ABS scholarships continue to grow

AgBio Communications

With the help of forward-thinking donors, the South Dakota State University Jackrabbit Guarantee scholarship program continues to grow. Jackrabbit Guarantee, now in its fifth year, provides guaranteed scholarship funding to incoming freshmen with an ACT score of 24 or higher. Freshmen who qualify are guaranteed $1,000 annually for four years if they maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and complete 30 credits per year.

In its quest to fulfill the funding challenges presented by Jackrabbit Guarantee, the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences established the Jackrabbit Guarantee 2006 Challenge. That program allowed donors to establish a $1,000 named scholarship, with a commitment to contribute just $500 for the first three years and $1,000 in the fourth year. Among the 70-plus supporters who met the ABS challenge were Lyle and Garnet Perman.

The Perman’s named scholarship is the Rock Hills Ranch Scholarship in Support of the Jackrabbit Guarantee 2006 Challenge at South Dakota State University. Preference for this scholarship will go to students majoring in range sciences.

Lyle is a 1977 SDSU graduate (general agriculture). He was involved in student government and Circle K, while also being a member of Hobo Day Committee and teaching intramural dance classes. Garnet received a bachelor’s degree in biology from SDSU in 1976. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and also was a member of Hobo Day Committee and taught intramural dance classes.

Lyle and Garnet established the family ranch near Lowry in 1976. In addition to managing their herd of commercial Angus cattle, Lyle has been a Farm Bureau Insurance agent for 20 years. He also currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the South Dakota Grasslands Commission. Garnet was a substitute teacher for many years and a 4-H leader for eight years. She currently writes feature stories and a column about rural life for the Hoven Review.

Their children Kajsa and Luke are also SDSU graduates. Kajsa was one of the first recipients of the Jackrabbit Guarantee scholarship. She is a 2006 consumer affairs graduate and was an ambassador for the Admissions Office and a Stater for State. She is now employed as a sales team manager for Southwestern Company. Luke is a 2006 range sciences graduate and was active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Range Sciences Club, of which he served as president in 2005 - 06. He joined the family ranching operation in 2006. Kajsa and Luke were actively involved in the 4-H range project area, and both placed in various Rangeland Days events. Luke, Lyle, and Garnet have also served as judges for Rangeland Days speech contests.

By specifically targeting their Jackrabbit Guarantee for the ABS College, the Permans hope to encourage a student to choose production agriculture following graduation. In addition, they hope to promote good management of grassland. The family considers range management to be an important part of their cow-calf operation.