that plays an important role in supporting sustainable agriculture and dairy operations. According to Owen, “Growing up around agriculture has shown me that dairy farming depends on more than just animal care; it relies on healthy land, responsible resource management, and long-term sustainability. Turf management contributes to these goals by promoting soil health, erosion control, water quality, and efficient land use.”
Other winners include:
- Ainsley Sellers from Lebanon, Pennsylvania
- Caroline Winterstein of Sudlersville, Maryland
- Natalie Love of Williamsport, Maryland
- Regan Jackson of Boyce, Virginia
- Sara Stoltzfus of Berlin, Pennsylvania
- Sydney Gentry from Mooresville, North Carolina
Maola congratulates these talented individuals on their achievements and wishes them continued success in their academic and professional pursuits.
To be eligible for a Moala scholarship, students must be the son, daughter, or employee of a current co-op member or the son or daughter of a Maola employee and attending an accredited college or university.
The scholarships are awarded through the Maola Fund. The Maola Fund goes beyond scholarships to include sponsorships and product donations for dairy industry events, programs, and organizations that share Maola’s mission of supporting our local communities. For more information on the Maola Fund, contact Virginia Funk, fund administrator, at vfunk@mdvamilk.com.
Maola Local Dairies™ is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full-suite of nutritious dairy products. Maola processes milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through our network of dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit www.maolamilk.com.
