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Cape Cod Cooperative Extension  4-H Program announces scholarship awards 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Information from Cape Cod Cooperative Extension 

October 15, 2021 (Barnstable, MA) – Four outstanding Barnstable County 4-H members were selected by the Barnstable County 4-H Advisory to receive scholarships totaling $6,000, as well as a $500 Kent Lage Scholarship from the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation. The four members receiving scholarships are Lydia Fitton-Alves, Elena Fritsch, Foster Rubinstein, and Jennifer Shearley.

The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension 4-H Program is a youth development program providing positive, hands-on learning experiences which build character, develop life skills, and enable youth to become self-directing, productive members of society.

About the Recipients

Lydia Fitton Alves

Lydia Fitton Alves (Cotuit): Lydia Fitton Alves received a Barnstable County Advisory scholarship and a $500 Kent Lage Scholarship from the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation.

Lydia Fitton Alves is also the recipient of the 2nd place $500 Kent Lage scholarship. Lydia will attend Merrimack College to major in Criminology/Criminal Justice with a minor in forensic science and pre-law. Lydia has been involved in 4-H for the past six years.  She is a member of the Thimbles 4-H Club and participated in many sewing service projects, including sewing hundreds of masks during the pandemic. Lydia also took part in 4-H visual presentations, in which she won blue ribbons at the local level and advanced to the state level twice. With her Kent Lage Award, the Foundation recognized Lydia’s leadership skills, both in and outside of 4-H. She was named a Massachusetts delegate to National 4-H Congress. At her school, Lydia served as a cheerleading captain and founded the “Always One Community” to promote the acceptance and inclusion of all students. She designed a unique shirt to be worn comfortably with a scoliosis brace, sharing her invention with Children’s Hospital. In addition to participating in cheerleading and volleyball, Lydia donated much of her time to Christ the King Parish, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, volunteered in the thrift shop, and took part in several service projects including “Breakfast with Santa” for children.

Elena Fritsch

Elena Fritsch (South Harwich):  Lanie spent 11 years in the 4-H program participating in various 4-H events, including time spent as a 4-H Ambassador mentoring younger members and increasing 4-H awareness. During the last several years, she perfected her creation of the annual live Christmas Creche at the Harwichport Stroll to fundraise for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. Lanie has chosen to take her many years as a junior leader in 4-H to Flagler University in Florida to major in elementary education.

Foster Rubinstein

Foster Rubinstein (Bourne): Foster is attending the University of New Haven for Homeland Security & Emergency Management. Foster’s plans are the following: working for the federal government, with DEA, ATF, FBI, or Secret Service.  Since he was six years old, he has been a part of 4-H and has participated in the Coonamessett Farm Club, Beekeepers Club, and various other clubs. Foster has worked in the 4-H kitchen at the Barnstable County Fair for countless years, handed out chicks, and completed numerous county and state visual presentations.

Jennifer Shearley

Jennifer Shearley (Centerville):Jennifer Shearley has been a member of 4-H for six years. She has participated in both the Thimbles and Leadership Club and participated in many community service projects, including sewing face masks, dresses, shorts, skirts, and helping with the summer sewing bee. She has presented visual presentations at the local and state level and the Big E. She was also chosen as a Massachusetts state delegate to the National 4-H Congress. She will be attending the University of Vermont for Environmental Science.

ABOUT THE CAPE COD COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is the education department for Barnstable County. Educational programs focus on agriculture, marine resources, horticulture, aquaculture, natural resources, water quality, recycling, household hazardous waste, nutrition, food safety, youth development, and the county’s environmental education issues. Extension programs are conducted in Barnstable County in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts and The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution–Sea Grant program. Learn more at  www.capecodextension.org

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD: Barnstable County is one of the last functioning counties in Massachusetts, with departments serving the 15 towns of Cape Cod. Barnstable County government consists of a legislative branch (Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates) and an executive branch (Barnstable County Commissioners). Learn more at www.barnstablecounty.org

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