Permian Basin Fair & Expo awards $34,000 in educational scholarships

The 2009 Permian Basin Fair & Exposition awarded $34,000 in educational scholarships during its annual event, Sept. 11–19.

The awards were made in areas such as: farming and ranching, creative arts, the scholarship pageant, the youth division, the Tanner B. Seedig Memorial Scholarship; and the industrial AG mechanics and career technology divisions.

Scholarship supporters include: The Hext Family Foundation, Hochheim Prairie Farm Insurance Assoc., Branch 61, First Basin Credit Union, University of Texas of the Permian Basin and Odessa College.

An important interest of the Permian Basin Fair & Exposition Inc. is to provide college and university scholarships to qualified students who participate in fair activities. Since the fair’s inception in 1976, more than $550,000 has been awarded in scholarship monies.

To place a higher priority on its scholarship efforts, in 1995, the fair  scholarship board was created, independent from the fair itself and with a Board of Directors comprised of community citizens interested in both the fair and the education of deserving students. The board administers the distribution of available scholarship monies and bears accountability for its use.

The goal of the scholarship board is to help more students in the Permian Basin area. At this time, Odessa College and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin provide matching funds for students that attend their institution. Board members work hard to expand the number and increase the monetary value of scholarships awarded each year. Several fundraisers are carried out throughout the year. Also, the board members themselves donate to the scholarship fund.

FARMING & RANCHING SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
>> Goats: Kylie Smith, Andrews High School; and Kortney Williams, Lockney High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship.

>> Steer: Marissa Smartt, scholarship donated by Hochheim Prairie Farm Ins. Association; and Hochheim Prairie, scholarship donated by Farm Insurance Association, Branch 61, James A. Killebrew Ins. Agency, each received a $2,000 scholarship.

>> Lamb: Bailey Minor, Ira High School, $1,500 scholarship; Maci McCabe, Friendship High School; Tyler Matthews, Grady High School; Shelby Spikes, Rotan High School; Dustin Dacus, Hermleigh High School; and Lane Halfmann, Garden City High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship.

>> Swine: Lauren Schwartz, Garden City High School; Johnna Schwartz, Wall High School; Kelsey Miller, Lamesa High School; and Kimberly Skiles, Klondike High School; each received $1,500 scholarship; Kara Archer, Klondike High School; and Myriah Jones, Lamesa High School; each received a $1,000 scholarship.

>> 4-H Fashion Show: Amber Halfmann, Garden City High School, $1,000 scholarship.

>> Creative Arts: Blake Medina, Odessa Career Center, $1,500 scholarship donated by the First Basin Credit Union; Katie Keith, Odessa High School; and Erin Cranson, Permian High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship.

>> Junior Fair Board: Travis Cooper, Odessa High School, $1,000 “Tanner B. Seedig” Memorial Scholarship.

>> Career Tech/Ag Mech: Kelsey Jones, Garden City High School, $1,000 Hext Family Foundation scholarship; Jeremy Overby, Lee High School; and Ashley Ricketson, Greenwood High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship.