Scholarship Recipients

Shea Cencula is the daughter of Joe and Hope Cencula of Mt. Airy. She is a sophomore studying veterinary nursing through a distance learning program with Purdue University. When Shea first started in 4-H, she carried a dairy goat project. She continues to raise and care for her own herd of dairy goats. Shea uses any milk not needed for the babies to make soaps and lotions that she sells to help offset the costs of her project. The past five years, Shea has begun working with dairy cattle through the 4-H leasing project. She has leased Jerseys, Holsteins and Ayrshires and shown them throughout the state. Her work with dairy cattle has also led her to participate in the Dairy Princess program. She has been the Frederick County Dairy Princess and also Maryland Jersey Queen. This past year, in her final year of 4-H, Shea decided to try Dairy Judging. She did a remarkable job, being the lone representative from the state of Maryland in a National 4-H Contest in 2023. At the contest in Louisville, she finished 6th in Jerseys, 10th in Holsteins and 18th overall in oral reasons. Shea's future plans include working as a large animal veterinary nurse and also specializing in animal nutrition. 

Maggie Green is the daughter of Roy and Dosha Green of Hagerstown. She is a senior Pre-vet student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and plans to graduate this spring. Maggie has been active in the 4-H leasing program having leased heifers from Palmyra Farm for 8 years. She has showed these heifers at the Washington County Ag Expo and Maryland State Fair. All told she has worked at Palmyra Farm for 15 years and now has the title of Assistant Calf Manager and also works with the newest group of lease kids and their projects. Maggie has a small herd of dairy goats and rabbits at home. During her time in 4-H, Maggie held numerous leadership positions. She was President of her 4-H club, served as Washington County Ag Expo Queen and Miss Washington County Farm Bureau. Currently she is the Secretary of the UMES Pre-vet club. Maggie has applied to five vet schools and hopes that her immediate future will be to attend one of those schools. However, if that doesn't work out, she would like to use her animal science degree for Agriculture Education. 

Kelsey Zepp is the daughter of Gabe and Kelly Zepp of New Windsor. She is a senior at Francis Scott Key High School. Kelsey grew up on Windsor Manor Holstein Farm. Prior to the dairy herd dispersal, Kelsey was able to help her grandmother feed calves or her Mom in the milking parlor. Since that time, Kelsey has been very involved in their beef operation. In 4-H, Kelsey has had great success in showmanship competitions. She won Grand Champion Dairy Showman as well as the Sweepstakes Showmanship award at Maryland State Fair. Additionally she has placed in the top ten of all three age categories at the very challenging All-American Youth Showmanship contest. Kelsey is also a very accomplished dairy judge. In 2021 she was a member of the Maryland State “A” team that traveled to the National contests in Harrisburg and Madison. The team placed 3rd at the All-American contest and 2nd in reasons. In Madison, Kelsey was an All-American, finishing in 23rd place individually, helping the team to a 5th place overall finish and 3rd in reasons. The following year she competed in dairy judging at the National FFA Convention representing FSK and won an Individual Gold medal as well as a Gold Team award. Kelsey's future plans are to attend a two-year program and then transfer to a four year college for a degree in Ag Communications. 

Bryce Zepp is the son of Gabe and Kelly Zepp of New Windsor. Bryce is a sophomore at Stevenson University majoring in Business Administration. He was very active throughout his 4-H years marketing both dairy and beef cattle. Bryce had success in the show ring in both showmanship and type classes. In addition to showing, he was very involved in the FFA and 4-H Dairy Judging programs. Nationally, he received an Individual Gold Award and Gold Team Award in the FFA contest, placed 2nd overall individually at the All-American 4-H Dairy Judging Contest as part of the 3rd place team, and was a member of the 4-H team in Madison that placed 5th overall in the National contest and won Jerseys in 2021. In high school Bryce was very successful on the football and lacrosse teams and he is currently a member of the Stevensen football team. Bryce has a passion for dairy and livestock and hopes to one day use his business degree in the agriculture field.