The Rural Gone Urban Foundation is honored to champion gritty, hardworking, passionate, and dedicated rural women who seek to advance their lives through a traditional university setting, professional program, or trade schools through 13, $1,000 scholarships.

In the wake of an allegedly incurable medical diagnosis, founding board chair Brooke Taylor hopes to show her daughter there is more to success than a perfect GPA and a stupendous résumé by shining the spotlight on all the other aspects of well-rounded scholars: work ethic, passion, and grit.

“While financial support is absolutely critical, we hope in addition to scholarships, Rural Gone Urban Foundation scholars feel supported. It’s wildly brave to chase your dreams and every single applicant showed us the meaning of bravery.” Brooke Taylor, board chair said. “Simply, I am so proud of our pool of scholarship applicants.”

In the second year of the scholarship program, the Foundation received 424 applicants representing 29 states with applicants ranging from 16 to 56 years old.

“Our scholarship committee is comprised of 10 women representing various educational pursuits, careers, and timezones who used their unique rural backgrounds to select scholars based on their work ethic, passions, and, well, sales pitch,” Taylor said. “We are blown away by not only the sheer number of applicants, but also their stories, dreams, and hopes for their respective futures. We’re proud of the 2024 class of scholarship recipients and are cheering for them, and all applicants, feverishly.”

Emily Dangott

Kiefer, Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma

Pursuing her childhood dreams of being a creative, Emily Dangott is currently a student at Tulsa Community College, working on her associates degree in Liberal Arts. After TCC, she plans on attending the University of Oklahoma to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Art, Technology, and Culture to continue her passion for fashion photography and art. Emily plans to earn her master’s degree at Rochester Institute of Technology in Photographic Arts.

But her big plans have not come easily. Life showed up in a difficult way, but Emily persevered. “I have healed, and when I pick up a camera, the world goes silent, my heartbeat slows, and I feel like I can breathe,” Emily wrote. “I have such a deep passion for taking photos, being creative, and learning that I cannot imagine myself doing anything else as a career.”

In addition to her academics, Emily works as a photography assistant alongside Shane Bevel Photography in Tulsa and does work for several clothing boutiques in the Tulsa area. Emily manages her own photography business and photographs creative concepts, portraits, and more. She has earned several awards and has been published in local magazines with her photographs. Later in life, Emily plans to teach photography and art as a professor and motivate others to pursue their passion.

Kaylee Denny

Pinon, Arizona

Arizona State University

Kaylee Denny is a Native American from the Navajo tribe, and she lives in the small town of Pinon, AZ, on the Navajo Reservation. Living in a remote town with little more than a grocery store and a gas station, Kaylee has a goal to be a teacher and to also create a non-profit organization that will help Native American students in secluded areas get more involved in activities that will help them in their future careers.

While school has not always been easy for Kaylee, she has always worked hard. Despite many obstacles, Kaylee knew work hard and a supportive family have helped her get what she wanted out of life. She also credits many teachers and coaches for their help along the way.

“I would like to thank my coaches and teachers,” Kaylee wrote. “I will repeat it: I am so fortunate to have the support system I have today.”

Logan Frith

Blair, Oklahoma

Vernon College

Logan Frith is the daughter of Heather Frith and late Judd Frith. After battling a serious illness in her early teens, Logan has dedicated herself to all things rodeo. Working closely alongside her father she assisted with raising cattle, putting on team roping events, and how to train horses and be proactive with their health and care. Logan’s father taught her how to run a farm, work on equipment, build fence, weld, mix feed and day to day operations.

“My true passion has always been about horses, and I am proactive in their health,” Logan wrote. “An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. Keeping a healthy horse from injury has always been my priority when it came to my horses that’s why I intend to pursue my aspiration of being an equestrian physical therapist.”

Logan will be attending Vernon Community College in Vernon, Texas, starting in fall 2024. She will be a member of the Vernon College rodeo team. She will be majoring in Ag Science /Equestrian Science and Ag Business with the aspiration of pursuing further education towards an Equestrian Physical Therapy degree.

Thalia Garmendez

Crownpoint, New Mexico

University of Oklahoma Graduate College

Using school as a distraction from her home life challenges, Thalia Garmendez was an honor roll student and extremely active in clubs and sports throughout her high school years. When she went to college, things did not get any easier, especially when COVID hit, and Thalia was separated from her mom, her closest confidant, with no means to visit for more than a year. Despite continuous challenges, Thalia earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University in the fall of 2022 and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Oklahoma through an online program.

