The Rickenbach Family Scholarship in memory of Robert, Todd and Troy

Eligibility: Freshman
Area of Interest: General

Criteria:

The recipient shall be a graduate of Chadron High School, who exhibits leadership characteristics. He/she shall be someone who without this financial assistance would find it difficult to complete his/her college education.

Robert “Bob” Rickenbach grew up on his family’s ranch near Oelrichs SD and graduated in 1970 from Chadron State College with degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry.  After college he decided to forgo opportunities in the corporate world and instead became the General Manager of the Red Cloud Cattle Company near Jay Em, WY.  He was responsible for several thousand acres of land and several hundred head of cattle.  While there, he oversaw the installation of three center-pivot irrigation systems which boosted efficiency and modernized the ranch.  In 1980, along with his wife Sharon, he made the decision to purchase a farm east of Chadron from one of Sharon’s uncles.  Bob and Sharon grew the farm together and they eventually had an operation previously run by three other farmers.  He also partnered with his brother Richard Rickenbach to run the family ranch near Oelrichs.  Math and Science always played a big part in his life as a farmer and cattle producer.  His education also served him during his tenure on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Rural Public Power Association.  Bob loved Chadron State College and he was an avid supporter of Eagle athletics.  He rarely missed a home basketball game and spent several years running the chains with his friends during Eagle home football games.  Bob was inducted into the Dawes County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2017.  Bob passed away from cancer at age 74 in January 2021.  He hopes to continue his legacy with this scholarship and help future mathematicians, scientists, and agricultural producers get their education.

Troy R. Rickenbach was a student who attended CSC. He graduated from Chadron High School in 1991 and was elected prom king in his senior year. He passed away in a fatal car accident when he was 20 years old.      

Todd Rickenbach was a 1987 graduate of Chadron High School and 1994 graduate of Chadron State College.  His passion for flying and airplanes started early and he always knew he wanted to be a pilot.  While at Chadron State College, Todd was active in the Aviation Club.  He also worked as a Certified Flight Instructor during college and taught many of his fellow students and other members of the community how to fly.  He realized his dream of flying jet airliners when he began flying for Frontier Airlines in January of 2001.  Throughout his career, Todd continued to be a mentor and teacher.  A cancer diagnosis in 2009 forced him to retire early and after a brave fight, Todd lost his battle to cancer in late 2014 at the age of 45.  He was posthumously inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame in 2015.  Todd loved Chadron State College and the community.  It is his wish through this scholarship to continue to be a mentor and help students achieve their passion.