A Neosho High School senior received some good news Saturday, as he was named the recipient of a $500 scholarship to help with college expenses.
Addison Rainwater, son of Les and Shawndel Rainwater, received the scholarship during the Indian Creek Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual banquet on Saturday at the Lampo Center. Half of the $500 scholarship came from the national federation and the local chapter matched it.
“First of all, I really appreciate the scholarship money,” said Rainwater, shortly after receiving the check. “I plan on going to college to further my education, majoring in secondary education. I am undecided at the moment of where I am going. I am looking maybe Missouri Southern, somewhere close to home.”
Rainwater said the money would go to good use, where he will use it for books or needs at the college level.
Rainwater has always enjoyed hunting.
“Hunting has always been a big part of my life, ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “Dad always took us out hunting. It helped build character, I think, it taught us responsibility, and dedication and perseverance. I mainly just go deer hunting. I also like to rabbit hunt in the winter time.”
The scholarship does have some criteria that a senior must meet, including having a hunting license.
“Not only are we giving this scholarship to worthy young people, we are also giving this to hunt and conserve wildlife in the future,” Allen Jones, president of the local chapter, said. “We are reaping double benefits in it.”
Jones said he was seeing more and more people joining not only the turkey federation or other federations.
“The numbers are starting to pick up, even with the economy as slow as it has been the last year or two,” Jones said.
Rainwater could not agree more.
“I think that it is a great thing that the National Wild Turkey Federation does,” he said. “They help educate the youth hunters and I think that it is a great program.”
The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that, along with its volunteers, partners and sponsors, has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of America’s hunting heritage.
When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today, that number stands at more than 7 million birds throughout North America, and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico.
