$100,000 in scholarships awarded by Walton Family Foundation
Higher education will have a lower cost for these NYCHA members

Good grades, leadership, NYCHA participation, school, church and local involvement were worth $5,000 to each of 20 National Youth Cutting Horse Association members this spring.

They shared in the $100,000 in scholarships provided for the first time this year by the Walton Family Foundation.

"The scholarship recipients were a very impressive group," said NCHA Youth Coordinator Danette McGuire. "Besides their studies, they were very active in their schools and in their communities. It's clear that they will be making a very positive contribution to the world as they move into their chosen careers."

A blue-ribbon panel sifted through applications before awarding the 20 scholarships based on involvement in NYCHA activities, academics, financial need and leadership skills, in addition to school, church and community involvement.

Here's a look at the scholarship winners from around the country:

Lindy Baker of Terrell, Texas, was a member of the National Honor Society at Terrell High School. She was a student mentor, participated in the Texas High School Rodeo Association, and has been active in the church. She started her own business, LABworks, during her sophomore year in high school.

She plans to major in elementary education, with a business minor, at Texas A&M Commerce.

"I believe teaching is the best way to affect the lives of young people, and I was fortunate to have had excellent teachers throughout school," Lindy said. "I am minoring in business, so I will be able to manage my own family's finances throughout my life.

"I enjoyed my mentoring class I volunteered for both my junior and senior year in high school."

Stephens Bedford of Sunnyvale, Texas, will attend Texas A&M University this fall. While at North Mesquite High School, Stephens was on the track team, a historian for the American Sign Language Club, and helped design artistic projects through her art class. She is also the NYCHA Area 24 youth director.

Stephens placed third in the Senior Youth World, and made the finals of the NYCHA Youth Scholarship Cutting, the Eastern National Championships, as well as being Senior Youth Champion of the Lone Star CHA and Rose Country CHA.

She plans to major in business at Texas A&M University. After graduating, her goals are to receive a law degree from either the University of Texas or Southern Methodist University.

Sara Bingham of Decatur, Texas, is majoring in accounting at Midwestern State University. While at Boyd High School, Bingham was the Junior Class President, Senior Class Secretary and a National Honors Society officer.

She is a Midwestern State University Presidential Leadership Scholar and Leadership MSU Achievement Award Recipient. She is in the MSU Honors Program and serves on the MSU Artist Lecture Series Committee.

In 2000, she finished in the Senior Youth World Top Ten.

But it's not her own achievements that she takes the greatest pride in.

"My most rewarding experience as an NYCHA member came when my younger sister was inspired by me to love cutting and become involved in the NYCHA," she said. "She has been a champion and a finalist at numerous events, and I could not be prouder."

When Sara graduates from Midwestern State, she plans on attending law school at Southern Methodist University.

Michaella Dietrich of Fort Worth, Texas, will attend Texas A&M University, majoring in business administration with a minor in marketing. Michaella was President of the Shakespeare Club for three years, and was invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. last year. She is also the youth director for Region 9 in the NYCHA.

After receiving her degree from Texas A&M, Michaella plans to study law at Southern Methodist University.

Michaella said her most rewarding experience as an NYCHA member was "the first time that I showed my horse Uniquely Sode. Everyone was so nice to me. I only marked a 67, but I had a wonderful time."

Jill Farmer of Lafayette, Louisiana, is attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in accounting. Jill was a member of the Oakdale Baptist Church Group and the Northwest Rankin High School Beta and Key clubs. As a member of these clubs she helped with Toys for Tots and canned food drives for the needy. She was also the NYCHA youth director for Area 14.

Jill was the 2000 Senior Youth Reserve World Champion.

"That really taught me about going after my goals," she said. "Achieving that goal was difficult, but the things that I learned along the way make it worth every hardship that I came across. Hauling that year gave me the independence to enter into the adult world after high school without depending on my friends and family to pull me through."

Her goals are to become a successful accountant and work for an established accounting firm.

Keely Fischbach of Brandon, Florida, has been accepted to the University of Florida. She will major in pre-medicine and minor in molecular biology.

While at Bloomingdale High School, she was class secretary, vice president, and a member of the steering committee, High School Rodeo team and National Honor Society. She was FHSRA Cutting Reserve Champion twice, and an NCHA Eastern National Championships finalist.

She plans to become a pediatric surgeon and help children through music therapy.

"Through cutting, I have learned so many things . . . determination, tenacity, and perseverance." she said. "Most of all, however, I have learned to focus and trust my inner instinct, which has aided me not only in cutting, but also in life."

