The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that Alison E. Wilson is the 2007 recipient of the USDF Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Member Organization (IMO) Team Leadership Award, and Meredith Lynn Fish has been awarded the 2007 USDF IMO Senior Athletic Achievement Award. These awards were developed to recognize outstanding students who are members of USDF IMOs.

Alison E. Wilson, a 2007 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, was nominated for the Team Leadership Award by Rebecca Schurink, IMO representative and dressage team coach for Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. In accordance with award criteria, the judging panel reviewed Wilson’s personal essay, resume, college transcript and letters of recommendation. Wilson, of Oak Bluffs, MA, was recognized for her ability to inspire her peers, along with her organizational skills and fundraising efforts on behalf of the Mt. Holyoke College intercollegiate dressage team. Samuel Mitchell, Chair and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Mt. Holyoke College, noted in his recommendation letter that “Ali represents what the student athlete was supposed to be, a young woman who has integrated the discipline and leadership of athletic interests to the benefit of her academic work.”

Meredith Lynn Fish, a 2007 graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, earned the Senior Athletic Achievement Award. To be eligible for this award, candidates must earn at least a 3.5 GPA and must have been a member of their IMO for at least one year, including their senior year. Fish, of Gastonia, NC, was nominated by her intercollegiate dressage team coach, Jackie Dwelle, to recognize Meredith’s attainment of a cumulative 3.7055 GPA.

The USDF Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Membership category was developed to provide students access to USDF educational programs and to recognize achievement of member organizations and their student members. This membership is available to students who attend IMO schools. Any school from middle school through college that offers an equestrian studies program or student equestrian club can join USDF as an IMO. USDF works closely with the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) to promote dressage interest and competitions among member schools.