Graduation Girl

Our first grandchild became our first grandchild to graduate from college over the weekend. Paige Nicole Stewart braved the cold, gloomy weather to receive her degree outdoors at Iowa State University. She received her Bachelors degree in Communications and also completed the coursework for a Leadership certificate. All this as a student who is challenged by studies, nothing came easy for her.

Paige is a go-getter in everything she does. She is our Rodeo Queen and finished sixth in the Great Plains Region standings for breakaway roping. She started her college career at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge where she was part of their rodeo team. She received her AA degree after two years and enrolled in Iowa State for her final two years. She became part of the very small rodeo team at Iowa State and helped the team grow during the years she was there. She was the only one to score points for

Iowa State Rodeo.

Paige worked sometimes three jobs while she was going to school to earn money for the very costly rodeo entry fees. She also worked all summers while participating in numerous rodeos across Iowa. She and her horse Marco excelled in breakaway roping together. 

Perhaps the most significant thing about Paige is the bravery and grace she has shown since her riding partner Marco was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Together they achieved the perfect partnership that suddenly came to an end. Paige finished her rodeo season using borrowed horses she wasn't familiar with. 

We are extremely proud of the young woman Paige has become and look forward to watching her move ahead with a new horse and a new career. She has been offered an additional year of rodeo (due to Covid) at Iowa Central where she will take a diploma program in photography to complement her Communications major.

"Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed," (Psalm 112:1-2 NIV).

(Photo credit to Hailey Hepperly Photography)