IN THE CLASSROOM

Phillipsburg, Kan. (May 19, 2025) – Four area college students are recipients of scholarships given by the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association.

Dlan Van Laeys and Lexi Wooten, students at Ft. Hays (Kan.) State University, and Clay Meyer and Erin Osmotherly, students at Mid-Plains Community College in McCook, Neb., have each received a $500 scholarship.

Van Laeys, who lives near Logan, Kan., completed his junior year at Ft. Hays State this month and will graduate May 2026 with a degree in Agronomy and a certificate in Ag Business.

In college rodeo, he competes in team roping and steer wrestling.

A 2022 graduate of Logan High School, Van Laeys was class valedictorian and participated in track and field, football, basketball, FFA, KAY, Student Council and 4-H.

The 21-year-old is the son of Tim and Robin Van Laeys.

The second scholarship recipient from Ft. Hays State University is Lexi Wooten.

The Rose Hill, Kan. cowgirl will be a sophomore at Ft. Hays State this fall and competes in the barrel racing.

She is working towards a Diagnostic Imaging degree with an emphasis in Ultrasound.

She is appreciative of the money given towards her schooling. “It will help me fund my education through rodeo,” she said. “I grew up rodeoing, and it’s a huge part of my life. This scholarship helps me fund my dreams of competing in college rodeo.”

In high school, Wooten competed in rodeo, track and volleyball, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She is the administrator of the college rodeo team’s social media accounts.

She is the daughter of Heather Wooten.

Mid-Plains Community College student Clay Meyer received a Phillipsburg rodeo scholarship.

The 20-year-old, a resident of Bertrand, Neb., graduated this month with a degree in Agricultural Welding.

In college rodeo, he competed in the team roping and steer wrestling and finished sixth in the Great Plains Region in the steer wrestling.

The scholarship helped pay for tuition, he said, as well as welding supplies for class.

A 2023 graduate of Loomis (Neb.) High School, Meyer participated in football, basketball, wrestling, track, and FFA and was on the honor roll.

He is the son of Allan and Dana Meyer.

Erin Osmotherly is the second Mid-Plains Community College scholarship recipient.

A native of Hot Springs, S.D., she just finished her first year of college and is working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education. She competes in the barrel racing and breakaway roping.

Receiving the Phillipsburg rodeo scholarship is meaningful, Osmotherly said.

“To be recognized for that scholarship means a lot to me,” she said. “It made me realize I do have a place here.”

The Phillipsburg rodeo has been awarding college scholarships since 1996, with sixty students benefitting.

This year’s rodeo is July 31-August 2 with performances beginning at 8 pm each night.

Tickets go on sale online June 1 at KansasBiggestRodeo.com.