MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) has announced the seven winners of a total of $29,000 in scholarship awards supporting future leaders in the dairy industry. These exceptional students will be recognized during the Novonesis Championship Cheese Auction at CheeseExpo on Wednesday, April 15 in Milwaukee, WI.
“Supporting driven, talented students is one of the most rewarding parts of our work,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer. “These young leaders represent a bright future for our industry, and we’re proud to invest in their education and impact.”
Over 29 years, WCMA has awarded the Myron P. “Mike” Dean Cheese Industry Student Scholarship, now worth $5,000 each, to 50 students
Emma Adleman is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science with a minor in Agricultural Business at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is a member of the UW-River Falls women’s basketball team and is actively involved in the university’s Honors Program and Pre-Veterinary Club. Following graduation, Emma plans to use her education and training to support dairy farms through financial consulting focused on artificial insemination programs in dairy herds. She is the daughter of Christine Adleman of Sartori Company.
Collin Zimmermann is in his second year at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Crop and Soil Science. At UW-River Falls, he is involved in the university’s marching and pep bands and serves as treasurer of the Crops and Soils Club. After graduation, Collin plans to pursue a master’s degree in crop science and hopes to work as an agronomist, focusing on producing healthy, nutrient-rich crops for dairy livestock to support milk production. He is the son of Jeff Zimmermann of Masters Gallery Foods.
Since 1999, WCMA has conferred 66 WCMA Supplier Student Scholarships, now worth $5,000 each, to suppliers to the dairy industry and their family members. This year’s winners are Luke Boyle, Christoffer Martin, and Paytan Swiertz.
Luke Boyle will graduate from Western Dubuque High School and plans to attend Iowa State University, where he will pursue a major in Data Science and Agricultural Systems Technology. Luke has been an active member of both his school and community, taking on leadership roles through his involvement in FFA and 4-H. He also helped bring the “Bacon Buddies” program to the Dubuque County Fair, an initiative that pairs youth with disabilities and 4-H/FFA mentors to participate in an inclusive livestock show. Luke plans to combine his experience growing up and working on his family farm with his education in data science to pursue a career in precision agriculture, using advanced data analytics to optimize efficiency in farming operations. Luke is the son of Ted Boyle of Novonesis.
Christoffer Martin will graduate from Mosinee High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He has been involved in a variety of school activities, including varsity cross country, basketball, and track and field. Christoffer plans to use his computer science degree to bring innovation and efficiency to the dairy industry through smart industrial software that helps make dairy manufacturing processes more productive and responsive. He is the son of Mike Martin of Complete Control Solutions.
Paytan Swiertz will graduate from Pulaski High School and plans to attend Michigan Technological University, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. She has been actively involved in school activities including First Nations Club and National Honor Society. Paytan hopes to use her chemical engineering degree to innovate new biodegradable packaging solutions, helping reduce waste and ensuring the dairy industry continues to have a positive impact on the environment. She is the daughter of Rhea Hogan of ProActive Solutions USA.
Since 2021, WCMA has also selected two students each year to receive the Brian Eggebrecht Student Scholarship Supporting
Eric Koran attends Mid-State Technical College, where he is pursuing an associate’s degree in mechanical design technology. Following graduation, Eric plans to continue working in the dairy industry in an engineering role, designing and improving systems to enhance productivity, efficiency, and product quality. Eric is currently an engineering intern at Actus Nutrition, gaining valuable hands-on experience to complement his engineering education.
Caden Lepple will graduate from Beaver Dam High School and plans to pursue a degree in Electrical Power Distribution at Moraine Park Technical College. He has been involved in numerous activities, including varsity football and golf, FFA, and 4-H, while also working on his family’s dairy farm. Caden intends to use his agricultural background along with his Electrical Power Distribution degree to help ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to rural homes and businesses.
The WCMA Student Scholarship Program is funded by the annual Championship Cheese Auction, where gold medal cheeses from WCMA’s Championship Cheese Contests are sold to the highest bidders. The next auction will be held Wednesday, April 15, during CheeseExpo in
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