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Join Rodeo NewsNIRAA Scholarship Awards
story by Merrill Ellis
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. awarded $30,000 in scholarships at the 70th Annual College National Finals Rodeo June 9-15 in Casper, Wyoming.
This year in addition to awarding scholarships to the fourth place men and women’s teams and rookie of the year scholarships, Stan Harter Scholarship, the alumni contributed scholarships to the go round winners in each of the four go rounds in all events, a Jerry Beagley top rough stock rider and timed event cowboy, and two hardship award scholarships.
“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.
A $1,000 NIRA Alumni, Inc. scholarship was presented to Sheridan College. who won the Fourth Place Men’s Team competition. Lassen College won the $500 Women’s Team Fourth Place Scholarship. Lassen is located in Susanville, California.
University of Wyoming cowboy, Caden Camp captured the $500 Male All Around Rookie of the Year in 2019. There was not a qualifier for the Female All Around Rookie this year.
$500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Rookie of the Year scholarships were presented to the following students in their designated college rodeo event:
Bareback Riding:
Derrik Thompson, Utah Valley University
Calf Roper:
Macon Murphy, Panola College
Breakaway Roping:
Shelby Boisjoli, Ranger College
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Parker Fleet, Hill College
Steer Wrestling:
Tyler West, Southwest Texas Junior College
Goat Tying:
Beau Patterson, Panhandle State
Team Roping-Header:
Cobie Dodds, West Hills College
Team Roping-Heeler:
Cody Stewart, Feather River College
Barrel Racing:
Hailey Finnegan, Lassen Community College
Bull Riding:
Daylon Swearingen, Panola College
The Stan Harter Memorial and NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarship was awarded to Mylee Mickelsen of Idaho State University. Mylee will be a sophomore at Idaho State University. She plans on majoring in Veterinary Medicine. This selection was made possible by the Daniel Harter Family, Stan’s son.
Caleb McMillan was named the Jerry Beagley All Around Cowboy Award. He attends Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. 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.
Additionally, the NIRA Alumni, Inc. $500 hardship scholarships were awarded to Zane Munoz of Central Arizona College and Sierra Lyons, who attends Northwest College.
The NIRA Alumni, Inc. Board of Directors met June 13 in Casper, Wyoming. They voted to give $30,000 again next year at the CNFR in Scholarships.
If you would like to contribute, you can pay online with a credit card at https://www.fundraise.com/niraascholarshipfund, or send a check payable to NIRA Alumni, Inc. NIRA Alumni, Inc. 3211 Elys Path San Antonio, Texas 78230. Please include your address, phone number and email address with your check.
We are a 501 (c) (3) organization and 100% of your contribution will go to the NIRA Alumni. Inc. college rodeo scholarship fund.
First Go Round Scholarship Recipients:
Bareback Riding:
Chance Ames, Sheridan College
Calf Roper:
Wyatt Williams, Tarleton State University
Breakaway Roping:
(tie) Quincy Segelke, Chadron State University and Taylor Munsell, Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Cooper Thatcher, Panhandle State University
Steer Wrestling:
(tie) Nathan Weyrich, Central Wyoming College and Bridger Anderson, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Goat Tying:
(tie) Taylor Latham, Gillette College and Madee Doerr, Cochise Community College
Team Roping-Header:
Cyle Denison, Hill College
Team Roping-Heeler:
Ross Ashford, Hill College
Barrel Racing:
Makayla Seely, Casper College
Bull Riding:
(tie) Colten Fritzlan, Western Texas College and Daylon Swearingen, Panola College
Second Go Round Scholarship Recipients:
Bareback Riding:
Tyler Johnson, Panola Junior College
Calf Roper:
Haven Meged, Tarleton State University
Breakaway Roping:
Whitney DeSalvo, University of Arkansas-Monticello
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Riggin Smith, Clarendon College
Steer Wrestling:
Caden Camp, University of Wyoming
Goat Tying:
Jacie Sullivan, Southern Arkansas University
Team Roping-Header:
Quentin Anseth, College of Southern Idaho
Team Roping-Heeler:
Kycen Winn, Snow College
Barrel Racing:
Kynzie McNeill, Oklahoma State University
Bull Riding:
Caleb McMillan, Northwest College
Third Go Round Scholarship Recipients:
Bareback Riding:
Chance Ames, Sheridan College
Calf Roper:
Macon Murphy, Panola Junior College
Breakaway Roping:
(tie) Samantha Kerns, Montana State University, Kody Criswell, South Plains College, and Mia Manzanares, McNeese State University
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Riggin Smith, Clarendon College
Steer Wrestling:
Laramie Warren, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Goat Tying:
Erryn Hodson, Weber State University
Team Roping-Header:
(tie) Lexis Andrade, Walla Walla Community College and Wyatt Muggli, Texas A & M-Commerce
Team Roping-Heeler:
(tie) Calgary Smith, Walla Walla Community College an McCoy Profili, Hill College
Barrel Racing:
Kynzie McNeill, Oklahoma State University
Bull Riding:
Coby Johnson, Sheridan College
Fourth Go Round Scholarship Recipients:
Bareback Riding:
Cole Reiner, Misy Valley
Calf Roper:
Cody Burnside, Central Arizona College
Breakaway Roping:
Shelby Boisjoli, Ranger College
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Lane Schuelke, Casper College
Steer Wrestling:
Walt Arnold, Cisco College
Goat Tying:
Mia Manzanares McNeese State University
Team Roping-Header:
Wyatt Hershberger, Cochise College
Team Roping-Heeler:
Junior Zambrano, Central Arizona College
Barrel Racing: Jayde Wamel, New Mexico State University
Bull Riding: Dalton Kasel, Howard College
Contributors for the 2019 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarships included the following:
Ken & Sharon Adams, Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment, Jerry Beagley, Butch & Shannon Bratsky, Larry Burgess, Jack & Kenneth Burkholder Family, Charles Chambers, Dick Claycomb, Buz & Judy Cowdrey, Jay & Merrill Ellis, Vicki Emerson. John & Margaret Fincher, Mary Fuller, Daniel Harter Family, Barbara Hintz, G Bar G Saddles-Dennis George, Larry & Martha Jordan, RE & Martha Josey, Evelyn Kingbury, Glen & Shelly Lammers, Ned & Chris Londo, Neal & Stacey Martin from Next Level Goat Tying, Jim Moore, Del Nose, Larry O’Neil, Don & Pat Reichert, Saddle Barn, Harlan & Donna Schott, Jud Shows, Charles (Chuck) Sylvester, Jr., John & Tiffany Thurston, Chancy & Jordan Ann Miller, & CrissCross Chaos, Fred & Clara Wilson.