National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship

General Purpose Statement

The goal of the National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship Program presented by Durango® Boots is to empower and support women who embody the spirit of the American cowgirl – a spirit embodied by women who are strong, confident, resilient, and who aspire to contribute to the western way of life through the passionate pursuit of a career within the western, agriculture, farm and ranch, equine, or western sports industries. The goal is to support these women by providing financial assistance towards their current schooling, which will lead to a career to benefit them in the western industry.

The National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship is executed through the Dude Ranch Foundation. The Mission and Purpose of the Dude Ranch Foundation is to preserve the history and expand the knowledge of America's dude ranching industry through the Foundation's Heritage Museum, research archives, educational programs, conservation, and workforce development. The Dude Ranch Foundation is a duly incorporated nonprofit corporation under the Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3).

Timing

The 2023 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship presented by Durango® Boots will be awarded to one female candidate, currently enrolled as a first-year student in an undergraduate college program and will initially be funded within the 2024-25 academic year. Funds will be distributed over the course of her remaining undergraduate college career, up to $30,000. The chosen candidate will be announced in 2024.

Financial Award

Awards are for $10,000 - 15,000 annually, based upon first year collegiate status and are renewable for up to three years of undergraduate study.

Applicant Requirements

• She/The Applicant has ties to and is pursuing a career in the western, agriculture, farm and ranch, equine, or western sports industries.

• The applicant must be a female citizen of the United States or Canada with a passion to pursue a career within a segment of the western, agriculture, farm and ranch, equine or western sports industries.
  The applicant must have existing ties, experience, or affiliation with one of these industries. Degrees pursued may be varied but with the intent to be utilized to further a career in the aforementioned industries.

• Currently enrolled as a first-year undergraduate in a university or higher educational institution.
  The applicant must be in her first year of undergraduate college and currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited four-year college based in the United States or Canada.

• Submit a completed application, three references and transcript by December 31, 2023.
  All materials must be submitted by December 31, 2023. Materials received after this date will not be considered.
  (*Paper applications cannot be accepted unless approved by the administrator)

• Scholarship recipient must submit grades each semester.
  It is the duty of the scholarship recipient to submit her grades at the end of each semester. A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 is required to obtain the scholarship and the recipient must maintain a 3.0 GPA to qualify for an automatic renewal.

Non-Compliance of Degree Path or GPA

Should the scholarship recipient fall below a 3.0 GPA or pursue a degree that falls outside the parameters of the spirit of the scholarship (western, agriculture, farm and ranch, equine, or western sports industries), the scholarship will be nullified. Recipients can appeal this decision if there are circumstances that are deemed acceptable by committee.

Required Materials

• Transcript

  Dependent upon candidate's collegiate status, submit an official transcript from either senior year of high school or last semester with application. The scholarship recipient is required to submit a transcript moving forward at the end of each term.

• References

  • Three reference letters for your application need to include the following:

    • Relation to the applicant.

    • A reference to the quality of the applicant's character and why you think this applicant should receive this scholarship.

    • If you think the applicant has a financial need for the scholarship.

    • What impact you think this scholarship would have on the applicant's life and future career in the western, agriculture, farm and ranch, equine, or western sports industries.

  • Three reference letters must be uploaded via the application form along with all other documentation.

Any questions with the application, please contact info@nationaldayofthecowgirl.com