“I intend to use this degree to establish relationships with other nonprofit organizations on the Navajo Reservation or surrounding colleges to create research topics on how engineering can benefit the everyday lives of the members of the Navajo Nation, especially on the New Mexico side,” Thalia wrote. She is most proud of recently purchasing a home for her and her mom.

Afton Jameson

Geary, Oklahoma

Mid-America Christian University

Afton grew up on a farm in Western Oklahoma, which influenced her decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University. She is an accidental teacher with a passion for education, student success, and well-being. Currently enrolled at Mid America Christian University to pursue a license in professional counseling, Afton has a wide range of hobbies and interests that make her a bit of a mixed bag.

“When I don’t know how to do something, I seek a way to learn about it, leading me to go back to college,” Afton wrote. “To be the best resource … and help fill a desperate need, I decided to go back to school and get another master’s degree in counseling.”

Afton aims to complete her master’s degree and become a licensed professional counselor (LPC). She is particularly interested in working with rural schools that may not have the resources for a full-time LPC, aiming to make a meaningful impact on students struggling with various challenges. She believes that working in these schools can provide much-needed support and help students navigate their challenges, ensuring they have access to the mental health care they need to thrive academically and personally.

Andrea Herrera Jurado

Elgin, Oklahoma

University of California San Diego

Andrea is a passionate and determined woman, ready to embark on her journey in the field of neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. The thriving Hispanic community she was raised in has significantly shaped her desire to become an influencer in the STEM realm.

Andrea has always been fascinated by science and the mysteries it holds. The detailed complexities of the human brain and its functionalities intrigue her, nurturing her decision to dedicate her studies to neuroscience. This love of science has propelled her to sensational academic heights, and her intended contribution to the neurology world is not only to unravel the brain’s secrets but to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists.

“I want to study neuroscience because I need to feed my curiosity and learn about what makes us human, Andrea wrote. “I want to make positive changes in people’s lives and help them see the beauty in life by caring for their mental and neurological health.”

Kimberly Kempken

Friendswood, Texas

Blinn College

Kimberly Kempken was born and raised in Friendswood, Texas, where she still resides with her husband of 27 years. She is the mom to three amazing adults who are currently all living out their dreams in three different agricultural fields throughout Texas.

“They call and ask my opinion, they tell me they’re proud of me, they help each other and support each other even when they may disagree with each other,” Kimberly wrote. “I raised three humans who at the ages of 27, 25, and 22 still really like their parents and that is my absolute biggest accomplishment.”

Kimberly and her husband Craig own a herd of black and red Brangus cattle. When she’s not helping in the pasture you can find her on the porch swing in the backyard with her dogs and chickens reading a good book. Kimberly has recently returned to school at Blinn College to obtain an English degree to advance her writing career.

Kalie Diana Kinsey

Perkins, Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University

Kalie Kinsey is a senior at Perkins-Tryon High School who resides with her grandparents. Her passion for plants and animals was sparked by her grandparents’ own hobbies, which she adopted as her own. Throughout her teenage years, Kalie has nurtured her love for cultivating and caring for living things, finding fulfillment in seeing them thrive.

“My grandparents support me by keeping a roof over my head and always letting me grow my interests through them,” Kalie wrote. “They have given wisdom about the world and what it expects of me.”

Kalie has excelled in FFA competitions, placing in the top three for floriculture and winning first place in Poultry Shows with her pigeons. With years of experience in raising a variety of show poultry, exotic birds, and a diverse collection of plants in her greenhouse, Kalie’s ultimate goal is to obtain a degree in horticulture and pursue a career in nursery jobs. She is driven by her desire to further develop her skills in horticulture while continuing to indulge in her passion for animals as a side hobby.

Angelia Lee

Freedom, Oklahoma

Sanctuary massage Therapy School

Facing many difficult issues as a young mother with no education beyond a GED, Angelia Lee nonetheless persisted to give her children a better life. Ever fascinated with massage therapy, Angelia has returned to school to become a licensed massage therapist and plans to one day own a massage therapy practice. Eventually she would like to further her education and take a course in Ashiatsu massage.

“My goal is to finish and to show my children that it’s never too late to start again, even at my age of 45,” Angelia wrote. “I’m proud of myself and the example I’m setting for them. Never stop trying and never give up.”

Supported by friends who watch her children for free anytime she needs a sitter, Angelia says it is her friends who encourage and believe in her and want to see her succeed.

