Sellars Named Project Strive/TRiO Student of the Month for January      

Sellars, a Rangeland Management major with minors in Equine Management and Agribusiness said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to study when she came to college.

“I was set on pre-vet when I first came here because I have always wanted to help horses, but did an internship when I was a senior in high school to become a vet and didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. So I started thinking of other ways I could help horses,” Sellars said. “That’s when I started to look into equine therapy.”

Growing up around horses, Sellars said she was familiar with equine massage and acupuncture because it was something she and her aunt both invested in to help their horses, but she always thought a veterinary license was necessary to practice it.

Sellars said her initial interest in horses began in middle school.

“I rode horses when I was little and then got into competing as I got older. I earned my first title in middle school as Jefferson County Junior Princess and my career really took off from there,” said Sellars.

She said her most notable accomplishment so far was being named the Rodeo Queen for Deer Trail, Colorado, home of the world’s first rodeo in 1869.

“I was crowned at the 150th anniversary of the rodeo, which was really cool,” Sellars said.

Sellars didn’t picture herself being a rodeo queen when she was younger but has learned to enjoy the benefits of being in the role.

“Being a rodeo queen has helped with gaining confidence in so many ways,” said Sellars. “Always being in the public eye helps me be more conscious of my actions and behaviors. It makes me want to be the best version of myself.”

After graduating from CSC, Sellars plans to earn her license for equine acupuncture and massage, a process she plans to complete through a 12-month course.

“I definitely thought about not going to college at all and just taking the courses to get my license in equine acupuncture and massage right after graduation, but was encouraged to visit some colleges and fell in love with CSC when I toured,” Sellars said.

Sellars is a Resident Advisor, a position she always knew she wanted.

“I was kind of a leader in high school, and I knew I wanted to be an RA in college,” Sellars said. “I also didn’t get any scholarships to come to college and when my grandparents volunteered to pay for my education, I wanted to do everything I could to make the bill as small as possible.”

Amanda Lewin, Retention Specialist for Project Strive/TRiO said Sellars is deserving of Student of the Month for her hard work in academics and responsibility.

“Juliana is a very optimistic and responsible person who works hard at her academics,” Lewin said. “She is very active, both in our program and on campus. She has volunteered to lead a Paint the Library program later this month, a program designed to create student artwork to decorate the King Library where she works. We are continually impressed by Juliana and grateful to have her be part of our program.”

Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to help students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment, and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first-generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low-income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability. For more information, visit https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/.