HAVANA, Ill. - Mason County 4-H celebrates seven 4-H members who are 2020 high school graduates. These 4-H members join many others across the University of Illinois Extension, Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit that will receive their high school diplomas and move on to the next phase of their lives. The 4-H members will be highlighted in the 4-H Senior Spotlight that can be found on the unit website at https://extension.illinois.edu/fmpt. They will also be highlighted on the Extension unit and county 4-H social media pages.
The 4-H program serves as a great starting point for youth to explore their hobbies and interests, and can also introduce them to new ideas and lead them on their way with college and career choices. In Mason County, the following seniors shared their future plans and ways their 4-H experience had impact over their college field of study or career plans. Youth also shared their favorite 4-H moments and other influences 4-H has had on them.
McKenna Bleem – Havana High School. Member of Happy Handful 4-H Club and Mason County 4-H Federation.
McKenna plans to attend Illinois State University and major in art education.
Favorite 4-H moment: “Getting to talk about my art at the state fair and meeting the kind judge.” She commented, “4-H helped me to build confidence in my abilities to make and teach art.”
Jaden Schultz – Havana High School. Member of the Happy Handful 4-H Club
Jaden plans to attend Wisconsin Lutheran College to major in exercise science and pursue a career in athletic training or physical therapy. He will participate on the schools cross country and track teams.
Favorite 4-H moment: “When I showed my rabbit for the first time.”
Rianna Schultz – Havana High School. Member of the Happy Handful 4-H Club
Rianna plans to attend Wisconsin Lutheran College and major in exercise science, then pursue a degree in physical therapy focusing on pediatrics.
Favorite 4-H moment: “Was at county fair, watching the pig scramble and also winning the 4-H Senior Rabbit Showmanship Award.” Rianna shared her funniest moment was, “when I fell down the stairs on my way to attend my first county fair pageant practice.” She agrees 4-H truly helped her gain more confidence and courage!
Isaac Snider – Havana High School, 2020 Havana High School Valedictorian. Member of Mason County 4-H Shooting Sports Club, 2020 IL State 4-H Recurve Archery Team, Delegate to 2020 National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition, member of the former Mason County 4-H Aviation SPIN Club.
“I plan to attend BYU-Provo (Brigham Young University) for a degree in electrical engineering. During my time in college, I plan to apply for the Navy NUPOC (nuclear propulsion program) as well.”
My favorite 4-H moment: “Competing against other recurves and compounds during the first state shoot I attended.” (2018) Isaac shared, “I’m more willing to commit myself to things such as competitions because of the (4-H) state shoots I’ve attended in the past.
Samantha Maslana – Midwest Central High School. Member of Kountry Kritters 4-H Club, Mason County
4-H Federation.
Samantha plans to attend Columbia College in Missouri to obtain her bachelor’s degree in nursing while minoring in forensics. She has career plans to become a sexual assault nurse.
My favorite 4-H moment: “Was being with my friends before showing my pig for the first time at the county 4-H show.” Samantha shared, “the friends I made during her years of being in 4-H and Federation gave me the support I needed to get through times of being uncertain with college/career decisions especially.” Samantha also plans to continue doing community service work in the future.
Savannah DeVore – Illini Central High School. Member of Easton Ramblers 4-H Club and Mason County 4-H Federation. Savannah plans to attend Illinois Central College to obtain her RN Associates degree. She then plans to further her education at a university to obtain her RN Bachelors or BSN in Science of Nursing. She would like to work in the Obstetrics field.
“4-H helped me realize that I wanted to work in the medical field. Growing up in 4-H, I watched older members take care of younger members as if they were their own children. As I grew older and started looking out for the younger members, it made me realize how much I truly love taking care of, and helping others, especially the young ones.”
She shared that 4-H also gave her the courage and confidence to participate in public events like the county fair pig scramble and the queen pageant.
Raina Harp – Illini Central High School. Member of Pleasant Workers 4-H Club.
“I plan to attend Spoon River College for agriculture business & management.
My favorite 4-H moment: “One of my favorite moments as a member would have to be the cattle shows. It was truly amazing to see all of the hard work that was put into it, and the reward of success that we got out of it.”
“It (4-H) had a great influence on my future plans because without it I would not have my love for agriculture. Over the years it has been a great learning experience that I’m so thrilled others get to enjoy.”
For more information about joining 4-H or becoming a 4-H volunteer in Mason County, contact Joli Pierson, Mason County 4-H Program Coordinator via email: jkpierso@illinois.edu , phone: (309) 543-3308, University of Illinois Extension, Fulton-Mason-Tazewell-Peoria Unit, 127 S. High St. Havana, IL 62644.
###
About 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, impacting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups and short-term programming.
University of Illinois | U.S. Department of Agriculture | Local Extension Councils Cooperating University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please call 309-347-6614. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture by the Director, Cooperative Extension Service, and University of Illinois.
Source, Joli Pierson, Mason County 4-H program coordinator, jkpierso@illinois.edu