Gracee Smith

Willard, Missouri

Iron Eagle Welding Academy

Gracee Smith grew up in the small farming community of Willard, Missouri. After her parents divorced, Gracee gained a father figure who taught her all about milk cows and, when her interest shifted, he taught her welding. After tragically losing her mentor, Gracee decided she wanted to not only be a role model for women in trades, but also a light for men’s mental health awareness within the trades.

“It is still hard to understand why he left us, but he was the one who pushed me to chase my dreams of becoming a female pipeline welder,” Gracee wrote. “I intend to keep chasing those dreams, but I am not going to stop there. The trades are hard on people, especially men away from the only homes they have ever known. I intend to help these men find their place in the world, instead of becoming a statistic.”

With this goal in mind, Gracee has worked hard throughout her high school career to be involved in school-sanctioned programs such as Future Farmers of America, where she has served many officer positions for not only her chapter, but for Area 10 FFA as well. Gracee has already been accepted to start attending Iron Eagle Welding Academy in Stockton, Missouri, just two days after graduating from high school. After graduating from Iron Eagle Welding Academy, she plans to travel on the pipeline for around five years and then settle back in her hometown and weld in a pharmaceutical setting.

Andrea Sponseller

Hanover, Pennsylvania

Pacific Coast HorseShoeing School

Andrea was born and raised in Hanover, PA. She was raised to work hard for the things you love and to embrace your wild. She spent most of her childhood in various types of boots in the creek catching crayfish or caring for horses on the farm where her family boarded their horses.

Andrea graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in Environmental Studies. Immediately after she graduated, Andrea packed up her 1992 Ford F150 and headed west, where for the next 19 years a lot of her jobs involved boots. She worked seasonally as anything from a dogsled tour guide to a wildlife fighter and a fisheries technician. Andrea also worked professionally as a ranch hand, wildlife officer, and a firefighter and EMT, but horses, including a special one named Chip, kept calling her back. In October 2023, Andrea took the leap to fulfil her dream of becoming a professional farrier.

“Strangely enough, my horse [Chip] has provided a ton of support along the way,” Andrea wrote. “He’s one of the unexpected ways I stay grounded. He reminds me to slow down and live in the present. He puts into perspective what is important and keeps me on track with my goals.”

Krystyn Nicole Tverberg

Auburn, California

Sierra College

Krystyn is a hard-working mom, wife, friend, and loyal employee. She and her two younger brothers were adopted in 2006, but life did not go as planned from there. Krystyn had to overcome many hardships in her life, being a parent figure to her two younger brothers from a very young age. Krystyn lost both of her parents in 2018 and then she lost one of her brothers in 2023 due to an accident. Thankfully she has a close friend who has supported her through it all.

“Connie Watson is my person, she has “raised” me to be who I am today,” Krystyn wrote.
“From the moment that she brought me under her wing, my life was a million times better, and I felt so much safer knowing that I had a strong mother figure that I could look up to.”

Krystyn plans to get her associates degree with a background in business. Her current job is an amazing place, and she plans to be for a very long time, thanks to opportunities for advancement. Krystyn is a very strong and independent individual who strives to be the best version of herself she can be.

Mallory Zumwalt

Bryan, Texas

Texas A&M University

In the fall, Mallory Zumwalt will be starting her first year at Texas A&M University with a passion for academics and feeding a growing population. As the President of the A&M Consolidated FFA, she has initiated numerous community service projects aimed at making a positive impact in her local community. From working with special needs students to serving meals in low-income areas, she lives to serve others in tangible ways.

“I desire to continue to make a positive impact on those around me through the production of one of our most precious resources, food, something that not only unites but also insights change within the hearts of all,” Mallory wrote.

Beyond her academic and extracurricular pursuits, Mallory is known for her empathy and commitment to helping others. She regularly spends her Friday nights tutoring students in academic and personal avenues and walking shelter dogs at the Aggieland Humane Society. Mallory’s passion for service extends beyond her high school career and local community, as she aspires to use her education to address global food insecurity and make a meaningful difference in the world.

Rural Gone Urban Foundation, Inc. is a public not-for-profit incorporation filed in the state of Oklahoma. Founded in 2022 by Brooke Clay Taylor, the Foundation was established to “support strong women doing brave things” and doing so without an asterisk.

Our scholarship program is 100 percent fueled by corporate and individual donations.

Rural Gone Urban Foundation AnnouNces 2024 Scholarship Recipients Directing $13,000 to Gritty, Hardworking rural women