One of Central Alberta’s most dedicated and respected residents, Marilyn Sharp, is being honoured with a 4-H scholarship created in her name. The scholarship will help 4-H members in Central Alberta pursue their post-secondary education.
Made possible by generous donations from MEGlobal and Dow Canada, the scholarship is in recognition of Marilyn’s 25-years of volunteer contributions as a member of their Community Advisory Panel.
Sharp grew up in Vancouver, B.C. and later moved to Lacombe as a university graduate to work for Alberta Agriculture.
In her role with District Home Economics, she was responsible for administration and Lacombe 4-H programming such as cooking, gardening and resource.
While she was living and working in Lacombe she fell in love and, as she puts it, “the rest is history.”
Now, four generations of the Sharp family have been involved in Lacombe 4-H. Sharp says she is “very proud of her family’s history within 4-H.”
Upon receiving the distinction Sharp says she felt overwhelmed and did not expect it.
“I am honoured,” says Sharp.
“My passion is education and agriculture.”
The scholarship is for second year students in STEM-related fields of science, technology and mathematics.
“In the second year students are more committed to a program,” Sharp said about the decision to have the scholarship available to older students.
“They must be active in the 4-H program for at least five years, make contributions a community and be great at public speaking; 4-H has a great public speaking program. I can always tell when a student has been through the 4-H public speaking program.”
“MEGlobal is incredibly proud to participate in the establishment of the Marilyn Sharp 4-H Scholarship,” said Trish Thompson, MEGlobal Public Affairs Manager.
Sharp has been one of the “most dedicated members” of the Prentiss Site Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for more than 25 years
She sees her role as community liaison between MEGlobal and Dow and the community of Lacombe.
“Recently, I took the LP7 plant team for a tour of the land reclamation of the boarding coal sites out west of Edmonton.
“We don’t give companies enough credit. The land out that way was reclaimed. It’s now producing more crops. I wanted to show the LP7 plant workers what was possible,” said Sharp.
Every three years she takes employees out for a community tour to check out the farms, feedlots and related businesses.
It’s important to recognize the contributions of MEGlobal and Dow to education and youth programming in the community, Sharp says. In the past MEGlobal and Dow have funded a number of school programs, local food banks, school equipment and MEGlobal Field.
Sharp has a message for young women out there.
“Go for it! Talk to other women involved and find mentors,” says Sharp.
Offered as part of 4-H Alberta’s Provincial scholarship program, the $1,000 scholarship will be offered until 2025 and will be made available to 4-H Members from the West Central Region.