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BHSS Foundation Announces Scholarship Winners
Rapid City, SD -- From offering a single $500 to $1,000
scholarship in its first years, Black Hills Stock Show Foundation, Inc. has
expanded to nine annual awards, as much as $2,000 each and will begin its Golden
Spur Renewable Scholarship Award in the spring of this year.
From business law to range specialists degrees; from educators
to studies in rural social development; such are the education and career
pursuits of the young students selected for 2003 awards.
“Our role is to help channel resources to education, from a
grass roots perspective,” says Foundation President Joe Norman, who has been
instrumental in developing the organization’s endowment program. “If we are
to do more than pay lip service to the challenge of rebuilding rural business
and communities, then we first have to recognize that a strong educational base
translates eventually to an overall healthier economic climate. It’s not
achieved over-night. But in time, the Foundation’s scholarship programs will
have made a difference.”
Students being awarded $2,000 scholarships are Cody Burke,
Newell; Jamie Swan, Newell; Megan Juhnke, Vivian; Christian Alavi, Rapid City;
Kim Franken, Madison; and Amber Dell, Newell.
Among these are recipients of three family endowment
scholarships; Burke will receive his scholarship from the annual Ray Switzer
Memorial; Swan will receive the Eddie Rypkema Memorial Scholarship; and Alavi
receives his scholarship from the Calvin and Mary Blair Memorial.
A new division of support has been added to this year’s
funding programs that will allow for Juhnke to receive the Rapid City
Hospitality (Hotels/Motels) Scholarship.
Each of the six will be among those considered for the
Foundation’s Golden Spur Renewable Scholarship award. The student best meeting
the criteria set by the Foundation, will be selected to receive $2,000 annually,
up to four years for post-secondary education financial needs.
“Among the objectives of the Foundation’s scholarship
programs is to continually communicate the importance of keeping agriculture’s
talent close to home,” says John Johnson, Foundation director. “We all know
the story of the exodus of young people from rural-based industries and
communities - in search of better jobs, better career advancement opportunities,
and business/community settings that represent more diverse interests.”
He adds, “We’re pleased that so many of the recipients of these scholarships
do in fact, begin their career and community involvement in this region. This
latest slate of winners, I believe, will be no exception.”
The Foundation serves as a public-service arm that works to
recognize and preserve the principals of the original founders of the event - to
showcase and support the quality of production agriculture in the Northern Great
Plains Region, explains Foundation Vice-President Doug Theel. “An important
part of that is supporting education. When people make the decision to become
Stockman’s Club members or event sponsors or endowment program supporters or
volunteers; when we pool resources we can and do make a difference.”
For more information on how to support the Foundation’s
regional scholarship programs through a Stockman’s Club membership and what
additional services are provided through a membership, call 605-718-0810. Email foundation@BHSSF.com
and see more details on the web at: www.BHSSF.com
The Black Hills Stock Show Foundation is a non-profit
organization. As part of its mission of “Preserving The Legacy. Investing In
The Future:, the Foundation is dedicated to supporting youth in higher education
and organizations, programs and projects that enhance services, awareness and
education to the public, regarding the social and economic roles of agriculture.
CODY BURKE: Already well equipped with leadership
experience, from National Honor Society to FFA, the freshman at South Dakota
State University, Brookings, plans for a career in Range Science. Active in
school government and athletics along with involvement in many academic and
extra curricular programs while in high school, Burke sees the rapid changes in
production agriculture technologies as the reason for continuing his education.
And he sees those things instilled in him growing up on a ranch north of Newell
- responsibility, honesty and trust - as the reasons for remaining in this part
of the country as he begins his career. “Our lifestyle is far more than the
latest western movie or museum display. My generation can benefit from living
and learning from those who still practice the ‘cowboy way.’
JAMIE SWAN: Following a high school career filled with
public service work and a fair share of public speaking, Swan knew that a career
in communications of some kind would be in her future.
A freshman studying Ag Journalism at South Dakota State University, Brookings,
she’s honed that skill in National Honor Society, state and national FFA
events and through a host of extra-curricular activities from National History
Day competition to one act play productions.
“While growing up on a farm and living in a rural community taught me about
the value of working for what you want,” she says, “my grandfather would
often tell me that people don’t have to ride a horse every day or live on a
huge ranch to be ‘western’. It just takes a love of the land, an
appreciation for what you’ve got, keeping family and friends around you - that’s
how all of us can preserve what we call a western heritage.”
CHRISTIAN ALAVI: There are two things important in this
student’s life; the legacy of his third generation ranch family and continuing
his education. Staying connected to one while exploring the other, is the
formula of choice for Alavi who will study accounting and business law at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Today, family operations face a lot of
challenges to stay in business. I’ve come to respect and have learned from the
hard work and determination that are a part of that. Ranching is sometimes a
difficult occupation; but it’s also one of the most fulfilling. The ‘book
end’ of it, working the management and profitability angles, that’s where I
hope to make my mark.”
MEGAN JUHNKE: Growing up on a fourth generation family
farm and ranch south of Vivian, Megan learned countless lessons; days of raising
cattle and working in the fields; staring her own small herd of sheep. Mostly
though, she learned not to give up. “The purple ribbon isn’t always going to
be there,” she says, “but there’s something to learn or someone to learn
it from in every effort made.” She fills her time as a sophomore at South
Dakota State University carrying 18 credits, working two part-time jobs and
volunteering in the community and at school. “One of the most valuable lessons
I’ve learned from listening to the stories that my great-grandfather tells is
that generations and heritage are built with a helping hand. It is an awesome
sight to see eight to ten tractors and people working tirelessly to ease another
family’s burden.”
It’s no wonder then that this student who plans to remain in South Dakota, has
chosen a major in Human Development and Family Studies. “I’ve spent most of
my life in rural South Dakota and I now how lucky I am.”
KIM FRANKEN: When state FFA Executive Secretary Gerri
Ann Eide talks of this student majoring in agricultural education at South
Dakota State University, she sums it up in three words; ambassador for
agriculture. “Kim is already a stand-out. She’s a team player, a determined
worker and a dynamic individual.” Growing up on a farm taught Franken a lot of
things; the value of work and having responsibilities; the value of family and
friends.
“But I learned my most valuable lesson,” she recalls, “when after
announcing one day that I was tired of learning and that I wished I didn’t
have to go to school, my Dad told me, ‘You can never stop learning Kim. When
you stop learning, you stop living.’ “
For Franken, her deepest passions in life center around agriculture, helping
others, and making a difference. “I can combine all of the things that I find
important in my life, into a career.”
AMBER DELL: Look in the list of school activities or
civic and church activities, and there’s not much that Amber hasn’t put her
hand to; Senior Class President, FFA Chapter President, National Honor Society
President; High School Rodeo Club President, Fellowship of Christian Athletes;
the list goes on and on.
Working part time while completing high school, she will move on to continuing
studies at South Dakota State University. “My upbringing has taught me a love
of the land and a respect for the environment and livestock. I’ve been taught
that every dollar is important and that being able to work is an opportunity,”
says Dell, who points to her grandparents and parents as among those who have
encouraged a strong work ethic, perseverance and optimism. “It’s not always
easy putting those things into practice but a person’s outlook on life is
brighter, just in the trying.”
And she’s already got one valuable lesson under her belt; “The way things
turn out depends on how hard I want to work and how willing I am to take
responsibility for my own actions.”
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