DOVER — Mountaire recently handed out $30,000 in “Farm to Table” scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing careers in agriculture, culinary arts or related fields.

This was the first year of the WBOC/Mountaire Farm to Table Scholarship program, which selected high school seniors each month from September through June and shared their story on news segments. Winning students earned $2,000 scholarships.

At the year-end banquet at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, students and their families were brought together to celebrate and hear inspiring words from Delaware celebrity chef Hari Cameron. He congratulated the students on their achievements and recounted his journey to success, emphasizing that “anything is possible with hard work and determination.”

The winners were:

• Reef Ward of James M. Bennett High School, who wants to pursue a degree in agribusiness at the University of Maryland. He is a certified professional horticulturist and serves as a greenhouse and sales representative in Salisbury, Maryland.
• Savana Geib of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, who wants to study marine biology and continue her studies in culinary arts. She plans to attend Anne Arundel Community College.
• Tabitha Lenhart of Milford High School is a member of the National Honor Society, the National FFA Organization, the ASL Club and the track team. She plans to attend Delaware State University and study animal and poultry science, pursuing a career in animal genetics and breeding.
• Hunter Holladay of Indian River High School served as FFA president and is a member of the National Honor Society. He plans to attend Delaware Technical Community College and study livestock veterinary science.
• Ty Beach of Parkside High School earned Academic Achievement Awards in 2020 and 2022 and President’s Academic Achievement Awards in 2022 and 2023, and graduated cum laude this year. He volunteers at soup kitchens and other community events and plans to study business at Wor-Wic Community College. He ultimately wants to own a restaurant.
• Aidan Bell of Laurel High School is a member of the National Honor Society, is the FFA State Delegate Committee chair and was an athlete who played varsity football and varsity baseball, as well as served as captain of the varsity wrestling team. He will be attending the University of Delaware, where he plans to study agriculture and natural resources.
• Kai Bernard of Caesar Rodney High School served on the ProStart team, was the ProStart state champion in 2023 and took second place at the National ProStart Invitational this year. She wants to attend Walnut Hill College and be a pastry chef and bakery owner.
• Cecilia Uebel of Stephen Decatur High School is a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. She also served as FFA vice president (2021) and FFA president (2022 and 2023). She plans to attend the University of Delaware in the fall and study wildlife ecology and conservation, and pursue a career in ag land conservation.
• Kiana Young of Polytech High School was a ProStart team captain and plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America. She wants to study baking and pastry, and become a pastry chef.
• Samantha Teoli of Indian River High School has worked at a farm-to-table restaurant for three years, gaining experience while also being the captain of the lacrosse team, playing on the field hockey team, volunteering with the Leo Club and earning a spot in the National Honor Society. She plans to attend Walnut Hill College and become a head chef and restaurant owner.

The two overall winners selected for additional $5,000 scholarships were Mr. Bell and Ms. Teoli.