YOUTH
NEWS
2011
Scholarships
Awarded to HLAA Youth Members
“Have
llamas impacted my life? Absolutely.”
The
two graduating seniors that were selected to receive the 2011
HLAA Scholarships were recognized at the Indiana State Fair
Llama/Alpaca Show on August 6th.
This year’s well-deserving recipients are John Fenker
from Allen County and Erin Vollmer from Hamilton County.
Both of these youth are well known and recognized among
the llama community since both of them started their involvement
in llamas with participation in Sub-Jr. classes at llama shows
while their older siblings also showed in youth classes.
John and Erin both are 10-year 4-H members holding
numerous offices within their respective clubs and Junior
Leaders. In
addition, both John and Erin have shown in ALSA shows for 10
years earning many of the youth achievement awards offered and
have been members of the HLAA.
John is the son of Karen & Tom Fenker, New Millennium
Llamas, and lives in Spencerville, Indiana.
John’s involvement in high school involved concert,
pep,
marching
band, and a Percussion Ensemble as well as concert choir and
jazz choir. He has
been on the high school golf team throughout high school, on the
tennis team, a member of All-District Honor Band, and a
three-year member of the National Honor Society.
John received Varsity Letters in golf, choir, and band.
John stated that llamas were a primary involvement in his
community service. Visiting
at three local nursing homes and participating in a local parade
were annual events for John and his llamas.
Attending a Youth Summit for two years allowed him to
personally come up with projects and write for grants.
The two grants were received and both projects involved
llamas. The first,
“Llamas Promoting Literacy” involved John and members of his
4-H group purchasing llama books and taking them to low income
daycares presenting each child his own book and a morning with
the llamas. The second grant awarded was for “Llam-A-Llympics,
Overcoming Obstacles Together”.
For this project John organized an obstacle course for
llamas and clients at Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and
Adults in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
With his dad’s help, John built special obstacles that
people in wheelchairs could negotiate while leading a llama for
the day-long event.
John shared with us many positive learning experiences as
a result of growing up with llamas.He remembers a time when he was really young that he
thought he was really lucky getting to take his turn with the
llama chores! “Have
llamas impacted my life? Absolutely.”
John has been accepted into the Crossroads Program at Ivy
Tech/IPFW where he plans on pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in
Elementary Education.In addition, he is also contemplating the priesthood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erin is the daughter of Patti & Greg Vollmer, Shade
of Grace Llamas, and lives in Carmel, Indiana. A graduate of Carmel High School, her primary high school
activities were participating in student government and volunteering for various Educational Foundation events.
She served as a cadet teacher for a 2nd grade class and also a 7th grade science class. Photography has always been one of her favorite hobbies.
Erin expressed how fortunate she has been to have had a
farm experience and ownership of her own llama even though she
lives in a sub-division. She stated how she values the pride in ownership that comes
with the success of 
the animal-handler partnership.
Service has been one of her many passions and having a
laid-back llama added to the experience.
She has used her llama, Abstract, for annual Ag Day
presentations, annual live nativity activities at a local
church, vacation bible school Heifer Project Demonstrations, and
nursing home and preschool visits.
Also active in Girl Scouts, Erin organized multiple
visits with llamas to group homes for disabled adults for her
Silver Award Project. An
outstanding moment she shared with us was at one home she met a
patient that had never made an expression or sound, but when she
reached her hand out to feed Abstract, she shrieked with joy.
Erin says, “This reinforced the value of animals for me
because of the unique additions they can make to society.”
Her Girl Scout Gold Award project again included llamas
– organizing llama visits to inner-city camps.
Through her church, Erin has further served on multiple
mission trips including destinations such as Belize, Dominican
Republic, Camp Cilca, and
inner-city Cleveland and St. Louis.
She has served on the Student Leadership Team, Media and
Reading teams, Coats for Kids Distribution, and as a guide for
Middle School Retreats.
Erin stated that she feels the llama project has provided
her with a “tool box” that has thoroughly equipped her for
success in her future endeavors.
“I will use the skills that I have developed and my
experiences with children to aid in my effectiveness as a
teacher”.
Erin plans a future in supporting the development of
youth and this fall will be attending Butler University to
pursue a major in education. She credits her decision to pursue education “largely due
to the many leadership experiences she has had during llama
related activities”.
The Hoosier Llama Alpaca Association expresses sincere
congratulations to both of these outstanding youth.
We’re proud to have you in our llama community and
thank you for your many llama involvements and outstanding
service. We wish
you the best in all your future endeavors.
2010 SCHOLARSHIPS
AWARDED
This year the HLAA is
proud to award five $500 scholarships to the
following 2010 high school graduates:
(click on image to
enlarge):
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Lauren Alayza is
a graduate of Franklin Central High School and
member of the Shelby County Sunset Llama Club. She
is the daughter of Luis and Lisa Alayza of New
Palestine. She will be studying music performance
cello at the University of Indianapolis. |
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Katelynn
Anderson is a graduate of Franklin Central High
School and member of the Shelby County Sunset Llama
Club. She is the daughter of Bill and Judy Anderson
of Indianapolis. She will be studying biology at
Purdue University with hopes to go on to medical
school. |
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Meagan
Cyrus is a graduate of Fishers High School and
member of the Hamilton County Llama Trekkers. She is
the daughter of Rick and Carol Goodyear of Fishers.
She will be studying vet technology at Purdue
University. |
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Brittany Pannell
is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and member
of the Hancock County Llama Club. She is the
daughter of Brian and Ronna Pannell of Fortville.
She will be studying pre-vet at the University of
Findlay in Ohio. She hopes to become a large animal
vet specializing in camelids. |
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Kristen White
is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and member
of the Madison County Moonlight Lama Club. She is
the daughter of Warren and Michelle White of
Fortville. She will be studying English with a minor
in Fine Arts at Indiana University-Bloomington. She
hopes to go on an earn her Master’s in Library
Science . |
