Meet the innagural winner of the National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship: Trailblazing First-Generation Cowgirl, Katelyn Collins
Durango® Boots is proud to introduce the winner of the first annual National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship, Katelyn Collins. This $30,000 scholarship was created to support young women pursuing careers in the Western industry by Durango® Boots and executed in partnership with the Dude Ranch Foundation. The scholarship is directly tied to Durango®'s own National Day of the Cowgirl holiday, celebrated annually on September 15.
Celebrating Katelyn Collins
Katelyn Collins, a Texas Tech University student, member of the Texas Tech rodeo team, and the 2024 Miss Rodeo Texas Teen, embodies the spirit of a true cowgirl. Her journey has been marked by perseverance and resilience, qualities that have helped her achieve great success despite facing significant challenges.
Growing up, Katelyn and her brother Kash moved in with their Aunt Rachel due to their parents' struggles with addiction. It was Aunt Rachel who introduced Katelyn to the Western lifestyle, taking her to a horse camp that ignited her passion for horses and set her on her path to becoming a first-generation cowgirl.
“Having the support of my Aunt Rachel, my brother Kash, and my grandma Jill has impacted me so much in getting where I am today, knowing that I have such a nice backbone in my life,” Katelyn shared. “When I first went to horse camp, I fell in love with the equine industry, riding and barrel racing. I am blessed to have been immersed in the Western industry at a young age that has grown into rodeo queening, barrel racing, equine science, and much more. It has been such a great opportunity, and it all started from a small horse camp, which is really cool to me.”
2024 National Day of the cowgirl scholarship winner
Katelyn Collins celebrating with her family: Aunt Rachel, her brother Kash, and Grandma Jill.
A Bright Future Ahead
Katelyn plans to complete her undergraduate degree at Texas Tech without student debt and then pursue veterinary school, focusing on large animals.
Katelyn does not take her role as the first winner of this significant scholarship lightly and plans to use her platform to inspire more girls to follow their dreams, no matter their circumstances.
“My advice to young women and little girls that want to pursue a life in the Western industry is that it takes a lot of hard work and not a lot of pixie dust,” Katelyn explained. “Dreams come from actively pursuing them. Make sure that you're setting small and long-term goals to get there. That's how you accomplish a dream such as this one.”
Looking Ahead to the 2025 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship recipient
Katelyn will kick off the second annual National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship by Durango® Boots.
“If you are a cowgirl like me and an incoming freshman in college, I highly recommend that you apply for the National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship and see what opportunities it may hold for you,” Katelyn encouraged. “It is so amazing to know that my hard work is being recognized in ways I had never imagined. Thank you Durango Boots for this opportunity, and for the opportunities you are giving to other young women in the industry.”
Applications for the 2025 scholarship will be open September 15 through December 31, 2024. For more information or to apply for the scholarship, visit https://nationaldayofthecowgirl.com/.
CONCLUSION
We are honored to celebrate Katelyn Collins as the inaugural winner of the National Day of the Cowgirl scholarship. Her story of perseverance and passion serves as an inspiration to cowgirls everywhere. As we gear up for this years scholarship submissons, we encourage all eligible young women to apply. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to one undergraduate female student currently in their first year of college who aspires 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.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to all this years brand partners in supporting Katelyn Collins as the recipient of the National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship: Western Horseman, Montana Silversmiths, Cavender’s Charlie 1 Horse, Fringe Scarves, PRCA, Ohio Quarter Horse Association, Rodeo Quincy, Durango Boots.