Our latest episode features a talk with the Route 66 Podcast Scholarship winners!  A very special thanks to everyone who participated including the Patreon members, those who helped promote the program, and applicants who submitted entries. At the middle school level, the winning entry was submitted by a former virtual student of mine, Kiera.   Kiera's design (pictured above) includes the outline of a shield containing four Route 66 related images inside.  Kiera says that she spent few weeks working on the shield and her first step was listening to past episodes of the podcast for ideas.   It was during her research Kiera discovered the Wigwam Motel completely on her own, as the podcast has not yet featured the iconic motel on the show.   At the college level, Deanna DeValve was selected to receive a $1000 college scholarship.  Deanna is from Catoosa, Oklahoma, which is home of the Blue Whale along Route 66.   In addition to attending Oral Roberts University Deanna works part time at the Route 66 Native Arts Alliance in Catoosa.  Deanna submitted an original song, Remember, and was able to connect her Cherokee heritage in music and words with the verse below:   My native blood calls out to me Don't forget your history I listen to the beckoning And follow where she takes me REMEMBER   Other submissions include original and digital artwork, a radio broadcast featuring an interview with Bob "Crocodile" LIle, and an introduction of Missouri Route 66 using American Sign Language (ASL).  The scholarship program began in 2020 and this past year was extended to include an award at the college level.  While the submissions were very diverse, it is my hope that even more students will submit an entry for the 2022 - 2023 academic year once the program opens up.   The overall goal of the scholarship program is to promote the spirit of Route 66 with a younger generation of students who were born long after the highway was decommissioned.  I want to thank everyone who helped promote the scholarship program, including many of the local school districts and colleges along the route.       PATREON SUPPORTERS As always, thank you to my Patreon supporters who are the ones providing support for the scholarship program.  Patreon supporters for The Route 66 Podcast include: MidPoint Cafe Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas. Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast. Jack Rabbit Trading Post Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop…. and say hello to Cindy and Antonio. Jeff Buechel - Illinois  Reed Cole - Nebraska  Jim Crabtree – California  Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.  Kristin Haakenson – Washington  Rich Havlik – Minnesota  Maureen Holt - Arizona Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania  Evan Stern - New York  United Kingdom Charli Beeton  The Netherlands Jim Rensen  Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.  Patreon members at the Will Rogers level received a 2022 Route 66 wall calendar.