courtesy of Merrill Ellis
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. awarded $42,500 in scholarships at the 73rd College National Finals Rodeo June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming. This is the largest scholarship amount the alumni have ever awarded to college rodeo athletes.
More than 400 men and women from over 100 colleges and universities competed in ten rodeo events during the seven day competition. The CNFR can be compared to the NCAA national championships in any collegiate sport. This year the NIRA Alumni, Inc. added $1,000 scholarships to each of the champions in the ten events and the all around cowboy and cowgirl as well. In addition the group awarded a $1,500 scholarship to the fourth place men’s team and a $1,000 to the fourth place women’s team. Each rookie of the year in each event and all around rookie cowboy was given $500. The Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship winner received $1000, and the alumni contributed $500 scholarships to the go round winners in each of the four rounds in all events. And rounding out the $41,500 was the $500 Jerry Beagley top rough stock rider and timed event cowboy and the NIRA Student President scholarship.
Don Reichert, NIRA Alumni President, explained, “The NIRA Alumni were blessed to be able to award a record $42,500 in scholarships to winners at the CNFR this year. In 2019, The Board of Directors voted to award $30,000 to go round and rookie winners at the 2020 CNFR. Then in 2020 an anonymous donor contributed $5,000 to give each of the 10 average winners a $500 scholarship, making the total to be awarded in 2020 $35,000. When COVID 19 canceled the 2020 CNFR, all the scholarships were rolled into 2021 and the anonymous donor added another $5,000 for the average winners. The NIRA Alumni then secured sponsors for the all around winners making the total awarded in 2021 $42,500.”
He continued, “These scholarships help young rodeo athletes pursue their education and continue to compete in intercollegiate rodeos. Many alumni say that college rodeo and scholarships kept them in school and made a huge difference in their lives. It is very satisfying to know the NIRA Alumni are able to give the scholarship recipients financial support while they are earning a marketable degree.”
A $1,500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. scholarship was presented to Western Texas College who won the Fourth Place Men’s Team competition. East Mississippi Community College were awarded the $1,000 Women’s Team Fourth Place Scholarship.
$500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Rookie of the Year scholarships were presented to the following students in their designated college rodeo event:
Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
Calf Roper: Kincaid Henry, Panola College
Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bendke, Idaho State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Weston Patterson, Clarendon College
Steer Wrestling:grant Patterson, Clarendon College
Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University
Team Roping-Header: Carson Johnson, Casper College
Team Roping-Heeler: Jc Yeahquo, Woks
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding:tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University
All Around Cowboy: Cole Franks Clarendon College
All Around Cowgirl: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
The NIRA Alumni, Inc. Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Owen Gustafson, Dickinson State University. He is from Browning, Montana. Owen will be a Senior and plans to graduate May 15, 2022. He is majoring in Agriculture Business-Integrated Ranch Management. This selection was made possible by the scholarship donor, Del Nose and his committee including NIRA Alumni. Inc. Board Members Mary Fuller and Jerry Hawkes. There was not a winner who qualified for the Jerry Beagley All Around Cowboy Award. Consequently, this scholarship will be $1,000 in 2022. This award was to be awarded to a cowboy who placed in both a timed event and rough stock event during the CNFR. Beagley was a duo competitor when he attended college in the 70’s and wanted to award the $500 scholarship annually.
Additionally, the NIRA Alumni, Inc. gave a $500 NIRA Student President
Scholarship to Tyree Cochrane from Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo.
The $1,000 NIRA Event Champions Scholarships were given to:
Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
Tiedown Roping: Macon Murphy, Panola College
Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University
Saddle Bronc Riding:Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College
Steer Wrestling: Gavin Soileau, McNeese State University
Goat Tying:Jill Donnelly, Cochise College
Team Roping-Header:Kellan Johnson, Casper College
Team Roping-Heeler:Carson Johnson, Casper College
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University
All Around Cowboy: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
All Around Cowgirl: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University and Jill Donnelly, Cochise College
The first go round scholarship recipients included the following:
Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
Tiedown Roping: Macon Murphy, Panola College
Breakaway Roping: Winter Williams, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Garrett Uptain, University of Wyoming
Steer Wrestling: Tie Between Bridger Anderson, Northwestern Oklahoma State
University and Zane Patrick, Mid Plains Community College
Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University
Team Roping Header:Wyatt Murray, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Team Roping Heeler: Whitt Crozier, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding:Cole Skender, Three Rivers College
Winners of the second go round scholarships were:
Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
Tiedown Roping: Kincade Henry, Panola College
Breakaway Roping:Brandy Schaack, University of Wyoming
Saddle Bronc Riding: Cash Wilson, Clarendon College
Steer Wrestling: Gavin B. Soileau, McNeese State University
Goat Tying: Lariat L. Larner, Oklahoma State University
Team Roping-Header: Lane Cooper, Sul Ross University
Team Roping-Heeler: Blake Bentley, Weatherford College
Barrel Racing: Lakken Bice, DICKSN
Bull Riding: Tie Between Holden Moss, Three Rivers College and Tristen
Hutchings, Sul Ross University
Third go round scholarships were awarded to:
Bareback Riding: Kolt Dement, Panola Junior College
Tiedown Roping: Seth Peterson, University of Wyoming, and Zane Kilgus,
Northeast Oklahoma A & M
Breakaway Roping: Taylor Lawson, Southwest Texas Junior College and Bethanie
Shofner, New Mexico State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Parker Fleet, Hill College
Steer Wrestling: Ryan Nettle, Texas A & M University – Commerce
Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University, 6.3 seconds. 2, (tie)
Lindsey Pulsipher, Montana State University, and Heather McLaughlin, University
of West Alabama
Team Roping: Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College
Team Roping: Cole Curry, East Mississippi Community College
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding: Stefan Tonita, Laramie County Community College
The fourth go round scholarship awards went to:
Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
Tiedown Roping: Connor Atkinson, Wharton County Community College
Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College
Steer Wrestling: Grant Peterson, Cal Poly State University
Goat Tying: , Sheyenne Anderson, Missouri Valley College
Team Roping-Header: Kellan Johnson, Casper College
Team Roping-Heeler: Carson Johnson, Casper College
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University
Contributors for the 2021 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarships
GOLD STAR DONOR $5000+
Anonymous Donor
SILVER STAR DONOR $1000-$4999
Jerry Beagley
Butch & Shannon Bratsky
Larry & DeEtta Burgess
Buz & Judy Cowdrey
Jay & Merrill Ellis
Mary Fuller
Lloyd & Mary Ann Hill
Larry & Martha Jordan
Evelyn Kingsbury
Del Nose
Don & Pat Reichert
JW & Hyden Todd
BRONZE STAR DONOR $500-$999
Ken & Sharon Adams
Barstow
Ned & Chris Londo
Dr. Don Mitchell Cattle Company
Jim Moore
Jack & Donna Roddy
Harlan & Donna Schott
Chuck Sylvester
Fred & Clara Wilson
DONOR $50 -$499
Wyatt & Reagan Bloom
Charles Chambers
CrissCross Chaos
Cory Ferguson
Debbie Garrison
Jeffery A Gerdes
Chancy & Jordan Ann Thurston Miller
Brad & Samantha Sprau
John & Tiffany Thurston
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