4-H Scholarships | UC Cooperative Extension Napa County

4-H Scholarship Fund Donation

Ways to Donate:

1. Donate online via credit card at https://give4h.ucanr.edu/.

Click "Make a Gift"
Select Napa County
Choose "Napa County 4-H General Support" as the designation and indicate the gift amount.
When providing details for the gift, indicate that you would like the donation to be designated for a scholarship in the comments box. Include the name of the specific scholarship you are donating to, if applicable.

2. Donate by mail.

Mail in a check payable to "Napa County 4-H" and include a note that indicates that the donation is for a 4-H scholarship. Include the name of the specific scholarship you are donating to, if applicable.

Mail checks to:

UCCE Napa
c/o 4-H Scholarship Fund
1710 Soscol Avenue #4
Napa, CA 94559”

2026 Napa County 4-H Scholarships

2026 Napa County 4-H Scholarship Application

Applications Due: Monday, March 23 2026 by 5:00pm to the Napa 4-H Office

Interviews: April 7, 2026 beginning at 5:30pm

The candidate for a 4-H scholarship must be:

1. Graduating seniors living within Napa County currently enrolled in the Napa County 4-H Youth Development Program as an “active” member.

2. Complete a minimum of four (4) years in a 4-H Club within Napa County including all (4) years of high school.

3. Graduate from an Accredited School (GED, Alternative, Public, Private, Home School, Etc.) within the Napa County Office of Education.

4. All recipients must verify full-time enrollment (12 credits) in a Community/Junior College, State College, University, or Trade School before receiving the scholarship money, unless a special circumstance is approved by the selection committee.

Available Scholarships

List of Scholarships

4-H COURAGEOUS HEART SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship category is for graduating seniors living within Napa County currently enrolled in the Napa County 4-H Youth Development Program as an “active” member that have demonstrated perseverance in the face of significant challenges related to medical, family, and/or educational circumstances. Recognizing that such circumstances may have affected the ability to meet the standard requirement of “minimum of four (4) years enrolled in 4-H within Napa County including all (4) years of high school”, applicants for this category should instead demonstrate strong and meaningful involvement in 4-H during their period of enrollment, both in their club and at county, regional, and/or state level events.

Napa County 4-H Leadership Team

The Napa County 4-H Leadership Team is organized for the purpose of cooperating with the University of California Cooperative Extension in organizing, promoting and carrying out 4-H youth development work in Napa County.

James O'Neill

Jim O’Neill began his 4H involvement when his daughter became a 4-H member in 1991 and quickly became involved in the club, later becoming the North Napa club leader. He supported the 4-H Camp program and enjoyed his years at Las Posadas as a Camp Counselor; he was Camp Dad in 1997.

In 2000, Jim accepted the position of Napa County 4-H Program Coordinator. Jim was very dedicated to the youth and adult volunteers and knew many of them by name, what club they belonged to and was a great resource and advocate for the adult volunteers. He served in this capacity for two decades.

In 2025, after Jim’s untimely death, his family established the Jim O’Neill Memorial Scholarship. This memorial scholarship in his honor recognizes his long devotion to the Napa County 4-H program and to continue to share his enduring belief and dedication of supporting the local 4-H youth members with a scholarship to help them as they continue on to their next level of continuing education. Jim was a member of the Napa County 4-H Scholarship Committee for many, many years and it was one of his greatest joys to watch our 4-H youth members receive a 4-H Scholarship. Jim O’Neill began his 4H involvement when his daughter became a 4-H member in 1991 and quickly became involved in the club, later becoming the North Napa club leader. He supported the 4-H Camp program and enjoyed his years at Las Posadas as a Camp Counselor; he was Camp Dad in 1997.

Paulette Cormack

Paulette Cormack was born and raised in rural Iowa and joined 4-H at an early age. As an active club member in the 1950’s-60’s she participated in many leadership programs. She even met her future husband at 4-H summer camp! Paulette pursued a career in teaching to fulfill her enjoyment of childhood development and education – always promoting 4-H as a strong youth program of basic skills and leadership. Paulette and her family were active in the Napa County 4-H program where she was a leader in the Mt. George and Wine Valley 4-H clubs and the annual 4-H summer camp. After her untimely death from cancer in 2009, Paulette’s family established this memorial scholarship in her honor – recognizing her life-long devotion to the 4-H program and to continue to share her love of helping others.

Peter Gerlach

Peter Gerlach was in 4-H for 9 years. His last year was in 2000, the year he graduated from Napa High. Peter completed many 4-H projects and he had a BIG, thick record book to prove it. Some of Peter’s most enjoyable projects were woodworking, welding, his 30 acre hay project (he loved to drive the tractor!), and breeding and raising 4-H market lambs. Peter and his brother Joe always brought their own lambs that were born and raised on their family’s property. Peter was always proud that he brought something to the fair that he helped birth and raise. Peter was in the champion drive almost every year with one of his lambs! He also won champion Suffolk several years and won sheep showmanship his senior year. After Peter’s death in 2012 a scholarship fund was started to help other 4-H kids who wanted to go to college. The Bingham family raised a lamb that was auctioned off and brought in $20,000 to start this scholarship.

Grace Methven

Grace Methven served as a 4-H adult volunteer leader for 65 years. She was also a youth member, joining 4-H at age 10. She was a 4-H All Star in 1944. She was a teacher at Shearer Elementary School and after retirement volunteered as their librarian. She was very involved in the 4-H Camp program, having attended Las Posadas 4-H Camp as a 4-H youth and was the camp registrar as an adult for years and years. She also was involved in the Napa Town and Country Fair managing the 4-H exhibits building.

John Wagenknecht

John Wagenknecht served as a 4-H Youth Development Advisor. He worked for the UC for 38 years. He was known as Sir John at 4-H Camp and developed parent and child programs like kite day, quail raising, and tree growing as family projects for 4-H. He was very active in the community serving 10 years on the NVUSD school board and was involved in many other community organizations.

Polly Wagenknecht

Polly Wagenknecht served as the Napa County 4-H Program Coordinator. She set a positive example for our 4-H youth with her commitment to fostering strong families in 4-H and guiding our 4-H youth. She always gave credit to others before herself. Her Friday night campfire speech at 4-H camp closing ceremonies was legendary.

Ed Weber

Ed Weber was a viticulturist and joined the UC in 1988 as the viticulture farm advisor, and then later became county director in 2001. He was a wonderful educator and problem solver.