Jyme Peterson received the first annual Shane Drury Scholarship during Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night at the recent College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR).

The junior at Montana State University received the award because she shares Drury's determination and perseverance. She is a talented
goat tier who has had her goal of winning a national title crushed twice due to knee injuries.

Drury is battling cancer. The two-time CNFR bull rider is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University and has inspired people
by sharing his story. He made the trip from his home at Ewing, Neb., to present the award to Peterson.

"Returning to the CNFR was great," Drury said. "I got to see a lot of old friends and made some new ones. Having this scholarship given in
my name was really special. I hope I'm back to present it for many years to come."

Peterson is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine and animal science. She was raised on a family-owned cattle ranch near Kilgore, Neb.,
where rodeo was their favorite pastime.

Goat tying became Peterson's passion. It is an event where she felt she could excel with practice, some athletic ability and was not
dependent upon having the best horse in the world. She earned three state high school titles in the event and was on the way to her fourth National High School Rodeo Association Finals when she blew her knee out at an amateur rodeo.

In spite of the injury, she was recruited by Mike True, then coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M. After surgery and four months of
painful rehabilitation, she was back in the arena roping with a knee brace. Her freshman year was basically spent getting her knee back in shape.

Her sophomore year started out strong and Peterson was one of the regional standouts in the goat tying. She was excited about the
possibility of competing at the CNFR. That possibility was crushed while she was making some practice runs for a TV commercial for the school. She blew out the same knee and had to go through surgery and more rehabilitation again.

Peterson followed her coach to Bozeman when he accepted a position with Montana State University. After a longer period of
rehabilitation, she stayed among the top three in the region until the final rodeo of the season where she was bumped from a trip to the CNFR once again.

Through it all, she has kept a positive attitude and is determined to make the trip to Casper next year to compete. According to her
coach, she puts her heart into everything she does, continues to smile, laugh and re-build her knee everyday.

"My knee surgeries don't hold a candle to what Shane has been through or is going through," Peterson said. "He has become a real
inspiration to me. I think often of his attitude and determination and am trying to model myself after that."

Drury will soon be undergoing experimental treatment in Dallas and is continuing to fight his disease. To keep up with his progress, go to
www.shanedrury.net and read the about page. He also has a message board under his links page and is glad to hear from
everybody.

The scholarship was made possible from sponsors, many individuals and the following Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo
committees: Sheridan Wyo Rodeo; Snake River Stampede, Nampa, Idaho; Ute Stampede, Nephi, Utah; Crazy Horse (S.D.) Stampede; Cheney (Wash.) Stampede; Chelan (Wash.) Rustlers; Livermore (Calif.) Stockman's Rodeo; Rodeo of the Ozarks, Springdale, Ark.; and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo.

Fundraising efforts are ongoing. Donations can be made in Drury's name to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, 2316
Eastgate North Suite 160, Walla Walla WA 99362. All donations are fully tax deductible.

Susan Kanode