NIRA ALUMNI AWARD $43,500 TO STUDENTS AT CNFR
By NIRA Alumni, Inc.
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. awarded $43,500 in scholarships at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Awards Ceremony June 15 in Casper, Wyoming.
This is the second largest scholarship amount the alumni have given to college rodeo athletes. The alumni group have awarded $293,500 in scholarships since 1992.
Casper has hosted the CNFR’s for 25 years. The city witnessed over 400 cowboys and cowgirls compete in what is known as the pinnacle event for intercollegiate rodeo contestants competing from over 90 colleges and universities.
This year the NIRA Alumni, Inc. committed $600 in 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 cowgirl were given 6500. The Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship winner received $1000, and the alumni contributed $600 scholarships to the go round winners in each of the four rounds in all events. And rounding out the $43,500 was the $600 scholarship to the 2025 NIRA Student President, Jacob Walters attending Texas Tech University.
The $600 NIRAA Event Championship Scholarships were awarded to at the completion of the CNFR June 15 to the following CNFR event winners:
Bareback Riding: Weston Timberman, Clarendon College
Tie-Down Roping: Koby Douch, Hill College
Breakaway Roping: Madalyn Richards, Texas A & M University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Gus Gaillard, Tarentin Stae University
Goat Tying: McKenna Clingman, Colorado Mesa University
Steer Wrestling: Sam Carson, Utah Valley University
Team Roping Header: James Arviso, Hill College
Team Roping Heeler: Kaden Profili, Texas A & M University-Commerce
Barrel Racing: Taycie Matthews, University of Western Alabama
Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
All Around Cowboy: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
All Around Cowgirl: Madalyn Richards, Texas A & M University
A $1,500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. scholarship was presented to Hill College who won the Fourth Place Men’s Team competition. Montana State University cowgirls were awarded the $1,000 Women’s Team Fourth Place Scholarship.
$600 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Rookie of the Year scholarships were presented to the following students in their designated college rodeo events:
Bareback Riding: Roedy O. Farrell, Tarleton State University
Tie-Down Roping: Holy Douch Hill College
Breakaway Roping: Haleigh Ann Grant-Cal Poly State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Thayne Elshere, Gillette College
Steer Wrestling:Cinch Potter, Mid Plains Community College
Goat Tying: Tyler McDonald, Texas A & M University
Team Roping-Header: James Arviso, Hill College
Team Roping-Heeler:Tucker Donjon, Cal Poly Stae University
Barrel Racing-Tie: Allie Murphy, South Plains College and Sadie Davis, Utah State University Eastern
Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
All Around Cowboy: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
All Around Cowgirl: Haleigh Ann Grant-Cal Poly State University
The NIRA Alumni, Inc. $1,000 Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Tayler Eiguren, Texas Tech University. Del Nose, NIRA Board Member presented the award to Taylor during the June 12 CNFR performance.
The first go round $600 scholarship recipients included the following:
Bareback Riding-Tie: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College. Weston Timberman, Clarendon College, and Bradlee Miller, Sam Houston State University
Tie-Down Roping: Brey Yore, South Plains College
Breakaway Roping-Tie: Taylor Jones, Blue Mountain Community College and Lauren Booty, University of West Alabama
Saddle Bronc Riding: Thayne Elshere, Gillette Community College
Steer Wrestling: Sam Carson, Utah Valley University
Goat Tying-Tie: Riata Day, University of Wyoming and Rayme Jones, Tarleton State University
Team Roping Header: Lan Fuhrer, South Dakota State University
Team Roping Heeler: Clayton Backhaus, Black Hills State University
Barrel Racing: Taycie Matthews, University of West Alabama
Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
Winners of the second go round $600 scholarships were:
Bareback Riding: Western Timberman, Clarendon College
Tie-Down Roping: Hayden Ford, Texas Tech University
Breakaway Roping: Haleigh Ann Grant, Cal Poly State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Gus Gaillard, Tarleton State University
Steer Wrestling: Arisen Kalawai’a, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Goat Tying: Rayne Jones, Tarleton State University
Team Roping Header:James Arviso, Hill College
Team Roping Heeler: Kaden Profili, Texas A & M University-Commerce
Barrel Racing: Taycie Matthews, University of West Alabama
Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon Colleg
Third go round $600 scholarships were awarded to:
Bareback Riding: Cooper Filipek, Gillette College
Tie-Down Roping: Riley Webb, Southwest Texas Junior College
Breakaway Roping: Haleigh Ann Grant, Cal Poly State University
Saddle Bronc Riding: Damian Brennan, Western Texas College
Steer Wrestling: Jaden Whitman, Montana State University,
Goat Tying: Madalyn Richards, Texas A & M University
Team Roping Header: Bodie Mattson, University of Montana and Roan Weil, Casper College
Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla-Clarendon College
The fourth go round $600 scholarship awards went to:
Bareback Riding-Tie: Sage Allen, College of Southern Idaho and Roedy O. Farrell, Tarleton State University
Tie-Down Roping: Wyatt Jensen, Montana State University
Breakaway Roping: Falyn Thomson, Clarendon College
Saddle Bronc Riding-Tie: Gus Gaillard and Roedy O. Farrell, Tarleton State University
Steer Wrestling: Tyler Bauerle, Cisco College
Goat Tying: Haiden Thompson, Gillette College
Team Roping Header: Laine Moore, Northwest Mississippi Community College
Team Roping Heeler: Tanner Brown, East Mississippi Community College
Barrel Racing: Taycie Matthews, University of West Alabama
Bull Riding: Zeke Martinez, Wharton County Community College
The NIRA Alumni, Inc. Board of Directors met June 14 in Casper, Wyoming. They voted to award $50,000 plus next year at the CNFR in scholarships.
If you would like to contribute, you can pay online with a credit card at 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. Or you can pay with a credit card or electronic check at this link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/national-intercollegiate-rodeo-association-alumni
The organization is a 501 (c) (3) organization and 100% of contributions will go to the NIRA Alumni. Inc. college rodeo scholarship fund.
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