|
Elings wins State 4-H award |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 |
 Pondera County 4-H member Dirk Elings was honored with a State Project Award for leadership in the area of Teen Leadership during the Montana 4-H Congress award banquet at MSU-Bozeman on July 12.
Elings was one of only six youth in the entire state to receive one of these prestigious awards this year, and competition was at a very high level.
The application for these awards is a rigorous process covering all of their achievements and areas of growth for the past three years. In addition to several pages of narrative, youth also submitted a creative digital presentation.
A few of the achievements that helped Elings earn this coveted award were serving as a Teen Leader and Ambassador, teaching dog members how to train and show their dogs; giving many leadership workshops at the county, district, and state levels; helping organize and lead several 4-H camps; and generally helping out anytime and every time he was asked.
In addition to working at a high level of achievement and service for the past three years, Elings needed to communicate well through his narrative, his video presentation, and his written application.
The seven criteria upon which the awards is based are communications, project goals, learning, leadership, citizenship, the applicant’s 4-H story, photo pages, and creative work. Within these categories, applicants explained their participation in regard to their project area, within 4-H and outside 4-H. The few successful applicants needed to demonstrate that they had a broad spectrum of service and learning.
Elings has worked hard to serve and promote 4-H in Pondera County and throughout the state.
The Extension staff in the county was thrilled to learn that the young man whom they knew deserved to be recognized received this honor at a state level. This award earns Elings the right to attend the National 4-H Congress.
Elings also, was one of nine candidates who participated in a rigorous two-day selection process for State Ambassador Officer Team.
He was one of five selected to represent the Montana 4-H Ambassadors on a state level. Elings will serve on the Montana Extension Advisory Council (MEAC) as part of his office responsibilities.
He is the son of Gordon and Maria Elings of Conrad.
|
