Another 5,000 bucks. That’s the amount by which the rodeo's youth foundation increased their scholarship award money this year.
The Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation awarded $15,000 in scholarship money to local students attending post-secondary institutions this fall.
“This year set a new benchmark in monies distributed,” said Rick Hugh, scholarship committee chair for the foundation.
Hugh said he’s continually surprised each year by the quality of the applicants that want to win the foundation's scholarship awards.
“Since our inception, we have been blown away by the high calibre of the applications,” Hugh noted. “I’m optimistic about the future of our community, based on the qualities these young people demonstrate.”
The foundation has been awarding scholarship grants for a decade now, having been established at the 68th annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair in 2014.
Since that time, the foundation has handed out about $80,000 in scholarships and funds to assist programs benefiting youth. As donations and fundraising efforts go up, the scholarship money increases accordingly each year.
This year, another foundation threw their hat into the ring, adding another scholarship award to the youth foundation's array of awards.
Hugh said new in 2024 is the Gary and Gail Grelish Foundation scholarship. The $2,000 award was first granted this year to Arianna Hachey (Lord Tweedsmuir).
“Through a generous donation made by a local family, the Gary and Gary Grelish Foundation pledged to provide a $2,000 scholarship for the next five years,” Hugh revealed. “The award is unique in that it was created to assist students who have struggled with learning challenges in school.”
The scholarship program is funded through a variety of sources, which includes both fundraising initiatives and private donors. The foundation’s biggest source of revenue comes from the Cloverdale Rodeo 50/50 draw.
“Tickets go on sale online prior to the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair with the draw taking place during the final rodeo performance on Monday of the Victoria Day weekend,” Hugh said. “This year, that draw raised $44,000 with half going to the winner and the other half going to the scholarship fund.”
Also new this year, the youth foundation partnered with the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce to put on a chicken BBQ and dance.
“This kickoff to rodeo [dinner and dance] was a throwback to an annual event that took place for decades in the town,” Hugh explained. “The plan is to keep this going as it went over well and resulted in a valuable boost to (our) coffers.”
In addition to their fundraising efforts, the foundation also solicits community donations to support both their scholarship and youth-related programs. And they are actively seeking donations for their 2025 programs.
Youth foundation scholarships are open to Grade 12 students who have given back to their schools and communities. Up until COVID, students had to be current or past Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair volunteers. But with the onset of the restrictions placed during the COVID years, and with the rodeo cancelled for three years in a row, the youth foundation waived that requirement and just asked that applicants demonstrate how they were helping or volunteering in their local neighbourhoods.
“We relaxed that particular requirement during those years,” said Hugh, “We found that applicants had managed to find numerous other ways to better their communities.”
Hugh added that beginning in 2025, the foundation will once again require award winners to be Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair volunteers or foundation volunteers, as the foundation was formed as the charitable branch of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association.
To win the grant money, students must demonstrate how they are volunteering and also must provide proof of enrolment in a post-secondary institution.
“As with all of the (foundation) scholarships, academic performance and GPA are not the primary focus,” added Hugh.
The foundation awarded $1,000 scholarships this year to: Trisha Balosbalos (École Salish), Sohila Sethi (École Salish), Angelina Sonsoiy (École Panorama Ridge), Yamna Laloui (Princess Margaret), Robert Cook (Lord Tweedsmuir), Harnoor Dhillon (Lord Tweedsmuir), Sienna Juco (Lord Tweedsmuir), Priya Khangura (Lord Tweedsmuir), Illary Salazar (Lord Tweedsmuir), Dildeep Sangha (Lord Tweedsmuir), and Sarah White (Lord Tweedsmuir).
The foundation awarded $2,000 scholarships to: Tabatha Acosta-Villaseno (Lord Tweedsmuir) for the Isabella Olson Rising Above scholarship, and to Arianna Hachey (Lord Tweedsmuir) for the Gary and Gail Grelish Foundation scholarship.
For more info on the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation, volunteering, or scholarships, visit the foundation’s website at cloverdalerodeofoundation.com.
