By Merrill Ellis
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. awarded $11,500 in scholarships this year at the 70th Annual College National Finals Rodeo June 16 in Casper, Wyoming.
A $1,000 scholarship was presented to Cuesta College of San Luis Obispo who won the Fourth Place Men’s Team competition. Texas A & M University in College Station won the $500 Women’s Team Fourth Place Scholarship.
Maddee Doerr of Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Arizona was named the Female All Around Rookie of the Year and was presented a $500 scholarship from the Alumni. This scholarship was given in memory of Charlotte Laycok, NIRA Alumni Friend and supporter.
Cisco College cowboy, Ty Harris captured the $500 Male All Around Rookie of the Year in 2018. Cisco College is in Cisco, Texas.
“Each year our Alumni continue to contribute more and more to our scholarship fund. Consequently, we are able to present athletes scholarships to help them pursue a college education while participating in intercollegiate rodeos,”stated Butch Bratsky, NIRA Alumni President.
For the second consecutive year NIRA Alumni, Inc. board member, Jerry Beagley and R.E. and Martha Josey teamed up and presented each go-round winner of the barrel race a $500 scholarship. The winners included: First Go-Taylor Rivera, University of Las Vegas; Second Go-Kenzie McNeill-Texas Tech University; Third Go-Sara Bynum-Northwestern Oklahoma State University; and Fourth Go-Abby Searcy-University of Arkansas-Monticello.
Caden Farquer, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo cowboy, was awarded the $1,000 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship. It is given yearly to a timed event cowboy.
McNeese State University cowgirl, Mia Manzanares was awarded the NIRA Alumni, Inc. fastest time in the short go of goat tying $500 scholarship. She turned in a new arena record with a blazing 5.9 seconds run. This scholarship was given by John and Tiffany Thurston, CrissCross Chaos Boutique, and MJ Goats-Jordan and Chancy Miller.
Will Centoni of Cuesta College was named the Jerry Beagley All Around Cowboy Award. This scholarship was designated 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.
Additional $500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Rookie of the Year scholarships were presented to the following students in their designated college rodeo event:
Bareback Riding-(In memory of Bob Clore, Former NIRA Alumni, Inc. Board Member): Jesse Pope-Missouri Valley College
Tie Down Roping-(In memory of Jack Burckholder, 1957-60 NIRA Champion) Calf Roper: Ty Harris-Cisco College
Breakaway Roping: Shaye Jessee-Southwest Texas Junior College
Saddle Bronc Riding: Dawson Dahm-Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Steer Wrestling: Thomas Davis-Central Wyoming College
Goat Tying:(In honor of Mary Fuller, NIRA Alumni, Inc. Board Member and 1968 NIRA Goat Tying Champion): Maddee Doerr-Cochise College
Team Roping-Header: Clay Elkington-Central Arizona College
Team Roping-Heeler: Kirby Blankenship-Weatherford College
Barrel Racing: Ashtyn Carlson-College of Southern Idaho
Bull Riding: Will Centoni-Cuesta College
Contributors for the 2018 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarships included the following: Ken & Sharon Adams, Jerry Beagley, Ray Billings, Butch & Shannon Bratsky, Antonio G. Bray, Ruby K Brower, Larry & DeEtta Burgess, Ernest Brown, Sharon Camarillo, Charles & Evelyn Chambers, Richard Claycomb, Buz and Judy Cowdrey, Laddie & Sue Cox, Jay & Merrill Ellis, Bob & Vicki Emerson, Cory Ferguson, Mary Fuller, Lloyd & Mary Ann Hill in honor of Kenneth & Jack Burkholder, Stan Harter Memorial Fund, Barbara Socolofsky Hintz, Martha Jordan, R.E. & Martha Josey, Glen and Shelly Lammers, Bill Laycock, Ned Londo, Randy & Sue Magers, Sylvia Mahoney, Dale Nose, Don & Pat Reichert, Manfred Sander, Wayne Schoff, Harlan & Donna Schott, Judson Shows, Chuck Sylvester, Thurston Goats-John & Tiffany Thurston, CrissCross Chaos Boutique MJ Goats-Jordan & Chancy Miller and Fred & Clara Wilson.
The NIRA Alumni, Inc. and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and Rodeo Historical Society (RHS) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma presented each NIRA National Champion on Saturday evening with a one year All-Around Membership to the Museum. This membership is transferable if the recipient wishes to present it to their parents or someone who has been influential in their life. The award has a $200 value.
“We hope that the students are excited about our effort to share the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and RHS with them. The students have worked tirelessly in their efforts to become NIRA Champions, “ stated Gary Moore, Interim CEO/President of the museum.
The NIRA Champions were also invited to be the guest of the Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame weekend festivities November 9-10, 2018. For additional information about the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and RHS go to www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/rodeo.
