4-H Hosts Awards Ceremony to Recognize the Accomplishments of its Members

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Cape May Court House – The Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program held its annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate the 2021 – 2022 accomplishments of their youth members and adult club leaders during a family picnic on November 6, 2022, on the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Linda Horner, 4-H Program Coordinator said, “We look forward each year to bringing our 4-H family together to celebrate the accomplishments of our 4-H youth members and our adult volunteers.”

Over 200 4-H members and leaders were recognized during the 4-H Awards Ceremony with a total of 161 awards presented. At minimum, each 4-H member who completed the last 4-H year, which ended August 31, 2022, received an achievement pin or a certificate.

2022 Outstanding 4-H Members Caitlin Schaffer and Amelia Worthington served as emcees for the awards ceremony. Among 4-H youth who were honored during the program were 11 Cloverbuds who “moved up” to 4^th grade and to regular 4-H membership. These members included Charlotte Benson, Grayson Budd, J.J. Carr, Avery Fine, Brynn Gaynor, Julianna Kelly, Selah Pitcock, Molly Richards, Leah Schalick, Elouise Worthington, and Natalie Yank-Parsons.                  

The following regular 4-H members who earned prestigious county medals for excellence this year included Arabella AitHaddad: Foods & Nutrition-1^st Year, Alexa Anaya: Mentorship-1^st Year, Lola Barry: Visual Arts 1^st Year, Jude Campbell: Entomology & Bees-1^st Year, Lilly Carr: Leadership-1^st Year and Shooting Sports-1^st Year, Nora Conover: Clothing & Textiles-2^nd Year and Horse-3^rd Year, Gavin Coughlin: Entomology & Bees-1^st Year, Maddy Doto: Leadership-1^st Year, Kaitlyn Flynn: Entomology & Bees-1^st Year, Jewels Frederick: Community Service-1^st Year, Emma Gotwols: Leadership-1^st Year and Shooting Sports-1^st Year, Eddie Hoover: Public Speaking-1^st Year, Mentorship-1^st Year, and Shooting Sports-1^st Year, Rainbow McAtee: Herpetology-2^nd Year and Leadership-1^st Year, Nathaniel McCrone: Personal Development-1^st Year, Kate Mihal: Mentorship-1^st Year, Autumn Richards: Public Speaking-1^st Year, Caitlyn Schaffer: Horse-2^nd Year, Elizabeth Schalick: Horse-1^st Year, Sylia Snyder: Entomology & Bees-1^st Year, Jacob Torres: Personal Development-1^st Year, Yadiel Torres: Performing Arts-1^st Year and Amelia Worthington: Public Speaking-1^st Year, Leadership-2^nd Year, and Shooting Sports-1^st Year.

Adult volunteers make contributions of their time and expertise throughout the year by leading 4-H clubs, serving on advisory boards such as the Cape May County 4-H Foundation, Inc., judging contests, caring for the 4-H fairgrounds, and running the 4-H Fair. Club leaders are acknowledged with special pins and certificates every five years. First year recipients in 2021-22 were Bob Andrzejczak, Trisha Andrzejczak, Nicole Arcuri, Ryan Gotwols, Trinity Hamann, Siobhan Larkin, Melissa McAtee, Lauren Miller, Marta Padula, Daniel Richards, Brittney Schroeder, Barbara Simmerman, Bill Simmerman, and Bill Wilson. Fifth-year honorees included Carolyn Richards, Kim Simpkins, Joyce Stokes, Allen Stokes, and Rhiannon Worthington. All volunteers received thanks and an appreciation gift.        

Horner concluded, “Without the dedication of our adult volunteers, the 4-H program would not exist. I am very grateful to the many wonderful adult members of our Cape May County 4-H community.”

In addition to awarding recognition to current youth and adult members, 4-H welcomed 17 new club leaders and over 40 new youth members to the program. Three new clubs have also begun, including Foxwood Friends, Gaming Innovation Lab and Seaworthy Stables 4-H Clubs.

The 4-H program is grateful to Mr. Nick DiRenzo, of Westside Meats, who donated hamburgers and hotdogs for the occasion and members of the 4-H foundation, who helped set up and cook for the awards event.

If you would like to learn more about the programs offered by the 4-H Youth Development Program in Cape May County, please call 609-465-5115, ext. 3605, visit our website at capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu or follow us on Facebook at Cape-May-4-H.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.