MSU Extension Berrien County

Berrien County 4-H Scholarship Program 

Includes the following scholarships:

• Joseph Cerny & Evelyn Cerny Memorial Scholarship
• Berrien County 4-H Alumni Scholarship
• Berrien County 4-H Horse Leaders Association Scholarship

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Each scholarship recipient must be or have been an active Berrien County 4-H member for a total of at least five years including his or her senior year in high school or equivalence. Individuals applying for the Horse Leaders Association scholarship must be active and enrolled in a Berrien County 4-H horse and pony project for a minimum of two years.

2. Applicants must be a current high school senior, high school graduate or a high school diploma equivalent, who have not yet reached their 25th birthday on January 1 of the year of application.

3. Applicants must be accepted or attending a postsecondary educational program (i.e. college, University, Trade School, Certificate, etc.). An acceptance letter must be included as supporting documentation.

4. The applicant must supply the Scholarship Committee with a letter of recommendation from three individuals, excluding relatives, with whom he or she is well known. One must be from a Berrien County 4-H leader. All letters of recommendation must be from the current year. Examples of letters of recommendation can come from an employer, supervisor, or manager at your current job, teacher/professor, academic advisor, mentor, etc.

Applications and all supporting documents must be received at the Berrien County Michigan State University Extension office on or by May 15 of the corresponding year. Submissions can be made via:

• Events Management System – “Berrien County 4-H Scholarship Application” - https://events.anr.msu.edu/Berrien4H2025Scholarships/
• Mailed or dropped off at 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
• Faxed to the Berrien County MSUE Office at 269-944-4128

Paper applications can be found online at: 2025 Application & FAQ

Interviews on selected applications will be held between the deadline date and August 1 of each year by the Scholarship Committee at the Berrien County MSU Extension office. Applicants will interview for all eligible scholarships at one time. Applicants must attend an interview with the selection committee at a date, time and place selected by the committee. Tentatively scheduled for:

• June 12, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m. EST

Announcement of all scholarship recipients will be made on or before September 1.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the higher education institution/organization accepted or attended by the scholarship recipient.

The scholarship will not apply for graduate school.

An individual may receive each scholarship only once.

The Scholarship Committee shall keep all information received on applicants confidential.

The scholarship must be used by the recipient within one year from the date of the award.

The Scholarship Committee must include at least:

• President of the Berrien County 4-H Leaders Council
• Past Outstanding 4-H Leader
• Director or Advisor of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation that is either an active gold or silver level volunteer
• Active Gold or Silver Level 4-H Leader
• MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development professional
• Representative(s) of the Cerny family for the Cerny Memorial scholarship
• A representative 4-H horse and pony project leader for the 4-H Horse Leaders Association scholarship

Applicants must only submit a total of one (1) application regardless of the number of scholarships submitted for. Individuals will automatically be placed in the selection areas that they are eligible for.

Eligibility will be reviewed once the application is submitted. Applications and supporting materials need to be submitted to the Berrien County MSU Extension office at 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or via the online application system.

Member & Leader Educational Training Scholarship

 The Berrien County 4-H Youth program offers members and leaders the opportunity to receive scholarships in various amounts to apply for continuing education in the form of state 4-H workshops and training. Leaders and Members must be active and approved in the current 4-H year to receive an form of scholarship and/or scholarship reimbursement. Notice must be submitted to the Berrien County MSU Extension office prior to registering for event for consideration. Workshops and training receive 1/2 the cost of the registration fee in the amount of the scholarship unless otherwise noted by the table below. Furthermore, if youth or leader does not attend the training or workshop after a scholarship is applied, the individual is responsible for reimbursing the amount provided. 

4-H Exploration Days Scholarship 

There are partial county scholarships available to members and leaders who are currently enrolled in Berrien County 4-H clubs that supported the annual 4-H Fund-raiser – either through selling product, or making a financial contribution of $10.00 per member.  If your club did not support the fund-raiser, you will not receive financial support from Council funds. Members and leaders are also encouraged to talk to their 4-H club about additional funds available to be applied to their fees and expenses. 

Registration fee scholarship details include:

• 4-H members pay $50.00 and receive a $200.00 County scholarship (contingent on the above information).
• 4-H members that have never attended 4-H Exploration Days will receive an additional $40 scholarship. (Limited to 9 scholarships for Berrien County.)  
• 4-H State Award delegates will receive an additional $40.00 scholarship.
• 4-H leaders who will be chaperoning will receive a full county scholarship in the amount of $150.00 (contingent on the above information).
• Scholarships are applied to registration once forms and payment have been received. Please note, scholarships are on a first come, first serve basis until financial allocations are depleted. 

Here is the link: 

• 4-H Exploration Days Event Website

2024 Berrien County 4-H Delegation Orientation Dates: 

• Virtual Orientation for Youth
  • May 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom (Zoom link will be sent with orientation packet) 

• Virtual Orientation for Chaperones 
  • May 20, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom (Zoom link will be sent with orientation packet) 

Citizenship Washington Focus Trip

The Berrien County 4-H program will be offering a scholarship for a youth to attend the Citizenship Washington Focus Trip. The scholarship is for $1,800.00 to go towards the registration fee for the trip. Youth must be active and approved members of the Berrien County 4-H Youth program to apply. Applications must be submitted by the deadline. Deadline to apply is December 1 of each year. Submission needs to be made to the Berrien County MSU Extension Office in Benton Harbor, MI. The national CWF trip takes place every other year on odd years. (Example: 2023, 2025, 2027, 2029, 2031, etc.) 

Here is the link for more information:

• Citizenship Washington Focus Scholarship Application - PDF Form
• Citizenship Washington Focus Scholarship Application - WORD Form

For more information on the Citizenship Washington Focus Trip go to: CWF Trip

National 4-H Conference 

The Berrien County 4-H program will be offering a scholarship for a youth to attend the National 4-H Conference Trip. The scholarship is for $1,000.00 to go towards the registration fee for the trip. Youth must be active and approved members of the Berrien County 4-H Youth program to apply. Applications must be submitted by the deadline. Deadline to apply is August 1 of each year. Submission needs to be made to the Berrien County MSU Extension Office in Benton Harbor, MI. The national CWF trip takes place every other year on odd years. (Example: 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, etc.) 

Here is the link:

• National 4-H Conference Scholarship Application - PDF Form - COMING SOON 
• National 4-H Conference Scholarship Application - WORD Form - COMING SOON 

For more information on the National 4-H Conference Trip go to: National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Congress Scholarship 

The Berrien County 4-H program will be offering a scholarship for a youth to attend the National 4-H Congress Trip. The scholarship is for $1,000.00 to go towards the registration fee for the trip. Youth must be active and approved members of the Berrien County 4-H Youth program to apply. Applications must be submitted by the deadline. Deadline to apply is August 1 of each year. Submission need to be made to the Berrien County MSU Extension Office in Benton Harbor, MI. 

Here is the link:

• National 4-H Congress Scholarship Application - PDF Form
• National 4-H Congress Scholarship Application - WORD Form

For more information on National 4-H Congress go to: National 4-H Congress