A 2022 Greenville High School graduate credits 4-H with helping her receive a college scholarship.
Dakota Friley is one of the millions of youths, parents, volunteers and alumni across the nation celebrating the many positive youth development opportunities National 4-H offers. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson proclaimed Oct. 2-8 as National 4-H Week in the state.
Friley was one of the 77 recipients of the FCS Financial 4-H Youth Futures scholarship totaling $99,000 to Missouri 4-H youths to help further their education.
Friley said she never would have received the chance to apply for this $1,000 4-H Youth Futures scholarship without “all the help the program 4-Youth Futures” provided and Brad Coleman, 4-H Youth Specialist for Wayne County, gave her because it helped teach her how to fill out all those scholarship applications
Friley has been a member of 4-H for the current 2021-22 school year but was an active 4-H member from 8 to 12 years old.
She is attending Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri perusing a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
She has two brothers and is the daughter of Angela and Roger Cravens of Lodi and the late Will Friley of Lodi.
Wayne County 4-H Youth Program Associate Davida Pedigo said, Friley “was very active in multiple school clubs and she attended the FBLA Nationals in Chicago in June. Her hobbies consist of hanging with family and friends.”
Missouri 4-H youths are encouraged to showcase their personal growth and development as well as their career goals on their scholarship applications.
“We know that 4-H members have the skills to succeed in their lives, their communities and their careers. What they may not have are the financial resources to help them attend college,” said Rachel Augustine, Missouri 4-H Foundation director. “We are thrilled to be able to help in this area.”
According to Coleman, “Dakota Friley completed the Youth Futures Program presented at Greenville High School. The Youth Futures Program is a University of Missouri 4-H Extension project that teaches youth about college and career readiness. Dakota learned about college admissions, how to write a resume and scholarship letter, how to complete the FAFSA, and all the financial information she would need for pursuing an advanced education or pursuing a career path. We are proud to have Dakota Friley represent our 4-H Youth Futures program as a scholarship recipient.”
This year’s “Opportunity4All” campaign rallies support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. The governor’s press release stated with so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes young people, in partnership with adults, play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families, and communities across the country. 4-H believes every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed and the skills they need to make a difference in the world.
In Missouri, more than 47,000 youths and 5,000 volunteers are involved in 4-H. Besides the more traditional community clubs, youths can also participate in after-school or in-school clubs, Special Interest (SPIN) clubs or 4-H programs such as Soccer for Success, Youth Futures or Juntos.