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THE LATEST NEWS FROM IHSA

2016 IHSA Scholarship and Award Opportunities Announced

The Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship ($250-$1,500) Challenge is an online test of 50 multiple choice questions from the USHJA Study Guide on stable management topics that is open to all undergraduate IHSA members. Participants completing the test get a digital magazine subscription courtesy of EQUUS. The top two scorers from each Zone are invited to the KHP to compete in a practicum phase at the 2016 IHSA National Championships, May 5-8, where the top 10 win scholarship awards. The test is only available by logging onto www.ihsainc.com February 22 through March 8, 2016.

USHJA/IHSA Sportsmanship Award nominations are open to any current USHJA and IHSA Hunt Seat member in good standing. A nominee should be an IHSA member committed to acting selflessly towards horse(s), rider(s), coach(es) or others in such a way that their actions reflect the highest level of sportsmanship IHSA has to offer. Any full time student athlete, coach or college administrator in good standing may nominate a rider for the award with an email, not to exceed 500 words, to their Regional President by March 15.

The Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation (IEF) invites coaches to nominate a rider from their team in honor of the late Jon Conyers, a long-standing IHSA Board Member, dedicated coach, and teacher extraordinaire for the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship ($1,500). The nominee must be a freshman or sophomore in his or her first year competing in Walk-Trot, Beginning Horsemanship, Walk-Trot-Canter, or Intermediate Horsemanship; a full-time IHSA undergraduate member in good standing; display passion for horses and desire to better themself on and off the horse; and demonstrate financial need. The award winner is selected by the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship Committee, receives a $1,500 scholarship from IEF, and their name is announced at the 2016 IHSA Nationals. Nominations and materials must be submitted by February 24, 2016.

The Bob Anthony Memorial Scholarship was established to honor an extraordinary horseman and trainer who believed reining horses should have their own stage and was instrumental in the creation of the NRHA. Inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 1992, Bob was a competitor, trainer, and judge who won six NRHA World Championships. The nominee must be a full-time undergraduate IHSA member in good standing; compete in Open Reining; and demonstrate financial need. The winner will receive a financial award from IEF and be announced at 2016 IHSA Nationals. Nominations and required materials must be submitted by February 24, 2016.

The IHSA National All-Academic Award recognizes academic achievement in an undergraduate or alumni member based on Fall 2015 semester grades. A student must have competed in at least one IHSA show during the academic year. A certificate of recognition is awarded for a GPA of 3.8 or higher (First Team) or 3.5 or higher (Second Team) and recipients names and institutions are published in the 2016 Nationals program. Coaches are responsible for submitting All-Academic forms postmarked no later than March 18, 2016.

The IHSA Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Award recognizes a senior who has earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. To be considered, an applicant must have been on an intercollegiate riding team for three full years if they attended a four-year institution, and two full years if at a two-year institution. Recipients of this award will be named in the IHSA National Horse Show program and receive a certificate of recognition. All required materials and transcripts must be mailed and postmarked on or before March 29, 2016.

The Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Essay Award ($500) has the same requirements as Senior Athletic Achievement and includes submission of a 500-word essay about how intercollegiate experience and academic achievement have prepared them for a future career. Materials and transcripts must be postmarked on or before March 29, 2016.

Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation (IEF) Scholarships ($1,000- $1,500) are available to IHSA undergraduate members and non-members through application via www.ihsainc.com, President College of a Region, IHSA member-college Financial Aid Office, or from IEF. Scholarship winners are announced at 2016 Nationals and scholarship awards are mailed following the event. IHSA member and non-member applicants must submit completed applications with all required materials to their Regional President by February 10, 2016.

For complete details on how to apply for each scholarship or award visit: www.ihsainc.com

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