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.
2018 NIRA Alumni, Inc.Scholarship Awards
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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
The Texas A&M Women’s Team who won our fourth place scholarship.
Ned Londo was named the 2018 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni of the Year by the members of the NIRA Alumni, Inc. during tonight’s performance of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Ned was the 1964 NIRA Saddle Bronc Riding Champion and attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is also a board member of the NIRA Alumni, Inc. Ned is receiving his trophy buckle from Butch Bratsky, NIRA Alumni, Inc. President and the 1974 Champion Bull Rider.
Larry Burgess and Dick Claycomb were awarded the NIRA Alumni, Inc. Outstanding Contributor Award Saturday at the NIRA Foundation Luncheon. The award is given yearly to NIRA Alumni in honor of their years of generous and dedicated support to college rodeo.