Denim and Diamonds: Cowboys pony up for scholarships

Cowboys pony up for scholarships

NWA Democrat-Gazette/LAURINDA JOENKS Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders Hallie Toan, Bailey Perdue and Ashli Clary share smiles.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/LAURINDA JOENKS Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders Hallie Toan, Bailey Perdue and Ashli Clary share smiles.

The Springdale Benevolent Foundation raised nearly $20,000 on Oct. 10 during the annual Denim and Diamonds Gala at the Rodeo Community Center in Springdale. The Foundation, through the face of the Rodeo of the Ozarks, will award all the money in scholarships for high school seniors in Northwest Arkansas.

A silent auction and a live auction -- with items donated by various local businesses -- put the money in those students' accounts. Sach Oliver, a member of the Rodeo of the Ozarks board of directors, made the calls.

Some 200 people attended the event at the Rodeo Community Center on the rodeo grounds in Springdale.

The foundation has awarded scholarships since the early 2000s in a total of $250,000, said Rick Culver, executive director of the Rodeo of the Ozarks. At this time, the rodeo supports 16 students with the renewable awards, he reported.

"Our goal is to offer scholarships in every high school in Northwest Arkansas -- and that includes Benton and Madison counties," Culver said.

Last May, the foundation made what will become $16,000 in awards to one graduate each at Springdale High School, Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Fayetteville High School and Huntsville High School, Culver said. The students plan courses of study and careers in agriculture. They must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and carry 12 hours of classes in college.

The payout comes at $500 per semester, $1,000 per year.

Tom Reed, chairman of the Springdale Benevolent Foundation, introduced a capital campaign to make improvements to the rodeo grounds in Springdale. The foundation and rodeo boards hope to raise $4 million for "immediate needs," he said.

Initial plans for the grounds include replacing the bleachers on the east side of Parsons Stadium and moving the bucking chutes there during the project; new ticket offices, restrooms and concession stands on the east, west and north sides of the arena; site drainage and paving parking lots. In addition, the board hopes to raise the money to put a roof over the arena in three years, Reed said.

The next phase of improvements would include an indoor arena to the south of Parsons Stadium. The board would need to raise an additional $6 million for this project, Reed said.

"We're further along than we've ever been before," he said about the proposed improvements.

Rodeo directors John Gladden, Pat Hutter, Jimmy Bowen, Sam Mathias, Fadil Bayyari and Joe Stockton welcomed guests to the event. Sharing many smiles were Shay Steele, Rachel Lee, Miranda Sims, Kaia Gossman, Ashli Clary, Bailey Perdue, Hallie Toan, Jacklyn Duncan, Lora Husong, Christie Husong, Kelly Morris, Cassie Barnes and Sophia Barnett -- members of the Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders, a horseback drill team that travels to perform and promote the rodeo -- and Miss Rodeo Arkansas Kelsey Parmenter and Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks Kaci Starkey.

Laurinda Joenks can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Profiles on 10/25/2015

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