Jerald Smith Memorial Scholarship presented to two NTCC Rodeo athletes

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Pictured above: Peyton Cooper, center, received the Jerald Smith Memorial Scholarship.  From left members of the Smith family, Shay Navia, Pookey Navia, Cooper, Joan Smith, Payden Franks and his kids, Clancy and Pake.

By Emily Shearin, NTCC EagleStaff Writer

Northeast Texas Community College rodeo team members Peyton Cooper and Tervyn Armstrong received the Jerald Smith Memorial Scholarship this past month at the Mount Pleasant rodeo. Peyton Cooper is a NTCC sophomore from Telephone, Texas. She participates in breakaway roping, goat tying and barrel racing. Tervyn Armstrong is an NTCC freshman from Brokenbow, Oklahoma and is a bull rider.

The scholarship was presented by members of the Jerald Smith family during the event. Smith, who was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2010, founded the Wing Rodeo Company in 1967 and continued as its owner and operator until his death in 2018.

“I’ve worked for Wing Rodeo Company for 16 years now and [I am] very honored to be able to present a scholarship in his name to some of our students,” Skylar Hunnicutt, NTCC head rodeo coach, said.

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Tervyn Armstrong, second from left, received the Jerald Smith Memorial Scholarship. From left, members of the Smith family Joan Smith, Armstrong and a family member, Payden Franks and his children.