The Achievement in Service Award was presented to Liz Nicholson. This award is for OAE4-HA members who have at least three years, but no more than seven years of service. As a nine year 4-H member, Nicholson knew that 4-H is where her heart and passions lay. Now in her fourth year as a 4-H educator she has helped develop outstanding school enrichment programming and increased 4-H membership and involvement along the way.

To be considered for this award, one has to complete an application and resume to be considered. She put four years of experience and success on one sheet of paper. Preparing for this application she saw on paper and relived how she had re-grown the Canadian County 4-H program of 12-15 individual clubs. Kay County currently has four clubs; Newkirk Go-Getters, Blackwell Ok Okies 4-H Club, Tonkawa 4-H Club, and in Ponca City a Countywide Livestock Club. Nicholson states; “there are many opportunities for the youth in Kay County”.

Nicholson was one of two winners of the Edna Sans Memorial Scholarship. She can use the scholarship toward any professional development opportunity, such as a Master’s Degree, conference registration’s, online or in-person trainings to improve knowledge and skills.

The State OAE4-HA (Oklahoma Association Educators 4-H Agents) Awards Banquet was held November 18, 2020 where Ms. Nicholson was presented with the award. Conference was held November 18-19. During the conference she was also elected to be the OAE4-HA Vice President. Nicholson is also committee chairman for the membership, professional improvement committees and a member of the finance committee.

Committees are the lifeblood of the Association and the teams carry out the work important to their mission. Each member is encouraged to be engaged in at least one committee and more if they wish. Committee chairs are the link between the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents and our State. Agents are encouraged to participate in the National committee associated with the state committee.

In October she attended “virtually” the NAE4-HYDP (National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals) conference. Nicholson is one of the representatives from Oklahoma, all state officers are state representatives.

Nicholson’s statement of encouragement and appreciation; “I chose to be a 4-H educator, because growing up I would not have had the opportunities I had, without my 4-H educator. My 4-H educator, Brett Morris, helped shape who I am today and he just gave me a lot of opportunities and experiences and I learned so much and so many things that I don’t think I would have without his influence and 4-H’s influence on my life. I went to college and thought I had it all figured out and by the time I graduated I did not want to do anything I just went to college for. I never quit volunteering for 4-H, so why don’t I just do what my educator does, why don’t I become an educator. I did some job shadowing, applied and after I did the job shadowing, and decided I definitely wanted to do this. If I can make that type of difference or even half as wonderful of a job as he did, and impact the kid’s lives half as much as he impacted mine, I would consider that a great day’s work. My goal is to exceed. Brett Morris was the only 4-H educator in this position all of my years of 4-H in Payne County.”