Scholarships Available
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Foundation are pleased to announce that the 2016 scholarship applications are now available on www.collegerodeo.com. The scholarships available are the annual Foundation Scholarship, RAWHIDE Scholarship, Shane Drury Memorial “Nothin’ But Try” Scholarship, Harry Vold “Duke of the Chutes” Scholarship, John J. Smith Graduate Program Scholarship, and the Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship.
Each year the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Foundation awards several $1,500 scholarships to NIRA student members. The application process includes transcripts, evidence of financial need, and an essay that addresses the rodeo athlete as a role model.
The RAWHIDE, Rodeo Athletes on Wellness, program awards no less than two $500 scholarships each year; one to a male athlete, and one to a female athlete. The application includes several short answer essays on positive choices and peer leadership.
A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a student during the CNFR to honor former bull riding qualifier and Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduate Shane Drury who died Oct. 31, 2006. The Shane Drury scholarship will be given to an NIRA member that has faced adversity and never given up. Shane qualified for the CNFR in 1998 while attending South Dakota State University, and won fourth in bull riding. After transferring to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1999, he returned to the CNFR and was part of the Men’s National Team winners. He continued riding bulls and in 2000 qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. He graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in December 2001. Along with riding bulls, his education was very important to him and graduating from college was just one of his accomplished goals.
In 2002, after suffering back pain for over a year, he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. After surgery and treatment, he was deemed cancer free and returned to bull riding. Sadly that cancer returned and eventually took his life. Through it all, Shane was an inspiration to people with his ‘nothin but try’ attitude. You can learn more about Shane at his web-site, www.shanedrury.net.
Several years ago the foundation board unanimously voted to establish the Harry Vold “Duke of the Chutes” scholarship. Harry Vold, CNFR stock contractor and ProRodeo Hall of Fame member, was officially honored by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Foundation board of directors with the creation of a $2,500 scholarship named in his honor. Applicants are to provide essays on patriotism, loyalty, and respect for America and your community. Mr. Vold is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished and respected stock contractors in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the NIRA. He has been the stock contractor of record for the College National Finals Rodeo for decades. He has also been the PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year eleven times, and one of only two stock contractors to provide stock to every National Finals Rodeo.
Mr. Vold is polite, courteous, loyal, faithful, honest, kind and generous. He is also very patriotic and dedicated to the sport of rodeo. He has sat on numerous PRCA committees and board of directors. Mr. Vold is a hard worker, even in his 80’s, he is actively involved in the operation of his ranch and the production of his rodeos.
The John J. Smith Scholarship for graduate students was created in December of 2008, from a generous contribution by Mr. Kevin Swett, and KSC Freight, Inc. in honor of the retirement of longtime NIRA Commissioner, John Smith.
The $2,000 annual scholarship is designated for NIRA member students pursuing a graduate degree at an accredited institution. Students currently in a graduate program; or students heading into a graduate program are encouraged to apply.
Additionally, the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Alumni Association and the Harter Family have created the “Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship”. The $1,000 award will be presented during the College National Finals Rodeo. Stan Harter was a former NIRA calf roping and ribbon roping champion. This scholarship will be presented to a timed event contestant that is currently a freshman, sophomore, or junior planning to receive a degree.
NIRA student members are encouraged to review all the applications and apply. Deadlines and requirements vary for each award, and are strictly enforced.