Sturgis, SD (May 4, 2015) – The Buffalo Chip Challenge, a collaboration between the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Keith Terry of Terry Components, Dakota V-Twin, Baggster, Sturgis Brown High School and a large group of industry-leading sponsors was opened for the first time ever to all Black Hills area high school students in 2015. The program was designed to introduce students to a career in motorcycle customization. In addition to implementing and helping to organize partners for the program for the past five years, Rod Woodruff, president of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, offered participating students the opportunity to apply for $8,500 in scholarship. Three outstanding Black Hills students have been chosen to receive these awards.
Sidney May, a junior at Spearfish High School, has been chosen to receive the top award of $5,000. May showed great enthusiasm and invested more than 78 hours to the three-month program. Shon Williamson, a junior at Sturgis Brown High School, will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship and Arianna Nelson, a junior at Sturgis Brown High School will receive an award of $1,000.
“These students are simply outstanding and I am very pleased to be able to help them continue their education and further their career goals,” said Rod Woodruff, president of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “These three students alone invested nearly 200 hours in the program, learning motorcycle customization skills from some of the best in the business. They took advantage of an opportunity not offered to many, let alone high school students, and showed great initiative.”
A variety of criteria was used to determine scholarship awards including level of participation, interest and improved abilities over the course of the program.
In addition to help from Keith Terry of Terry Components, Chris Malo of Baggster led Team Indian to build a John Shope Signature 2014 Indian Chieftain and Nick and Randy Cramer led Team Harley to build a Paul Yaffe Signature Harley-Davidson Road King. The addition of industry super stars, John Shope and Paul Yaffe was just another of the many exciting changes to the program this year. The student-built custom 2014 Indian Chieftain received first place in the full custom/other bagger class and the 2014 Harley- Davidson Road King took second place in the Harley road king w/26″ wheel (full custom) category at the prestigious Donnie Smith Bike Show in St. Paul, MN. The students competed against professional custom bike builders from around the country, which makes winning these awards a remarkable achievement.
