News
DeBord Scholarship Awarded
March 29, 2024
The Jim R. DeBord Scholarship has been presented to two students in the heavy equipment operator technician program at รศรรสำฦต-Hastings.
Skyler Kent (right) of Hastings and Colton Woodis (left) of Kearney each received a $1,000 scholarship to assist them financially in their educational pursuits.
“I love it. This will help me with my books and paying for college,” said Kent, who became interested in the program while in high school after taking a turn on รศรรสำฦต’s heavy equipment simulators. “I get to test each piece of equipment. The excavator and the dump truck are my favorites so far.”
“I am very thankful for the scholarship, and it will help me pay for next year and my CDL (commercial driver’s license),” Woodis said. “This program is awesome. I love it.”
Ron and Tammy DeBord established the scholarship in 2020 in honor of Ron’s father, Jim, who worked in the heavy equipment field for more than three decades. Ron attended the scholarship presentation ceremony and spoke to the students about his father’s experience and what made him successful.
“My father always said, ‘Don’t be afraid to fail because at some point, you’ll look back and wish you had taken a chance,’” Ron said. “My father also said, ‘Be dependable. If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. If you say you’re going to be some place, show up.’”
Two scholarships are given each year to students in the heavy equipment operator technician program.