Thomas Gabel Awarded Student Leader Scholarship Through the Dairy Excellence Foundation

The Center for Professional Personnel Development would like to recognize Thomas Gabel for recently being selected to receive the Dairy Excellence Foundation Student Leader Scholarship. Each year the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association offer ten $3,000 scholarships to undergraduate students annually to directly support students education.

These scholarships provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. Students must show a commitment to the dairy industry and the to the future of dairy producers. Brittany Snyder the dairy education program manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation states, "The process of awarding this year’s Student Leader Scholarships was very competitive, with so many students making an impact on the future of dairy. These 10 recipients represent true leadership and excellence. They excel academically, are forward-thinking in and out of the classroom, and are dedicated to using their education to advance the dairy industry." 

We are so proud of Thomas for his hard work and dedication to the dairy industry throughout his life. Growing up on a dairy farm Thomas gained experiences where he learned how to make breeding and management decisions along with facing challenges that he helped his family to overcome with the industry. Thomas aspires to impact the next generation of students and be a life-long advocate for the dairy industry as a teacher. He believes education is key to correcting consumer misconceptions. His goal is to create opportunities for students of all backgrounds to make a connection to the dairy industry through an immersive learning environment. 

Thomas quotes "To me, this scholarship is a reminder of the dairy industry that has developed me into who I am today and serves as a motivator to continue cultivating dairy excellence in my role as a future educator.”

We know Thomas will become a great Agriculture Educator as he plans to graduate in 2022 with a degree in Agricultural & Extension Education and a minor in International Agriculture. His future is bright and he will continue to impact students in the classroom as he achieves his goals. Congratulations, Thomas on being selected to receive the 2020 Student Leader Scholarship. Find out more about Thomas by following his Twitter @gabel_thomas.

Morgan Bear
CPPD Student Worker
Agricultural & Extension Education
Class of 2023