WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Six recipients of the  Wayne County 4-H scholarship are chosen based on hours of community service conducted; leadership positions held; participation in county, district, regional and state 4-H activities; number of 4-H projects completed; and overall character of each individual. 

Each of these 4-H members has contributed hundreds of hours to the community through community service in their 4-H clubs.  

Congratulations to Eilie Burleigh, Eoghan Murphy, Laynee Nugent, Gabrielle Rydzik, Wynter Stanton and Mackenzie Weist for their commendable accomplishments and for receiving the 2023 Wayne County 4-H Scholarship.

Below are comments from the scholarship recipients on how 4-H has influenced their lives.

Eilie Burleigh: 4-H has influenced my life because it has taught me valuable life skills and helped me grow as a person. 

One of the most important things I’ve learned through 4-H is responsibility. When you’re responsible for an animal or a project, you have to be accountable for its care and success. 

This has taught me the importance of planning, hard work and dedication. Through 4-H, I’ve learned how to be a good sport, how to be respectful of others and how to work as part of a team. These are all important qualities that will serve me well throughout my life.

Eoghan Murphy: One thing that I think 4-H really helped me with was forcing me outside of my comfort zone when it came to public speaking. Having to give a presentation every year is something I tend to dread, and even though it’s not my favorite, I still must admit that it’s helped me a lot whenever I have to speak at any other events. 

Most recently, I had to present our team’s plan at the National 4-H Ignite conference in front of 20 or so random people from around the country, and I felt prepared to present after only a couple minutes, which I think was due in part to presenting in front of other people before plenty of times for 4-H.

Laynee Nugent: The people I met and the connections I made through 4-H are something that I will forever treasure. No matter where I end up in the future, I know that I will eternally be connected to Wayne County and will always have a network of supportive people here for me. 

The program influenced me majorly in the views of responsibility and independence, as I was obligated to the management of my animals and record-keeping of my projects.  I am thankful for the program as it shaped me into a well-rounded individual and transformed me into the young lady that I am today.

Gabrielle Rydzik: Being a part of 4-H has truly changed my life and taught me so many life lessons. Without this club, I would have never learned responsibility, and had the opportunities to be involved in so many community activities. 

If you ask anyone about people in 4-H they will have nothing bad to say about them; every kid is absolutely wonderful. I want to continue being a positive impact on the community by becoming a 4-H leader after I graduate. Being a 4-H leader, I can teach the youth about how important it is to be involved in your community, volunteer and take pride in what you do. I will help them make a positive impact on their community.

Wynter Stanton: By being a part of 4-H, I have learned so many valuable lessons. I have learned to always be kind, and you will have kindness in return. Many members, volunteers, club leaders and other people in 4-H have always shown me kindness and respect when I do so in return. 

Showing goats has taught me not to be overly competitive and to always congratulate others. In every show I have participated in, I made sure I congratulated the other members who were showing their animals.

Mackenzie Weist: 4-H has influenced my career choice, because it has shown me the love that I have for animals. The career I have chosen is veterinary nursing, which is also referred to as a vet tech. As a veterinary nurse, you help the vet care for the sick animal, so you give the amount of medication that the vet says and you watch to make sure that the animal’s health is getting better. 

Animals have been a huge part of my life, so I feel if I went into a career without animals, I would not be happy. 

I have had many people to look up to during 4-H who have made me want to continue to find my love for animals. I have made this career choice because of the older 4-Hers who have helped me realize that I want to help animals and keep them healthy.  

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 Penn State Extension website at www.extension.psu.edu/programs/4-H.