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Casey Lynn Collier, daughter of Tommy and Vonda Collier of Harrington, is winner of the $2,500 Delaware Farm Bureau State Scholarship. Having graduated in May 2018 from Del Tech, she will transfer to Wilmington University where she will study agribusiness management and environmental science and policy. While at Lake Forest High, Casey participated in field hockey, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country and swim team. She was a 4-H member for nine years, helped the Burrsville Ruritan Club where her grandfather is a member and helped at Delaware Farm Bureau and YF&R events such as the fair food booth for several years. Since going to college, she has joined FFA. Casey has always helped on the farm and, in addition, worked summer and part-time jobs while at Del Tech.

The Kent Women’s $1,000 scholarship was presented to Adam Collier, Casey’s young brother, who graduated from Lake Forest High School this year. Like his sister, Adam has always helped on the family farm, assuming a number of responsibilities as he grew older. He has been a member of 4-H for 10 years and was a member and officer of his FFA chapter in high school. Adam has already earned 12 college credits and will continue his education at Del Tech, majoring in agriculture production.

Kent County Farm Bureau presented its $1,000 scholarship to Ryan Wheatley, son of Michael and Kim Wheatley of Clayton. Ryan is also the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from DFB’s Young Farmers & Ranchers. A graduate of Smyrna High School, he plans to attend Virginia Tech to major in dairy science and wildlife management. He has worked on the family’s Dulin Farms all his life. He has been active in FFA, holding offices of treasurer and, mostly recently, president. He was also a member of Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Letterman’s Club, Blue/Gold Club and National Technical Honor Society, all while playing football and tennis at school. He is a lifetime member of the Delaware Holstein association and was in 4-H from age 5 to 12.

The Sussex County Women’s Committee Scholarship of $1,000 went to Hannah O’Hara, daughter of Thomas and Diane O’Hara of Milford. While at Sussex Tech, Hannah was active in the Student Government Association, Honor Society, Business Professionals of American and the Business Leadership Team. She was captain of the Ravens’ marching band color guard. She has worked 12 hours a week for a local produce stand for the last nine years. She is a 10-year 4-H member and for two years served on the Delaware State Fair Junior Fair Board. For six years she has been a member of the Memorial Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. Hannah wants to be a real estate agent and perhaps run for political office. She will attend Susquehanna University to major in luxury brand marketing and Management, with a minor in leadership and photography.

New Castle County Farm Bureau’s $1,000 scholarship was presented to William Hart III, son of William and Sharon Hart of Middletown. William graduated from Paul M. Hodgson Vo Tech in May. While his initial course of study was plumbing, he now wants to be a forensic scientist. He will study biology at Arcadia University or Neumann University before doing graduate work in forensic science. William was a member of the student council and the LYNK (drug/alcohol awareness) club for all four years of high school and was in the Honor Society for his last two years. He played baseball on junior varsity and varsity teams. He was involved in several fund-raising events for cancer charities and went to India on a mission trip with his church. He has worked at landscaping and as bus staff in restaurants.

Josh Mottola won the New Castle County Women’s Committee Scholarship of $1,000. Son of Nicholas and Kristine Mottola, he lives in Wilmington and graduated from Archmere Academy where he was active in football, wrestling, lacrosse and cross country. He worked last summer at White Clay Creek State Park and volunteered at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. He plans to attend Virginia Tech to major in fish conservation and minor in wildlife conservation.

Gillian Cannon of Seaford is the recipient of YF&R’s second $1,000 scholarship. Daughter of Shari Cannon, she is a 2018 graduate of Seaford High School. Due to her commitments to Delaware FFA to serve as State Secretary next year, Gillian plans to delay her studies at Delaware Valley University. She has decided to first pursue an associate’s degree from Del Tech. She plans to major in production agriculture and minor in environmental science, with the ultimate goal of starting her own greenhouse operation or floral shop. “Through the FFA, I have found an unfathomable love for agriculture and a desire to give back to my school and community,” Gillian wrote in her application. While maintaining a GPA of 102 and being actively involved in FFA, she was captain of the volleyball team, a member of the Student Government Association, manager of the Seaford swim team, a member of the Principal’s Advisory group, member of her church youth group and a volunteer for Ducks Unlimited.