2025 Scholarships

MRA 2025 PAGEANT SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Miss Rodeo America 2025: $20,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • First Runner-Up: $10,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • Second Runner-up: $8,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • Third Runner-up: $6,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • Fourth Runner-up $4,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • Sixth – Tenth Place: $2,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation,

  • Remaining Contestants: $1,500 Educational Scholarship provided by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation.

  • Appearance Scholarship: $2500 Educational Scholarship provided by Chris (Miss Rodeo America 1970) and Dr. Mike Williams.

  • Personality Scholarship: $2500 Dilley Family Educational Scholarship in memory of the late Mr. Jim Dilley provided by Deb Dilley

  • Horsemanship Scholarship: $2,500: Provided by former Miss Rodeo Americas, the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation, the American Quarter Horse Association, and Pam Minick (Miss Rodeo America 1973)

  • Speech Scholarship: $1000 Educational Scholarship provided by Karie O’Donnell-Herbers

  • Arlene Kensinger Memorial Congeniality Award: $5,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Arlene Kensinger Estate

  • Photogenic Scholarship: $1000 Educational Scholarship provided by Carter Pools ‘n Spa, Johna and Shonda Carter

  • Sherry Lynn Mitchell Smith Memorial Scholarship: $1000 provided by Erle Smith, Ryan Smith and Morgan Smith Gaertner

  • Roxann Harris Memorial Competitive Spirit Scholarship: $1000 provided by Tom Harris and family and friends of Roxann Harris

  • Written Test Award: $1,000 Educational Scholarship provided by Chris (Miss Rodeo America 1970) and Dr. Mike Williams

  • Desiree Larson Memorial Achievement Award: $1000 Educational Scholarship provided by Karie O’Donnell-Herbers and the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation

  • Breaking Barriers Scholarship: $1000 Educational Scholarship provided by Sabrina Coleman

  • Contestant Chap Scholarship Award: $1,000 Educational Scholarship provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

  • Shining Star Scholarship, In Memory of Harvey Shumway: $1500 Sponsored by Friends and Family of Harvey Shumway

  • 50 Horses Challenge: $1000 Scholarship provided by Doug & Carla Spence, Spence Farms and Spence’s Flowers’ and Gifts

Shining Star Scholarship, in Memory of Harvey Shumway:  Selection Committee: MRA Fashion Show Committee and Choreographers.
Criteria:  The Shining Star Scholarship will be awarded to the contestant who shined on the runway during the fashion show and who exhibits a positive and encouraging attitude during the fashion show rehearsals. 

50 Horses Challenge:

Selection: random draw.

Criteria: In the month of October, contestants must ride one of the MRA horsemanship patterns on 50 different horses.  At the end of October, contestants must send an email to MRASF with date, horse ridden and horse’s name.  Additionally, Contestant must post on social media a photo of them and the horse tagging MRASF.

Desiree Cooper Larsen Memorial Achievement Award

Awarded to the Contestant who sells the most MRASF drawing tickets.

Breaking Barriers Scholarship

Established in 2024, the Breaking Barriers Scholarship is open to all contestants of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.  Contestants wanting to apply for this scholarship will write a short essay (max 1 page) describing how they broke down barriers during their rodeo queen career.  Applicants are encouraged to provide insights on the challenges they faced and have overcome within the rodeo industry.  A committee selected by the scholarship donor will select one winner per year to receive the $1000 scholarship.  Essays will have any reference to contestant name and state removed before going to the judges committee.

Roxann Harris Competitive Spirit Scholarship:

This $1000 scholarship was developed to remember a longtime supporter of the MRA program and a horsewoman who loved to compete.  Roxann had clear goals for her competitions and a plan to attain those goals.  Participating in this scholarship opportunity is completely optional.  Contestants submit an essay which answers the following questions in essay style regarding their experience with horses.

  • A BRIEF history of competitive history with horses
  • Plans/goals for your future competitions
  • Plan to attain these goals
  • One valuable lesson learned from competition

Arlene Kensinger Memorial Congeniality Scholarship

A $5,000 scholarship voted on by MRA Pageant contestants.

All content on this site pertaining to The Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation, as well as the management and operations associated with The Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation, are exclusively governed, controlled, and financially supported by the foundation itself. This ensures that all decisions, programs, and initiatives reflect the foundation’s mission and objectives while fully maintaining its integrity, independence, and dedication to empowering talented, deserving young women who have participated in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant to further their studies and become tomorrow’s leaders through scholarship opportunities.

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