Alumni

The purpose of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. (NIRAA) is to hold an annual reunion to honor past National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) participants and alumni, award scholarships to current NIRA participants, promote college rodeo, and preserve college rodeo history.

The NIRAA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization..

 

NIRA ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP FORM

NIRAA Membership Application

To pay membership with a credit card please click here.

NIRA ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP FUND

To Contribute to scholarship fund, please follow this link.

Alumni and friends of college rodeo: Please participate in the 2025 NIRA Alumni Scholarship Program. Each scholarship awarded at the 2025 CNFR will be $800 to go round winners, champions, and rookies of the year. $1,500 will be given to 4th place men’s team and $1,000 to 4th place women’s team, $1,200 Rodeo Cowboys of South Texas Recognition and Reunion Scholarship to applicant winner, $1,000 Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship to applicant winner, $1,000 Jerry Beagley Rough Stock/Timed Event Scholarship to qualifier, and the $800 Scholarship to the 2026 NIRA Student Director. We have pledged to the NIRA that we will award over $50,000 in 2025. Giving is simple: Just write a check out to NIRAA, Inc.-- any amount--designate your desired rodeo event, and send it to: NIRAA, Inc. 3211 Elys Path San Antonio, Texas 78230. Or you can click on the link and pay with a credit card or electronic check. The NIRAA is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. Please join us in keeping the College Rodeo tradition alive. Remember, no amount is too small or, of course, too large!

2024 NIRA Alumni Reunion, Scholarship Sponsors, and Scholarship Winners

 

ALUMNI NEWS

  • NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarships Awarded at the 2021 CNFR

         “The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, Inc. (NIRAA) was blessed to be able to award a record $42,000 in scholarships to winners at the CNFR this year at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) 73rd College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming. In 2019, The Board of Directors voted to award $30,000 to go round and rookie winners at the 2020 CNFR. Then in 2020 an anonymous donor contributed $5,000 to give each of the 10 average winners a $500 scholarship, making the total to be awarded in 2020 $35,000. When COVID 19 canceled the 2020 CNFR, all the scholarships were rolled into 2021 and the anonymous donor added another $5,000 for the average winners. The NIRA Alumni then secured sponsors for the all-around winners making the total to be awarded in 2021 $42,500” explained Don Reichert, NIRA Alumni President.

         More than 400 men and women from over 100 colleges and universities competed in ten rodeo events during the seven day competition. The CNFR can be compared to the NCAA national championships in any collegiate sport. The NIRAA awarded a $1,500 scholarship to the fourth place men’s team and a $1,000 scholarship to the fourth place women’s team. Each rookie of the year in each event and all around rookie cowboy was given $500. The Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship winner received $1000, and the alumni contributed $500 scholarships to the go round winners in each of the four rounds in all events. And rounding out the $41,500 was the $500 Jerry Beagley top rough stock rider and timed event cowboy and the NIRA Student President scholarship.
       Don Reichert, NIRA Alumni President, explained, He continued, “These scholarships help young rodeo athletes pursue their education and continue to compete in intercollegiate rodeos. Many alumni say that college rodeo and scholarships kept them in school and made a huge difference in their lives. It is very satisfying to know the NIRA Alumni are able to give the scholarship recipients financial support while they are earning a marketable degree.”
       A $1,500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. scholarship was presented to Western Texas College inning the Fourth Place Men’s Team competition. East Mississippi Community College was awarded the $1,000 Women’s Team Fourth Place Scholarship.
       $500 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Rookie of the Year scholarships were presented to the following students in their designated college rodeo event:
       Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       Calf Roper: Kincaid Henry, Panola College
       Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bendke, Idaho State University
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Weston Patterson, Clarendon College
       Steer Wrestling: Grant Patterson, Clarendon College
       Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University
       Team Roping Header: JC Yeahquo, Western Oklahoma State College
       Team Roping Healer: Carson Johnson, Casper College
       Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
       Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University
       All Around Cowboy: Cole Franks Clarendon College
       All Around Cowgirl: No qualifier

      The NIRA Alumni, Inc. Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Owen Gustafson, Dickinson State University. He is from Browning, Montana. Owen will be a Senior and plans to graduate May 15, 2022. He is majoring in Agriculture Business-Integrated Ranch Management. This selection was made possible by the scholarship donor, Del Nose, Rodeo Coach, Northwest College, Powel, Wyoming.   No one qualified for the Jerry Beagley All Around Cowboy Award. This scholarship will be $1,000 in 2022. This award was to be awarded to a cowboy who placed in both a timed event and rough stock event during the CNFR.  Beagley competed in rough stock and timed events when he attended college in the 70’s and wants to award the scholarship annually.
       The NIRA Alumni, Inc. gave a $500 NIRA Student President Scholarship donated by Harlan Schott to Tyree Cochrane, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, California.

