Standing Ovation: Durango to Award $30,000 Scholarship

Last Friday, September 15th, was National Day of the Cowgirl. In honor of that, Durango will award one scholarship that acknowledges the accolades of an undergraduate student in pursuit of a western industry degree.

Durango® Boots, a division of Rocky Brands, Inc. kicks off the second annual celebration of its ‘National Day of the Cowgirl’ with a newly formed $30,000 undergraduate scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a young woman that is pursuing a western degree and will be executed in partnership with the Dude Ranch Foundation. National Day of the Cowgirl, a national holiday launched in 2022 by Durango®, is commemorated each year on September 15 and is a celebration and recognition of the spirit of the American cowgirl. You can find more information or apply to the scholarship here.

“Through farming and ranching, arts and culture or equine sports, the spirit of a cowgirl shines through women from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for the western way of life,” commented Erin DeLong, marketing manager for Durango®. “This scholarship is a way for Durango® to give back to hard-working women who want to have an impact on the western industry through their education and career.”

The National Day of the Cowgirl scholarship presented by Durango® Boots will be awarded in the amount of $30,000 over three years, and initially funded within the 2024-2025 educational year. It 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. The chosen candidate will be announced in the spring of 2024.

Continued DeLong, “The goal is to support these women by providing financial assistance towards their current schooling, which will lead to a career to benefit them and the western industry.”

National Day of the Cowgirl is a celebration and recognition of the spirit of the American cowgirl – a spirit embodied by women who are strong, confident, and resilient. The observance, officially secured by Durango® Boots through the National Day Archives on September 15, 2022, was established to recognize the women who personify the western lifestyle. In addition to the scholarship, Durango® will celebrate this observance through a large giveaway in partnership with numerous premier western brands during the month of September. Additionally, the brand will share social content driving awareness of and celebrating the cowgirl spirit and offer interactive content.


About Durango®:
Founded in 1966 Durango® Boots manufactures and markets quality-crafted western and fashion footwear for men, women, and children. It is a division of Rocky Brands™, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ® under the symbol: RCKY. For more information visit www.durangoboots.com.

About 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).

Here at Horse Nation we love to recognize individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.