The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association annually provides scholarships for college students to pursue a college education. OQHRA will award two $1,000 scholarships to deserving students.

If you are a college bound student who plans to make a career in the horse industry and are interested in one of these scholarships please fill out an application and send it in as soon as possible. If you are not a student but know of one that may be interested, then please pass this along to them.


OQHRA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

2010 Recipients


Charlesee Eberly

Growing up in Northern Nebraska, Charlesee Eberly was ridding horses as long as she can remember. Throughout her life she’s been questioning which career to pursue, always knowing she wanted to be in the horse industry in some way or another. After battling from Veterinarian, to Jockey, to Lawyer, Charlesee decided to pursue an associated degree at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Mass Communication; which she finished in half of the required time.

Charlesee is now working towards getting her Bachelor’s in Mass Communication in order to focus her efforts on the Oklahoma Racing Industry. With her degree, Charlesee hopes to continue building the popularity and glory of the industry in the state and nationwide. Once she achieves her Bachelor’s in the University of Central Oklahoma, through her freelance videos and photographs, she intends to show the world the beauty, passion, and excitement of Oklahoma’s horse racing industry.
 

Clayton Thompson

Clayton Thompson has always had a great deal of love and passion for the American Quarter Horse. While finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Bioenvironmental Science at Texas A&M, Clayton is highly involved with the Corps of Cadets and Parson’s Mounted Calvary. As he keeps up with numerous classes and labs, Clayton also feeds and rides the Calvary’s horses to keep them in great shape. During his free time from college and extracurricular activities, Clayton enjoys the opportunity to show Quarter Horses as a participant in 4-H, AQHYA Shows, and in the National Reining Horse Association. The discipline, leadership and skills that horse handling has given Clayton will continue to profoundly help him pursue his scholastic dreams and accomplishments, and with those he wishes to some day provide an avenue for future youth to acquire the same.
 

Hailey Harroun

The love for horses has been a family affair in the life of Hailey Harroun. Growing up with a rural veterinarian as a father, Hailey always knew she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. At the young age of 21, Hailey has already completed a dual Bachelor’s of Animal Science and Agricultural Communications, and has entered her first year of professional veterinary school at Colorado State University. While pursuing her Bachelor’s degrees Hailey was the president of Oklahoma State University Horseman’s Association, volunteer coordinator for the Oklahoma Equine Special Olympics as well as the publication intern for the American Quarter Horse Journal. Growing up Hailey also competed with her 2 American Quarter horses in 4-H horse shows and rode hunter/jumpers. She hopes that with her extensive education and long years of equine experience she can go abroad to help other countries in veterinary service projects, as well as write health and wellness articles for equine publications.
 

Jonathan Chavira

Jonathan Chavira has not lived a single day of his life outside of the horse industry, Jonathan was born and raised at Maui Farms in Purcell, Oklahoma and started helping his father run the farm and train the horses since he was a toddler. Jonathan’s excellent grades in high school landed him at the University of Tulsa where he plans to major in Environmental Science. He hopes to own, train and breed horses just as he has done his whole life, as well as be able to buy his father one of the best yearlings available. From his father, Jonathan has learned all that he knows of the horse business and dreams of repaying him with a “high dollar” horses to win lots of races. With and excellent education and the work ethic acquired through horse handling, Jonathan is sure to accomplish all his life goals.
 

Joyce Rogino

Ever since Joyce Rogino can remember, she has always wanted to work with horses. Her passion was palpable even at a very young age, but growing up her parents weren’t able to provide livestock for their daughter to pursue her love for horses. It wasn’t until the age of 11, when the family moved to Oklahoma, that Joyce was able to train and ride her own horse. However, not owning a horse didn’t stop young Joyce from learning all she could about horses and the equine industry. Once in Oklahoma, with the all the knowledge in her head, the young horse and her young rider went through long and painful days of galloping, but the reward was worth it. Currently Joyce is putting those lessons learned from childhood to great use as a volunteer at a Paint and Quarter horse farm as well as at a local veterinarian clinic. Through hard work, dedication and love for the horse industry Joyce plans to become a veterinary and give back to all the people who have influenced her along her journey.
 

Rachel Elizabeth Smith

It is not surprising to know that Rachel Elizabeth Smith has a deep rooted love for horses. Growing up on her grandparent’s (Dee and Betty Raper) breeding farm, gave Rachel the backstage experience wanted by most in the racing business. However, it was not the privilege of growing up around the breeding farm that imbedded Rachel’s love for horses, but the dedication, passion and arduous work her whole family put in the horse racing industry that guided her. Rachel is currently a freshman at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University pursuing a Mass Communication degree. With her degree and her real life experience, Rachel plans to educate the media and general public of the opportunities and benefits the horse industry offers. As a barrel racer and break away roper, Rachel has learned strength and commitment, which for sure become essential to reach her goals and help her strive for ultimate success.