    The $1,000 NIRA Event Champions Scholarships were given to:
       Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       Tiedown Roping: Macon Murphy, Panola College
       Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College
       Steer Wrestling: Gavin Soileau, McNeese State University
       Goat Tying: Jill Donnelly, Cochise College
       Team Roping Header: Kellan Johnson, Casper College
       Team Roping Heeler: Carson Johnson, Casper College
       Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
       Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University
       All Around Cowboy: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       All Around Cowgirl: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University and Jill Donnelly, Cochise College

    The first go round scholarship recipients included the following:
       Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       Tiedown Roping: Macon Murphy, Panola College
       Breakaway Roping: Winter Williams, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Garrett Uptain, University of Wyoming
       Steer Wrestling: Tie Between Bridger Anderson, Northwestern Oklahoma State
       University and Zane Patrick, Mid Plains Community College
       Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University
       Team Roping Header: Wyatt Murray, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
       Team Roping Heeler: Whitt Crozier, Oklahoma Panhandle State University
       Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
       Bull Riding: Cole Skender, Three Rivers College

    Winners of the second go round scholarships were:
       Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       Tiedown Roping: Kincade Henry, Panola College
       Breakaway Roping: Brandy Schaack, University of Wyoming
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Cash Wilson, Clarendon College
       Steer Wrestling: Gavin B. Soileau, McNeese State University
       Goat Tying: Lariat L. Larner, Oklahoma State University
       Team Roping Header: Lane Cooper, Sul Ross University
       Team Roping Heeler: Blake Bentley, Weatherford College
       Barrel Racing: Lakken Bice, DICKSN
       Bull Riding: Tie Between Holden Moss, Three Rivers College and Tristen
       Hutchings, Sul Ross University

    Third go round scholarships were awarded to:
       Bareback Riding: Kolt Dement, Panola Junior College
       Tiedown Roping: Seth Peterson, University of Wyoming, and Zane Kilgus,
       Northeast Oklahoma A & M
       Breakaway Roping: Taylor Lawson, Southwest Texas Junior College and Bethanie
       Shofner, New Mexico State University
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Parker Fleet, Hill College
       Steer Wrestling: Ryan Nettle, Texas A & M University – Commerce
       Goat Tying: Paige Rasmussen, Montana State University, 6.3 seconds. 2, (tie)
       Lindsey Pulsipher, Montana State University, and Heather McLaughlin, University
       of West Alabama
       Team Roping: Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College
       Team Roping: Cole Curry, East Mississippi Community College
       Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
       Bull Riding: Stefan Tonita, Laramie County Community College

    The fourth go round scholarship awards went to:
       Bareback Riding: Cole Franks, Clarendon College
       Tiedown Roping: Connor Atkinson, Wharton County Community College
       Breakaway Roping: Zoie Bedke, Idaho State University
       Saddle Bronc Riding: Dylan Schofield, Western Texas College
       Steer Wrestling: Grant Peterson, Cal Poly State University
       Goat Tying: , Sheyenne Anderson, Missouri Valley College
       Team Roping Header: Kellan Johnson, Casper College
       Team Roping Heeler: Carson Johnson, Casper College
       Barrel Racing: Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University
       Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University

    Contributors for the 2021 NIRA Alumni, Inc. Scholarships:
    GOLD STAR DONOR $5000+
    Anonymous Donor

    SILVER STAR DONOR $1000-$4999
    Jerry Beagley, Butch & Shannon Bratsky, Larry & DeEtta Burgess, Buz & Judy Cowdrey, Jay & Merrill Ellis,
    Mary Fuller, Lloyd & Mary Ann Hill, Larry & Martha Jordan, Evelyn Kingsbury, Del Nose, Don & Pat Reichert, JW & Hyden Todd

    BRONZE STAR DONOR $500-$999
    Ken & Sharon Adams, Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment, Ned & Chris Londo, Dr. Don Mitchell Cattle Company,
    Jim Moore, Jack & Donna Roddy, Harlan & Donna Schott, Chuck Sylvester, Fred & Clara Wilson

    DONOR $50 -$499
    Wyatt & Reagan Bloom, Charles Chambers, Criss Cross Chaos, Cory Ferguson, Debbie Garrison, Jeffery A Gerdes, Chancy & Jordan Ann Thurston Miller, Brad & Samantha Sprau, John & Tiffany Thurston, The Insurance Corner

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CONTACTS

Mary Fuller, President
Mobile-(314) 852-6492
Home-(636) 271-5706
Email

Merrill Ellis, Secretary/Treasurer
3211 Elys Path
San Antonio, Texas 78230
210-415-9091
Email

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SEE YOU IN CASPER IN JUNE!