St Andrews University Director and Eq Coach Peggy McElveen to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2017 IHSA Nationals, Kentucky Horse Park

Fairfield, CT (February 12, 2017) – One of the most popular equestrian team coaches in Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) history will be recognized for her service and contributions to college riding and the horse industry on Saturday afternoon during the 45th IHSA National Championships, May 4-7, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington: Peggy McElveen, director of equestrian studies at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC.

 

Coach McElveen will become the 24^th recipient of the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award, presented since 1993 to recognize the longstanding commitment of its college and university coaches.

 

A 1971 graduate of Sweet Briar College, coach McElveen is the director of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program, where she oversees everything in the program from coaching and recruiting riders to looking at prospective donation horses.  She is also a member of the St. Andrews faculty, serving as an instructor in Equine Studies. Prior to joining St. Andrews in 2000, she was coach of the NC State and Peace College IHSA teams at MacNair's Country Acres in Raleigh. She served for 16 years as associate director of the Raleigh YMCA Camp Seafarer and is a certified camp director with the American Camping Association. In the 1970's, she also coached the University of South Carolina IHSA team. She is a dedicated member of several committees and boards serving the equestrian community including service for the IHSA, American National Riding Commission, US Equestrian Federation, US Hunter Jumper Association, and North Carolina Horse Council. She was recognized in 2011 by USHJA as Affiliate Instructor of the Year and in 2012 by IHSA with the Pioneer Award.

 

IHSA promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional to national levels based on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of financial status or riding level. Visit www.ihsainc.com for results and coverage from the IHSA National Championships and 50^th anniversary celebration and follow IHSA on Facebook and Instagram.