Posted: August 22, 2024
Pennsylvania 4-H has announced this year's recipients of the Allen L. and Richard H. Baker Memorial 4-H Scholarship. Receiving awards are Faith Wolfe, of Centre County, Evangeline McGargle, of Huntingdon County, and Tayler Rafferty, of Jefferson County.
From left to right: Rafferty, McGargle, and Wolfe
The annual scholarship was established to honor a father, Professor Allen L. Baker, and his son, Richard H. Baker, for their years of dedicated service to Penn State.
Professor Allen L. Baker served within the 4-H program for 38 years, including 37 years as the state 4-H club leader. Starting in 1946, Richard H. Baker worked for the University for 38 years, serving as assistant treasurer and director of financial management from 1976 to 1984.
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences awards the scholarship to current or former Pennsylvania 4-H members who have completed at least one semester and are enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at Penn State’s University Park campus or at Commonwealth Campuses.
In the scholarship application, applicants highlight their 4-H project, activity, citizenship, and leadership experiences and describe what they learned and how those experiences contributed to their personal growth throughout their 4-H career. Many also describe how 4-H influenced their field of study and/or career choices.
Wolfe, awarded $2,356, is a sophomore majoring in agricultural and extension education. During her 10 years in Penn State Extension's Centre County 4-H program, she was involved in livestock projects and served on the Centre County 4-H Teen Council, leading efforts to raise funds for the American Heart Association in honor of two late 4-H volunteers.
McGargle, a sophomore animal science major, received $1,750. As a 10-year member of 4-H in Huntingdon County, she was active in livestock judging, exhibited a variety of livestock species and participated in community service projects. She recently earned a Diamond Clover Award by creating an educational pamphlet called "A Blue-Ribbon Buy: A Quick Guide to Supporting Youth at a Junior Livestock Sale." She continues to mentor younger 4-H members through the livestock judging program. At Penn State, she works in a poultry research laboratory.
Rafferty, who was awarded $1,750, studied wildlife technology at Penn State DuBois and currently is a junior majoring in agricultural and extension education. A member of 4-H in Jefferson County for 11 years, she participated in livestock, equine, community service, and public speaking projects. Rafferty has exhibited at the Pennsylvania Farm Show for years and mentors younger 4-H members. She recently served as a 4-H summer assistant. At Penn State, she is in the honors program and has received the President Walker Award and First Year Baccalaureate Award.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
