Big Sandy's Rutledge among NILE Foundation scholarship winners

Press release

BILLINGS — A local student is among the winners of scholarships announced by the NILE Foundation for the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Andrea Rutledge, daughter of Kelly and Kristie Rutledge of Big Sandy, was one of the class of 2018 awarded a third year of a $1,000-a-year scholarship.

Rutledge is attending Montana State University in Bozeman, majoring in animal science with a focus on livestock management and industry. She said she hopes to work in the field of beef reproduction after completing college. 

“NILE Foundation has generously offered over $30,000 to help support this year’s scholarship winners, interns and rolling scholarship winners from previous years,” Al McCormick, NILE Scholarship Committee Chairmansaid, “Seventy-three total applicants from eight states across the northwest corridor submitted applications for this years awards. These students are all attending or plan to attend universities, junior colleges and trade schools across the United States.”

The NILE Foundation takes pride in being able to assist youth in agriculture, even during the challenging current circumstances, NILE General Manager Jennifer Boka said.

“In times of uncertainty in our world, like those which we are facing today, there are two things that are essential — farmers and ranchers who feed the world and today’s youth who will be tomorrows agvocates,” Boka said. “With that in mind, the NILE will continue to provide scholarships even in the toughest of economies, for without the promise of food production in the future, the world becomes unsustainable. We are proud of the youth in agriculture who have graced the doors of the NILE Stock Show and Rodeo and even more proud to play a small part in helping them achieve their goals through education.”

This year, 19 new recipients were awarded scholarships and nine rolling scholarships were renewed.

Since 1990, the NILE and NILE Foundation has awarded more than $950,000 in cash and “live animal” scholarships to deserving youth active in 4-H, FFA and their communities. The following recipients excelled in the classroom while participating in NILE events.

Similar to 2019, scholarships were awarded on various levels described below:

• A one-time $1,000 scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors who will continue their education at a college or vocational school. 

• A one-time $2,000 “Shining Star Award” is a new scholarship offered to a graduating high school senior who excelled academically, in their community, and at NILE Events. 

• Collegiate Scholarships are $1,000 one-time grant, for students already enrolled in college or a vo-tech school.

• The Rolling Scholarships are offered to a select group of high school seniors who may renew the scholarship annually for up to four years of their secondary education. Recipients for the 2020 rolling scholarships were chosen from the pool of applicants who are current seniors in high school.

• New in 2020, the NILE Foundation is now offering a one-time $500 scholarship aptly named the NILE Legacy Award. This award goes to one student, either a high school senior or college student, based on their involvement in NILE and NILE activities.

Seven one-time scholarships have been awarded to the following seniors in high school in the amount of $1,000:

Shane Dawson

Shane Dawson is the daughter of Todd and Mikala Dawson of Lander, Wyoming. She is currently a student at Lander Valley High School, where she will graduate in May. Dawson plans to attend the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming; while currently undecided on her intended major, she is interested in ag communications and pre-law.

Lexy Dietz

Dietz will be attending Montana State University in Bozeman, where she plans to study animal science. Her future plans include securing a job as an embryologist. In May, Dietz will graduate from Shepherd High School. She is the daughter of Russell and Stacy Dietz of Shepherd

Danika Gordon

Danika is the daughter of Bruce and Kindra Gordon of Whitewood, South Dakota. After graduation from Sturgis Brown High School, she plans to attend South Dakota State University to study agribusiness and marketing. Gordon plans to work as an ag lender for the Department of Agriculture after college.

Luke Heupel

Alfred “Luke” Heupel is a soon-to-graduate of Glacier High School. He is the son of Justin and Vicki Heupel of Kalispell. Heupel plans to attend Montana State University in Bozeman to study animal science and plant science with hopes of obtaining a crop science degree.

McKenna Quirk

McKenna Quirk plans to attend Montana State University, where she plans to study microbiology and animal science. Her future plans include becoming a large animal veterinarian. She is the daughter of James and Dari Quirk of Missoula.

Madalyn Rohr

Madalyn Rohr is the daughter of Mitch and Lea Rohr of Elbert, Colorado. She will graduate in May from Douglas County High School and plans to attend Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, to study agricultural communications with intentions of working in the field of ag journalism, advertising and marketing in the future.

Matthew Rosman

Matthew Rosman is the son of Jeff and Katie Rosman of Creston, Washington. Matthew Rosman is a soon-to-be graduate at Wilbur-Creston High School where he will graduate in June. After graduation, he plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to pursue a degree in ag communications and animal science. 

The 2020 Shining Star Award is a scholarship that will be given to an outstanding graduating high school senior for the one-time amount of $2,000:

Rachael Stevenson

Rachael Stevenson plans to attend Montana State University to major in political science with future plans of working in journalism. Stevenson is a soon-to-be graduate of Hobson High School in Hobson. She is the daughter of Clint and Adana Stevenson.

Three high school seniors have been awarded rolling scholarships in the amount of $1,000 annually for up to four years. They are:

Nathan Hill

Nathan Hill is a soon-to-graduate of Broadwater High School. He is the son of David and Julianne Hill of Townsend. Nathan Hill plans to attend Montana State University to study civil engineering with hopes of becoming a civil engineer focusing on agriculture applications and avalanche studies.

Kelty Raciborski

Kelty Raciborski is the daughter of Travis and Jessica Stroh of Glendive, Montana. Raciborski will graduate in May and while she is undecided where she will attend school, she plans to major in animal science and genetics. She hopes to obtain a degree as a veterinarian.

Alyssa Thormahlen

Alyssa Thormahlen is the daughter of Dennis Thormahlen Jr. and Lori LeBrun of Bridger. She is attending Belfry High School where she will graduate in May. She plans to attend Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, to major in animal science and veterinary assistant. She hopes become a veterinarian.

Students selected as rolling scholarship recipients must remain in good standing by maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA as a full-time student in college. These recipients must also continue involvement in NILE, while participating in college organizations and activities