logo by Joe Beeler, CA |
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Kaci Malouff recently wrote:
"No words can adequately express my gratitude for the generous scholarship
you have awarded me. I am looking forward to next year as I continue working
toward my degree in Agricultural Education and I want you to know that
this scholarship will help me achieve my goal. Thank you for your faith
in me.
From S. Chance Smith:
"I am writing this letter to tell you how much I appreciate
your more than generous scholarship that you blessed me with during
the 2004 Cowboy Gala in Wickenburg. That event was an experience
that I will never forget. I was very impressed! That had to be the
fanciest two forken' supper I have ever been to in my life! I had
to think twice about how to conduct myself, but I soon figured out
that it all ate the same! Thank you for making me feel so comfortable.
I just want to tell you that this scholarship is going to be very
instrumental in my schooling. My parents and I just got back from
Clarendon, Texas, where I visited Clarendon College. I was interviewed
for a position in the Ranch and Feedlot Operation Program. The RFO
class is limited to about twenty students so this was a very important
trip. They will notify me sometime in late April about my acceptance
into the program. If all goes well I will start college in August
2004.
I would like to thank you one more time and let you know how much
I appreciate your generosity! You will not be disappointed in how
I apply it to my education.
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This letter appeared in
the June 19, 2002 edition of the Wickenburg Sun newspaper:
“Editor: I am a senior at Wickenburg High School and have received
a scholarship from the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship Organization.
I would like to thank all those who attended the Seventh Annual Cowboy
Gala in Prescott on April 6. I would like to thank those from Wickenburg
who attended: Jackye Schuck, Jeff & Bonnie Lemaire, Jim & Dixie
Custer, Myron & Betsy Deibel, Lou & Suzie Disser, Ab & Mary
Duell, Nick & Dolly Turner, Phil & Charlene Swift, Dick Russell,
and especially Bill and Valerie Owen for all their hard work.”
“My scholarship will definitely be put to good use for my education
at Northern Arizona University. I will start in August to study hotel
and restaurant management.”
Michaela Lutch
Megan Arnold sent a letter
to ACSO:
“I would like to express my gratitude for all the years of support
from the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship Organization. I could
not have fulfilled my dreams of attending and graduating from Northern
Arizona University without your trust and support. Enclosed please find
a picture of myself with my fiancé, Rawley McFarland. I thought
you might enjoy it since you all know him and supported him throughout
his time in college. I would like to personally thank Bill Owen for
all the hours of hard work and dedication he has put into the Arizona
Cowpuncher’s Scholarship Organization. I appreciate everything
he has done for the upcoming generation of ranching families.”
(Editor’s note: Megan and Rawley, both beneficiaries of ACSO scholarships,
have since married. Perhaps ACSO will have the opportunity to grant
a scholarship to one of their kids someday!)
And From Megan Arnold’s
most recent letter:
“Thank you so much for your continued support over the past few
years. I really enjoy the scholarship Gala each year, and like to hear
all the new things that are taking place in each of the committee members’
lives as well as the students.
I am very excited to be going into my senior year at Northern Arizona
University. I will be attending NAU as well as Yavapai College in Prescott,
Arizona. I’m taking 12 credit hours at Yavapai and 9 at NAU, so
I have a full plate. The reason for doing this is to stay living in
the Prescott area for the fall and be able to finish up my minor in
Business Administration at Yavapai. I will still be receiving my Construction
Management and Engineering degree through NAU, and will graduate this
coming spring, 2003.”
“Again, thank you so much for the continued support. Please share
this with the rest of the Scholarship committee.”
Ivan Neshem is one of ACSO’s
past recipients,
who wrote to say this:
“I would like to tell you what the ACSO scholarship meant to me.
With this scholarship I was able to go to Cowboys With a Mission, a
college based on a ranch for ranch-raised kids. I was there for a short
time when I was chosen for a rodeo team to go to Brazil and compete
with the Brazilian team while studying the cowboy culture compared to
that of the US, and the beef industry as well. We were there 1-1/2 months
and I learned a great deal on the trip.
Thanks to ACSO I was able to learn about the difference in the two cultures,
and the similarities as well. Since that time I got married to a very
special woman, Julie, and we have two kids; one girl, one boy, and one
on the way.
I am currently managing the Webb Ranch in Skull Valley, AZ. My family
and I are excited to be a part of the western culture and the beef industry.”
In August of 2003, Londa Neshem
wrote:
"Dear Committee Members,
"I just wanted to send a note to express my appreciation for the
award you gave me this year. It is because of you that I have been
able to get where I am now - on the brink of my senior year! I don't
think that I can express my gratitude enough!"
And most recently Londa wrote:
"I am writing to express my appreciation for not only the scholarship
that you have awarded me but also for all the time and effort that you
put into the fundraiser this year. I feel honored to be supported by
your organization and I truly enjoyed the Gala and the opportunity to
meet the other recipients. I have been accepted into the Nurse Extern
Program at Yavapai Regional Medical Cente, which allows me to work full
time with a registered nurse this summer and part time throughout the
school year. I am enjoying the hands on experience and the exposure
to the field I have chosen."
From Vic Howell, father of Cassandra Howell, a 2003-2004 recipient:
"I just wanted to let you know we really enjoyed Cowboy Gala 2003.
It was something to see the beautiful art, and then to see the auction
go so well. God Bless You for what you are doing for the ranch kids
to help them get an education."
