Eight scholarship recipients are honored while riding in the back of a horse-pulled wagon from Broken Spoke Clydesdales during last weekend’s Will Rogers Stampede.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)

 

Eight Rogers County students were recognized during Saturday’s second performance of the Will Rogers Stampede with scholarships to help with the next level of their education.

“We were able to provide students from the five FFA groups with scholarships,” said David Petty, a longtime director for the rodeo. “Ash Valley Ranches matched what our Heritage Association raised to provide $16,000 in scholarships. These kids all had a 4.0-or-better grade-point average, and five FFA chapters in Rogers County were represented.”

Over the last two years, $26,000 has been distributed in scholarships. This year’s winners were McKenzie Boyer and Conner Ragland, Claremore FFA; June Guzman and Jake Gilbreath, Sequoyah FFA; Alex Chambers and Dakota Equels, Chelsea FFA; Delaney Gibson, Inola FFA; and Mallory Pendergraft, Foyil FFA.

“For these kids, it’s proof that FFA makes a difference in their lives,” said Louie Gardner, chairman of the Rodeo Arena Interlocal Cooperative and one of the major contributors to the fund. “Three of those kids made the effort to find me and tell me how much they appreciate the scholarships.”

The Heritage Association is a 501(c)(3) organization, which relies on people who are dedicated to helping with community causes.

“We had a souvenir Heritage poster auctioned at the annual Dinner in the Dirt fundraiser, and it raised $7,000,” Petty said. “We’re tickled to have an avenue to do something like this, but we could certainly use more members to help carry on that tradition.”