SDSU Dairy Club Sponsors Over 60 Years of Scholarship Support
Through the generosity of the dairy club, thousands of pounds of cheese leads to thousands of dollars saved.
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The students of the SDSU Dairy Club are experts at a lot more than the ins and outs of dairy science – they also excel at philanthropy and giving back to their fellow Jackrabbits.
Among its annual outreach programs, the dairy club sells cheese boxes throughout the holiday season. What makes this fundraiser unique is that the proceeds benefit scholarships to students studying dairy science.
Though it’s unknown even to members of the dairy club just how the tradition came to be, it’s estimated this practice of paying it forward for other students dates back to the early 1960s.
The largest fundraiser for the club, the cheese box endeavor yields thousands of pounds of cheese each year, later sold in the SDSU Dairy Bar and available for online ordering.
Processing and coordinating that amount of product is no small feat; in 2020, dairy club members logged 690 hours of work to weigh, cut, and package the cheese.
The proceeds of the cheese sales typically fund approximately eight scholarships per year.
Originally from Lester Prairie, MN, and hailing from a fifth-generation dairy farm, Elizabeth Krienke is majoring in dairy production with a minor in agricultural business. As president of the dairy club, she witnesses both the diligent work that makes the scholarships possible, as well as the impact stemming from the club’s generosity.
“The scholarships provided by the dairy club have a deeper meaning than any other scholarship because it comes directly from the hard work members put in and the long hours spent in the Davis Dairy Plant, said Krienke. “Knowing that the money being received came from something we all worked so hard for makes for an enjoyable time while here at SDSU.”
As of fall 2021, 50 members are enrolled in the dairy club. Their efforts throughout the holiday season will positively impact students and ease the financial burden of earning a higher education.
By pursuing their own passions within their field of study, the dairy club enables their fellow Jackrabbits to do the same.
