NEW WINDSOR, Md. — At the Maryland Holstein Association’s annual banquet meeting held here on March 21, scholarships were presented by Dee Shafer and Kelly Zepp to Shea Cencula, Breckin Welsh, Kelsey Zepp and Bryce Zepp. 

• Kelsey Zepp was awarded the $2000 Maryland Holstein Scholarship. The daughter of Gabe and Kelly Zepp, Kelsey is a 2024 graduate of Francis Scott Key High School in Frederick where she was active in FFA and played basketball and lacrosse and won awards in agriculture and photography.

She was active in 4-H in many dairy and livestock activities, winning numerous awards at the state and national levels. The New Windsor resident was named the overall Maryland Holstein Distinguished Junior Member in 2023 and competed at the national level, where she was selected as a National DJM semi-finalist.

Kelsey is a freshman at Black Hawk College-East Campus in Illinois and is a member of the livestock judging team. She is majoring in agriculture communications and minoring in agriculture business. Her goals are to focus on livestock photography and marketing and dreams of owning her own livestock photography business. She was also the winner of the Marlin Hoff Scholarship awarded at the Maryland Holstein Futurity.

• Bryce Zepp is one of this year’s recipients of the $1000 Maryland Holstein Scholarship. Bryce, son of Gabe and Kelly, is a 2022 graduate of Francis Scott Key High School and currently a junior at Stevenson University in Owings Mills. He is majoring in business administration and is a member of the football team and football leadership group. He was an active member of 4-H and FFA, exhibiting dairy and beef cattle on county, state and national levels.

He is a past Maryland Holstein Distinguished Junior Member record book winner and participated on the state dairy judging team. You can now find Bryce helping out with clipping workshops for county 4-H events or assisting as a ringman at shows, helping the next generation of 4-Hers.

After graduation, Bryce would like to find a job in the agricultural field and eventually run a sustainable agriculture-based business on the family farm.

• Shea Cencula, daughter of Joseph and Hope Cencula, also received a $1000 Maryland Holstein Scholarship. She is a junior at Purdue University majoring in veterinary nursing. While in college, she works as a veterinary assistant at Green Valley Animal Hospital.

She was active in 4-H and FFA, where she held many positions and received numerous awards. She held the position of president in the Linganore High FFA Chapter. Also in high school, she was a member of National Honor Society, swim team and concert choir. She belongs to many agricultural organizations, including other breed associations, and has shown at various shows.

In 4-H, Shea participated in dairy skillathon and dairy judging and competed at the national dairy judging contest in Louisville, Ky. A resident of Mount Airy, Shea served as a past Frederick County Dairy Princess. She is also a business entrepreneur, owning her own business selling goat soaps and lotions from her herd. This business helps her to help pay for her animals’ feed and other expenses. After graduating from college, Shea plans to become a veterinary nurse while focusing on animal nutrition.

• Breckin Welsh of Knoxville also received a $1000 Maryland Holstein Scholarship. The son of Matt and Kelli Welsh, he graduated in 2023 from Brunswick High School and helps with numerous jobs on the home farm. He attends Frederick Community College majoring in biotechnology.

In high school, Breckin was active in the National Honor Society, baseball and basketball. Computer science was also among his interests. In 4-H, he participated in Dairy Bowl, dairy judging and giving demonstrations at his local club. Breckin also showed locally, in the state and nationally.

Breckin is a member of the Petersville Ruritan and helps with the butchering, canned food drive and toys for tots. He also helped make blankets for disabled veterans and sponsored a family at Christmas. After college Breckin wants to pursue a career in the biotechnology field so he can help with life-saving medications for people and animals.