Justin Franklin of Baldwyn, Mississippi, is majoring in computer science at Mississippi State University. At Petal High School he worked with the Positive Panthers, a school program that raised money to help fellow students and community members who were in financial need.

He has participated in many NYCHA events, including cutting and helping to set up youth activities. He rode in the 1999 Youth Celebrity Cutting in Fort Worth, Texas, which helped raise money and awareness for cancer.

"I participated in a program through my school where we went to other districts to fix computer-related problems," Justin said. "Our activities included fixing and installing new computer hardware, installing and setting up software applications, and connecting the school district on a network to bring internet access into the classrooms for all students."

He says that the most rewarding experience he has had as an NYCHA member is "getting to know the great people who are involved in the cutting horse industry. Many members of the NCHA are attorneys, doctors, and prominent business owners. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for many of the business owners in the cutting horse industry who have started their businesses from scratch and developed them into major companies. They have given me valuable knowledge and advice that I will never forget."

Lee Gandy of Frisco, Texas, attends Collin County Community College. At Frisco High School, he was on the varsity golf and basketball teams. He has served as NYCHA first vice president and has won a host of cutting titles, including Senior Youth World Champion and Reserve World Champion, Eastern and Western National Championships finalist, and Summer Spectacular Youth Scholarship finalist.

Following his course work at Collin County Community College, he plans to major in business at Texas A&M University, and to participate in that school's horse programs.

"The part of showing I love most is not how many buckles I win, but having the privilege of traveling all over the United States and meeting new people," he said. "NYCHA members are like a huge family and anyone is welcome at anytime."

Mollie Grim of Bonesteel, South Dakota, will attend the University of Nebraska this fall. While at Burke High School, Mollie participated in basketball, cheerleading, band and choir. An honor roll student, she served as senior class vice president, and was in the National Honor Society, listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, and was named Student of the Month. She was also a National High School Rodeo qualifier and delegate, and a member of the Wrangler All Star Rodeo Team.

She plans to major in agriculture, specializing in equine management, at the University of Nebraska.

Being an NYCHA member "has given me the courage and confidence to tackle something that looks difficult, but will give me a great sense of accomplishment in the end," said Mollie.

Fonda Lewis of Elk River, Minnesota, will major in communications, with a minor in music, at North Dakota State University. A student council member, she has also taken a leadership role in church activities, and she organized a meeting and activities for youth cutters who attended last fall's Minnesota Futurity. She has been in the choir, and taken voice and guitar lessons. In cutting, she was the Area 6 Senior Youth Champion.

She particularly enjoyed speech and advanced research and debate classes.

"I not only overcame a fear of speaking in front of people, I began to love it," Fonda said. "I was able to learn speaking techniques as well as how to win a debate."

Havey Riddle of Ringling, Oklahoma, is majoring in marketing with a minor in sociology at Midwestern State University. While at Ringling High School, Havey was president of the National Honor Society, secretary of Student Council and salutatorian of her senior class. She also participated in cheerleading, basketball, Yearbook staff, High School Rodeo, and she sang for the homeless at a shelter once a month. Havey won the Senior Youth at the Summer Spectacular Scholarship Cutting in 1999 and 2001.

Havey marked a 229 on Stylish And Foxy at the 2001 Summer Spectacular.

Christie Sheen of Gardendale, Texas, is majoring in accounting at Texas Tech University. She has participated in Meals on Wheels, Toys for Tots and is a member of the First United Methodist Church Group. Christie placed in the Top Ten of the Youth World in 1999 and 2000.

Her goals are to receive an MBA in accounting, obtain her CPA credentials, and find a position with an accredited accounting firm.

She participated in the NYCHA Convention, Quiz Bowl, Whitney Welch Memorial Award presentation, and the banquet during the Summer Cutting Spectacular.

Amber Singleton of Combine, Texas, will major in veterinary medicine at Texas A&M University. She has been actively involved in the National Honor Society, and helps hold community blood drives. She was also on the High School Rodeo team, volleyball team and captain of the softball team. She has competed in the NHSRA cutting finals.

Amber enjoys science and math classes, and her goal is to own and manage her own veterinary clinic.

Matt Smith of Lancaster, Ohio, plans on attending Ohio State University this fall, majoring in engineering. At Lancaster High School, Matt was a member of the Latin Club, Student Council, and the "In the Know" scholastic knowledge team. He has helped with fund-raising events for the Buckeye Ranch, which is a camp for children with emotional, behavioral and mental health issues. He also helps his father, Chuck Smith, plan and prepare events for the American Quarter Horse Congress. Matt has been Ohio CHA Youth Champion and Ohio State Fair Cutting Horse Champion.