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A quick word from the Editor,
Valerie Owen:
“Over and over, whether it's the time of year to compile all of
the application information for the Board of Directors review when granting
the annual scholarships; or Cowboy Gala time, when all of the recipients
come together to lend helping hands during the fundraiser ACSO holds to
fund those scholarships; I am amazed by the remarkable young people this
organization has been privileged to help throughout the years. We hear
a lot today, about how our young people don't have a sense of pride or
responsibility; that they don't know how to set and achieve goals; that
they're lazy: or perhaps involved in drugs and gang activity. And I believe
we do have good reason to be concerned, just look around! But I must tell
you, these young people from Arizona ranching families dispel all of those
thoughts and restore faith in what the future holds! They are so impressive!
If you haven't read about their goals and accomplishments, please do;
I know you'll agree with me. And as far as to whether or not they are
"takers" and don't appreciate the help they receive from ACSO;
read on, and you'll be even more impressed by them. They are wonderful
young people and ACSO is truly blessed to have the opportunity to be a
part of their lives!”
Clint Van Haren had this to say:
“Thank you so much for your generosity in awarding me my scholarship.
It does make the difference in my attending the University of Arizona.
I will continue to do my very best in representing your organization and
to get the best grades I can.”
“Thank you for sending a copy of the ACSO News. I find it to be
interesting and nice to see who the other recipients are. Again thank
you very much for all that you have done to help me obtain my goals in
school.”
“I just wanted to take this
opportunity to thank you and the Board of Directors for the wonderful
gift I have been given. Not only is the scholarship greatly appreciated
but so is your time and effort that makes all of this possible. With your
help, dreams do come true, even mine.”
Sincerely & Humbly yours, Austin T. Billingslea
Cissi Quinn Dzera wrote:
“I am writing this letter to let you know how thankful I am to be
a recipient of the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship. I have always
known that a college education was going to be expensive, but until I
was enrolled for a semester full time, I didn’t know the degree
of the costs. A college education is important to me and I am able to
say that you now play a big part in my future with your support. I will
be receiving my Associates of Science degree in May, and then transfer
to a University where I will major in Animal Sciences. Even though my
schoolwork takes up much of my time, I am able to stay active in the ranching
and team roping practice. I hope that someday I will be able to focus
on Veterinary Medicine practice or Pharmaceutical Technology and help
ropers and ranchers with their animals.” “Again, I want to
thank you tremendously for choosing me as a recipient, I appreciate the
support you offer to students.”
From Marti Wade:
“I wanted to thank the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship Organization
for the generous scholarships. I really feel that this note is an inadequate
form of appreciation for how much you are really helping me.”
“Also, thank you for the Special Award for my study abroad program
this summer. I probably wouldn’t be going without your help. Soon
we will start meeting once a week to further discuss plans and research
papers in preparation for our four weeks in South Africa. I am very excited
about this opportunity and a little nervous! I know that I’m going
to learn a lot. Thank you so much!!”
This was what Mike McFarland had to say in his Letter
of Recommendation for Josie Halford, one of the 2003-2004 recipients:
"I am writing to highly recommend Josie Halford for the scholarship
program. I have known Josie all her life, watching her grow up in a true
Arizona ranching family. She has grown into a young lady that truly exemplifies
the ideals and morals that all of us in the ranching industry hold in
the highest regard. I believe I can speak for the majority of the rural
community when I say that we sometimes feel apart from the "values"
that the rest of the world proclaims and promotes. How exciting it is
to see a young person living the traditions of her western heritage with
a sense of true responsibility, not only in academics (which she does),
or in her quest for her future (which she does) but in the so-called "Old
Fashioned Values" of the ranching families of the west. Often times,
with the polical climate of today the future of ranching and our way of
life seems to be in crises. It's young people like Josie who give us all
hope for the future. She is proof that our way of life, as rocky as the
road may seem, is well worth living!"
From Amber Runston:
“It is very touching to know that you have enough faith in me to
award me with such a generous scholarship. Also, I want to assure you
that the money will be used wisely, for I cannot afford to be careless.
I hope this note of appreciation finds everyone in good health. I graciously
again thank you for the scholarship.”
Jake Becker sent a letter, stating:
Please express my appreciation to the Arizona Cowpuncher’s Scholarship
Organization for their generous scholarship.
It will really help and I am very thankful.
This spring I will be helping Shawn and Mindy Goemmer for the spring wagon.
This will probably be the last time I’ll get to work for a while
and I’m really going to miss it. I hope that agriculture will always
be a big part of my life, if not here, maybe in a jungle somewhere on
an island in the Pacific. Thanks again.” (Editor’s note: He’s
attending a Missionary Aviation College to become a pilot, which explains
the remark about the Pacific!)
From Sue Krentz, proud Mom of Andy, Frank, and Kyle
- all past and/or present recipients:
"I had to write and thank you for the wonderful time we had at Cowboy
Gala 2003. We are very grateful for your support of our three kids. Most
of all, Rob and I had the chance to spend some time together with all
three of them - It is hard getting together and we have not had a family
vacation since 1995. This weekend was a true gift that money could not
buy and gave us the golden opportunity to just enjoy our kids. We hope
to be there next year God Willing we are still lucky enough to be in the
business. Just a little rain and a good market, and one miracle. Once
again, Thanks for all you do for the kids."
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