2023 Clay Shootout raises $113,000 benefitting Blinn students

Alumni and Friends, Alumni Lettermen partner to organize the College's largest annual fundraiser

April 27, 2023

The Blinn College Alumni and Friends and Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen associations’ 2023 Blinn College Clay Shootout raised $113,000 for scholarships and athletic equipment.

This year’s Shootout, held April 14 at Boswell Porter 4-H Shotgun Range in Burleson County, had 56 teams competing in three flights. It is the largest annual fundraiser held to benefit the Blinn College District.

“I’m always amazed by how much support every Shootout receives,” said Nathan Van Noord, President of the Alumni and Friends Association. “That success is a result of the hard work from a lot of volunteers and the generosity shown by businesses and individuals, and all of the money we raise goes directly to helping Blinn College students and programs.”

“Everyone seems to have a good time and raising money for a worthy cause is the reason why everyone does this,” said Kevin Bosse, Chair of the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen Association. “The money raised does so much good for students and programs that deserve our support.”

Overall winners were:

• Teams – First: Vacha Services (Tanner Vacha, Taylor Zdunkewicz, Karl Stellpflug, and J.W. Atkinson; second: Citizens State Bank (Cory Flencher, Aaron Flencher, Scott York, and Tommy Teas; third: Lone Star Tank Management (Bruce Beaver, Brant Malek, Doug Deweese, and Steven Hicks).
• Men’s division – First, Brant Malek; second, Justin Hejl.
• Women’s division – First, Kailey Kuntschik; second, tie between Ashley Hodde and Jennifer Fleetwood.
• Flight 1 – First, Grant Parker; second, Blake Henry; third, Brian Eben.
• Flight 2 – First, Brant Malek; second, Justin Hejl; third, Jack Baumann.
• Flight 3 – First, Tanner Vacha; second, J.W. Atkinson; third, Kieran Tobin.

Stylecraft Builders was the underwriter once again with a $15,000 sponsorship. Flight sponsors were Bank of Brenham, Blue Bell Creameries, and Brenham National Bank.

Station sponsors were Plinkers Ammo, Schaefer Custom Homes, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, Paragon Advisors, Tejas Center, Texas KB Utilities, Germania Insurance, CC Creations, Collier Construction, Texas Commercial Waste, Aggieland Construction, GeoSouthern/Fenner Land Services, Citizens State Bank, First Financial Bank/First Financial Trust, Siemens Energy Inc., Van Dyke-Rankin, Kirksey Architecture, and Plumb Level.

Food and drink sponsorships were provided by Nathan’s BBQ, Ben E. Keith, U.S. Foods, Scarmardo Foodservice, Michael Griffin, Polar Ice, Christian Development Co., and Jack Hilliard Distributing. The silent auction sponsor was Kenjura Tile.

Friends of Blinn sponsors were Marcella and Ernie Koy, Cordell Levien, Must Be Heaven, and Schleider Furniture Co. First Responder Team sponsors were Charles Moser, Nancy Berry, and Celia Haley. Rob’s Fun Center provided all-terrain vehicles and the raffle was sponsored by LaRoche Chevrolet.