ASHA Board First Vice President Vicki Gillenwater (left) and President Judy Werner (right) present t (Photo by Brice Carr, American Saddlebred Horse Association)
Of the six 2010 ASHA Youth Scholarship recipients, four were awarded scholarships in the amount of $5,000 to be paid directly to the university, college or trade school of their choice. The fifth award of $5,000 is the Youth to Youth Challenge Scholarship, and the sixth is a $2,500 scholarship donated by the American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alabama, for presentation to a resident of Alabama, and active member of their charter club.
This year's recipients are Jessica Caldwell of Georgetown, KY; Maggie Camp of Nicholasville, KY; Sondra Hodgson of Winston-Salem, NC; Cori O'Brien of Dousman, WI; Shannon Garcia of Los Lunas, NM (Youth to Youth Scholarship recipient); and Nora Gilliland of Madison, AL (ASHA of Alabama Scholarship). ASHA awards these scholarships to recipients for their achievements in academics, extracurricular activities and dedication to the American Saddlebred.
Also recognized on Friday night were the winners of ASHA's annual Junior Judging Contest, which was held during WCHS morning classes on Tuesday and Friday, and co-sponsored by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), James Crow and Fennell's.
Horse show judging is an important part of ASHA Youth Programs, as these contests are an educational way for young people to learn about judging in a fun environment, while being educated about class specifications and show procedures for judging American Saddlebreds. Any individual, age 20 and under was eligible to compete in this year’s contest, administered by Germaine Johnson, ASHA Youth Committee Chair, and Brenda Newell, ASHA Sr. Program Administrator, as well as ASHA staff members Dede Gatlin and Patricia Edwards.
Contestants were required to judge a minimum of four classes, but no more than six classes, during the Tuesday and Friday morning sessions. All judging was done on an individual basis from a designated area, and no outside assistance was allowed.
The contest was a success, with participants competing in two age divisions. The wiinners were recognized in center ring of Freedom Hall on Friday night, during a break in the evening's classes. The winner of the 13 and Under age division is Jordan Burks of Amherst, Virginia. The remaining placings for the 13 and Under division are as follows:
2nd - Samantha Stratton, Roanoke, VA
3rd - Traven Murphy, Bagdad, KY
4th - Emily Forehand, Roanoke, VA
5th - Jalen Harris, Shelbyville, KY
6th - Katherine Lawton, Altavista, VA
7th - MacKenzie Sigman, Madison Heights, VA
8th - Kathy Hall, Salem, VA
The winner of the 14-20 age division is Rebecca Doss, of Salem, VA. The remaining placings for the 14-20 division are as follows:
2nd - Elizabeth Wildenberg, Whitelaw, VA
3rd - Katie McCray, Louisa, VA
4th - Anna Hudson, Shawsville, VA
5th - Morgan Balentine, Raymore, MO
6th - Alicia Sacotte, Green Bay, WI
7th - Rachel White, Waddy, KY
8th - Alexandria Palmore, Urbanna, VA
ASHA also held a Youth Scavenger Hunt during WCHS, which was co-sponsored by Redwing Farm, USEF, and Dr. & Mrs. Louis Johnson. The Scavenger Hunt ran from the morning of Tuesday, August 24, through Thursday, August 26. The objective was for the youth to meet Saddlebred "celebrities" and to have fun during the week of WCHS.
The winners of the 13 and Under age division, in a tie for first place, were Samantha Stratton and Emily Forehand, both of Roanoke, VA, with second place going to Amy Cedrone, of Huntersville, NC. In the 14-20 age division, first and second place went to Alexandra Cedrone of Huntersville, NC, and Delynn Uttecht of Omaha, NE, respectively. The winner of the grand prize drawing for the Flip video camera was Delynn Uttecht.
For more information about ASHA Youth Programs, contact Brenda Newell at (859) 475-1461, or by e-mail at [email protected].
ENDS