Nikki Sokol of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is majoring in education with a business minor at Daytona Beach Community College. She has served as NYCHA reporter, secretary and president.

She participated in both the Eastern and Western National Championships and the Summer Spectacular Scholarship Cutting. In school, she was on her class steering committees, Florida Future Educators of America, Cuda Care, and the Honor Society.

She was also a founder of the Florida Youth Cutting Horse Association, serving as president for two years and as secretary for one year. She worked as the FCHA awards coordinator for three years and the public relations chairman for two years.

She plans to continue her education at Tarleton State University in the fall of 2003 and work towards a master’s degree in elementary education.

"I would like to do my best to be a devoted and involved teacher and member of the community," said Nikki, who also would like to be a professional barrel racer in her spare time. "My career goals are to give children the best educational experience possible, and to ride at the National Finals Rodeo."

Johann Thomasson of Edinburg, North Dakota, will major in equine science, with a minor in agri-economics, at North Dakota State University. A National Honor Society member, he served as student director with the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association. He participated in band, chorus, football, basketball, and made the A-Honor Roll. He was a National High School Rodeo Association Finals qualifier and the NDHSRA Rookie of the Year.

While working towards his degree in equine science, he plans to work for noted trainer and clinician Craig Cameron.

"My career goals are to become a successful cutting horse and rope horse trainer and cattle rancher," Johann said. "I also hope to build a well respected herd of American Quarter Horses.

"The most rewarding experience I have had while competing in NCHA-approved shows has been meeting members of the NCHA who have been involved with cutting for a long time. It has been a pleasure visiting with these long-time members. I have also made many new friends and long-term career connections by competing in NCHA events this past summer.

Tennessee Walker of Tehuacana, Texas, is at Texas A&M University, majoring in business management. While at Mexia High School, Tennessee was junior class president, sophomore and senior class vice president, and a member of Student Council and the National Honor Society. He is currently serving as the Recruitment Chairman for Farmhouse Fraternity at Texas A&M. For the past two years, he has served as a NYCHA director for Area 9.

Tennessee was a member of his high school's philanthropic "Cats that Care" organization. He played golf, football and baseball, and placed at the NYCHA Scholarship Cuttings, Eastern National Champions and the Summer Cutting Spectacular.

After graduating from Texas A&M, he plans to obtain a law degree and open a general law practice in a small town.

Kisten Willoughby of Nocona, Texas, will attend Midwestern State University in the fall. She has participated in varsity basketball, volleyball, track, tennis and was National Honor Society president, Mu Alpha Theta treasurer and has been active in church and community activities. She has participated in the NYCHA Convention seminars and activities, and presented the first Whitney Welch Memorial Award.

She especially likes math.

"In my senior year, I took calculus I, and it was the best class I have ever been in," Kisten said. "The class challenged me to think at a higher level than any other class had before. My teacher also helped me to realize that the more you push yourself to reach your goals, the better you'll feel when you accomplish something."

Kendra Wing of Lufkin, Texas, will major in agriculture science at Angelina College. While attending Hudson High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who Among American High School Students, FFA, 4-H, and the High School Rodeo Team. Kendra was an NYCHA area director for four years and the National Reporter for one year. She has also received all five levels of excellence for the NYCHA LEAP program, placed second twice in the speech contest, and was a finalist in the Eastern National Championships and Scholarship cuttings.

Kendra's goals are to eventually attend Sam Houston University, and assume a position as an equine pharmaceutical representative.

"I would like to stay involved with the horse industry professionally to enable me to give back to the industry of which I have loved being a part," she said.

Carine Zoellner of San Luis Obispo, California, is majoring in biology at CalPoly - San Luis Obispo.

Before college, she was a gymnastics coach with a recreational program for six years. In high school, she took part in rodeo, the Honor Society, America Reads Program, Close-Up, rodeo queen pageant, tennis and gymnastics.

She received an CIA scholarship last year that enabled her to attend CalPoly.

"It was an honor to receive such a generous scholarship and I am lucky to be backed by such a great organization," Carine said.

Her experience as an NYCHA member has also been rewarding. "Getting to travel to shows with my parents has been the most rewarding experience," Carine said. "Taking care of horses is a big responsibility, but worth the hard work. I am lucky to have parents that are willing to be involved with my love for horses. Getting to spend time as a family doing what we love has been the best part."