Top of the Class

Karin Kuiper let out an audible gasp of surprise when she heard Tom’s name called out as the first-place winner.

Her son had just won a $10,000 scholarship during United Cooperative Services’ 2024 scholarship banquet on July 25, and that money came at the right time before he begins school at Cornell University in the fall.

Tom, a Hico resident, said he is passionate about dairy farming and looks forward to studying dairy science in college. Cornell is a land grant university in New York that he said is well known in dairy farming  circles for its College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Kuiper was one of 15 scholarship recipients to receive a portion totaling $43,000 handed out to deserving students who live in United’s service territory. The annual program invests in the educational pursuits of members and their families.

“People ask me, ‘Why Cornell?’,” Kuiper said. “It’s very cold there, and it’s expensive. But I believe that I shouldn’t compromise my education and Cornell University has a very well-known dairy school. I love the dairy industry. There’s never been a day in my life where I would have told you that I didn’t want to be a dairy farmer. I just live and breathe it every day.”

Makayla Osinga of Hico came in second place, earning a $5,000 scholarship. Passionate about the dairy industry, she currently attends Tarleton State University and studies dairy farming.

“My grandfather was a dairyman in Holland,” Osinga said. “He moved to the States with my father, and started a small farm of about 50 head. Since then, my family has been continuing the dairyman legacy. I grew up on a dairy farm my whole life. Now my family has about 1,500 milking cows in Hico, and we now also have a dairy in Kent, Ill., with about 2,400 cows.”

Osinga said she would use the extra money to help pay tuition, fees and student debt. She has dreams of one day working with a dairy farm in South America.

In contrast to the other two winners, Leslie Garcia has always had a passion for architecture, not dairy cows. Garcia came in third place and earned $4,000. A Texas Tech University student, Garcia said she dreams of designing affordable houses for low-income people one day and has always appreciated how buildings are constructed.

“I could not believe it,” Garcia said. “It was a blessing to have my name called out there. Of course, I wouldn’t have imagined myself winning, you know, third place winner. So, to me, that is the best thing that’s happened to me so far.”

The scholarship funds, made available through House Bill 3203 in 1997, allow nonprofit electric cooperatives like United to use unclaimed member dividend funds for student scholarships. The unclaimed dollars would otherwise be lost to the state’s general revenue fund.

“Every year we’re amazed by the quality of students who apply for these scholarships,” said United CEO Cameron Smallwood. “This year was no exception. The maturity, talent, and academic achievement of each of the winners assures me that this generation of students will accomplish great things.”

The co-op has awarded approximately $1.5 million since the program began. Recipients earned the scholarships based on leadership, community involvement, financial need and school engagement.

To qualify for the scholarship, undergraduate and high school students must live at the residence of their parents or legal guardians who are active United members at their principle residence.

$10,000 Winner - 1st Place
Tom Kuiper of Hico, Hico Secondary

$5,000 Winner - 2nd Place
Makayla Osinga of Hico, Tarleton State University

$4,000 Winner - 3rd Place
Leslie Garcia of Dublin, Texas Tech University

$2,000 Winners
Benjamin Wood of Stephenville, Stephenville High School
Noah Linde of Burleson, Tarrant County College
Shelby Thomes of Stephenville, West Texas A&M University
Andrew Magallan of Burleson, Hill School
Avery Lyday of Burleson, University of Oklahoma
Mia Meehan of Grandview, Grandview High School
Isaac Morrow of Cleburne, Cleburne High School
Iliana Villa of Joshua, Godley High School
Andie Stephens of Dublin, Lingleville High School
Payden Rust of Gordon, Gordon ISD
Aiden Salyer of Dublin, Dublin High School
Abigail Boyd of Granbury, Granbury High School