4-H Scholarships Awarded, HOF Inductees Honored

The Reiss Family 4-H Endowment Scholarship was awarded. Left to right are, Shawn Reiss, Ethan Weidner, Claire Beckman, Denise Willenborg and Kevin Willenborg.

Shawn Reiss, Kevin and Denise Willenborg awarded the Reiss Family 4-H Endowment Scholarship to Claire Beckman (2021 Recipient) and Ethan Weidner (2022 Recipient) at the 4-H Award ceremony held at the Effingham County Fair.

The Reiss Family 4-H Endowment Scholarship was established by Shawn and Ryan Reiss in honor of their late mother. With the establishment of the Endowment the fund supports scholarships for students in the Effingham County 4-H program.

Recipients shall attend a college or trade school. First preference shall be given to members of the Country Cousins 4-H Club who have attended at least four meetings a year for three out of the last five years. If there are no applicants from the Country Cousins 4-H Club, the application process will be open to eligible Effingham County 4-H members meeting the criteria.

Other factors to consider are participation as an officer, participation in the club’s programs, attendance, and animal and non-animal projects at the fair. Since the creation of the Reiss Family 4-H Endowment Scholarship two awards have been given. Last year, and the first recipient of the scholarship was Claire Beckman and this year the recipient is Ethan Weidner.

Cleo McManaway presented the 2022 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame Inductees Dennis & Julia Finfrock with windchimes on behalf of the Effingham County 4-H program at the Effingham County Fair.