more than just a good time

Greeley Stampede Foundation supports local youth with scholarship opportunities

While the annual Greeley Stampede is committed to bringing top-notch professional rodeo, concerts and attractions to northern Colorado, the event is also dedicated to giving back to the youth in the community.

Through its Greeley Stampede Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed in 2001, the event provides scholarship opportunities for high school students in Weld County.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their academic results, leadership within the community and plans to further their education. Scholarship money may be used at any accredited community college, university, or state or private college.

Students applying for a scholarship through the foundation must meet a set of requirements that includes:

Being a graduating senior from any high school in

Weld County

Applicants must provide a record of involvement in school and community leadership activities

Students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher Demonstrated financial need

The foundation’s first scholarship awarded was $500 and since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $735,540 in scholarship money to more than 644 northern Colorado students.

“We are thrilled at the growth of the foundation’s mission to support our community and students pursuing higher education by awarding scholarships and grants,” said Nyla Bristow, chairwoman of the Greeley Stampede Foundation.

Each year, the Greeley Stampede hosts three events — a golf tournament, the Big Buckle Ball and the Western Art Show and Opening Night Gala— which raises funds for the foundation’s scholarship program.

Along with the fundraising events, JBS matched the foundation’s $50,000 scholarship fund through its Homestrong Initiative for a total of $100,000 to celebration the event’s 100th anniversary.

The matching funds allowed the foundation’s board of directors to award 25 $5,000 scholarships to students.

“This year will be the largest scholarships that we have ever awarded thanks to JBS,” said Bob Hinderaker, president of the Greeley Stampede Foundation. “We are grateful to have amazing partners like JBS and those that support the Foundation’s events to provide this opportunity for Weld County students.”

The 2023 Greeley Stampede Foundation Scholarship recipients are:

• Jenna Batka — Highland High School

• Merelyn Chavez — Greeley West High School

• Taylor Dunbar — Greeley West High School

• Matilda Endorf— University High School

• Paige Hill — Northridge High School

• Makynna Hollis — Platte Valley High School

• Paige Janke — Severance High School

• Kaleigh Johnson — Briggsdale High School

• Raegan Johnson — Windsor High School

• Aleksanter Korolainen — University High School

• Maggie Livingston — Severance High School

• Sonia Loma Arteaga — Greeley Central High School

• Emily Maske — Eaton High School

• Ariel Moroka-Fisk — Greeley Central High School

• Tanner Reinert — Platte Valley High School

• Madison Richmann— Branson Online High School

• Haile Rigg — Severance High School

• Ainslie Ross — Eaton High School

• Kyle Roth — Platte Valley High School

• Trenton Salberg — Eaton High School

• Cache Sanger — Eaton High School

• Cortland Sanger — Eaton High School

• Zachary Schmunk — Valley High School

• Masen Schneider — Platte Valley High School

• Megan teVelde — Erie High School

The Stampede Foundation also gives to the Banner Health Mammography Fund through the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo, the Northern Colorado Honor Flight and the Weld Food Bank through the carnival canned food drive.

For more information on the Greeley Stampede Foundation and scholarship opportunities, as well as a schedule of events for the 2023 Greeley Stampede, go to www.GreeleyStampede.org.

Like many of the events in rodeos, trick roping was developed by cowboys as a form of entertainment and as a way to show off their roping skills. (Courtesy/Spencer Rose)