Fairfield, Conn. – Nov.13, 2017 – The deadlines for the 2018 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) student competitor scholarships were announced by the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation (IEF). Founded in 1984 by Joan Johnson and George Lukemire, the IEF has awarded nearly one quarter of $1 million in scholarships to date.
IHSA student riders in need of tuition funds are urged to apply. Coaches are also encouraged to nominate their students for scholarships and awards. There is a range of scholarships and awards with various qualifications. Information and application forms may be found at IHSAinc.com.
The Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation (IEF) Scholarship is open to IHSA undergraduate members and non-members. An application can be found on the IHSA website. Scholarship winners will be announced at the 2018 National Championship Horse Show and scholarship awards will be mailed to the recipient following the announcement. IHSA member and non-member applicants must submit completed applications with all required materials by Feb. 23. In 2017, 17 applicants were awarded IEF scholarships. For more information contact Lisa Bailey at (203) 337-6477 or IEFapplication@gmail.com. Deadline: To IEF by Feb. 23 to be postmarked no later than Feb. 22.
The Jack Fritz Memorial Award is a national scholarship named in honor of the legendary horseman and scholar Jack Fritz who co-founded the IHSA while a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University with then-student, Robert Cacchione. Fritz played a key role in nearly every aspect of the equestrian world from founding organizations to governing and officiating. The Chronicle of the Horse listed him as one of the top 50 most influential people in this century.
Fritz was an integral part of the United States Equestrian Team for nearly three decades, serving as a member of the USET board of directors since the early 1960's and an officer since 1974. Fritz helped create the three-discipline North American Young Riders Championships (now the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships).
Fritz was a technical delegate for dressage and eventing for 25 years and dressage judge for over 20. He was a founder of numerous equestrian organizations including the United States Combined Training Association (now the United States Eventing Association), whose foundation he chaired in 1959, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) whose foundation he chaired in 1973.
A sustaining member of the United States Pony Club (USPC) since 1955, he was elected president of USPC in 1981 and served as its chairman from 1988-1990. Fritz was honored with the US Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000, Horseman of the Year in 1968 by the New Jersey Professional Horseman's Association and again in 1969 by the New Jersey Horse Council. In 1978, he won the prestigious Wofford Trophy, awarded annually by the USCTA (now USEA) to a non-riding member who has done the most to further the sport of eventing. He was inducted into the USEA's Hall of Fame in 1999. Fritz was a published author of books on horse sports. For more information contact Lisa Bailey at (203) 337-6477 or IEFapplication@gmail.com. Deadline: To IEF by Feb. 23 to be postmarked no later than Feb. 22.
The Emily Jane Hilscher Memorial Award was created in memory of Hilscher, a 19-year-old freshman studying veterinary science, who was among the victims of the rampage at Virginia Tech in 2007. From Woodville, Virginia she was a horsewoman, animal lover, enthusiastic cook and imaginative artisan. Hilscher was described as wise beyond her years and insisted on fairness in everything. She had a passion for horses, and in the fall of 2006, she began what, for her, was to be an eight-year journey at Virginia Tech that would have culminated in her becoming an equine veterinarian and then working in an equine practice. She was a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and successfully competed in her first show at Virginia Intermont College on Feb. 12, 2007. She was scheduled to compete in her second show on April 21. The sponsorship is open to students in Zone 4, Region 5. Deadline: To IEF by Feb. 23 and postmarked no later than Feb. 22.
The Bob Anthony Memorial Scholarship was established in honor of Bob Anthony, a legendary horseman and NRHA Hall of Fame inductee. Anthony was a competitor, trainer, and judge who won six NRHA World Championships. Coaches should nominate a rider from their team. The student must be a full-time undergraduate IHSA member in good standing, compete in Open Reining throughout the year and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship winner will be announced at the 2018 IHSA National Championship Show. Submit nominations to Megan D. Taylor,megandtaylor310@gmail.com. Nominations and required materials must be submitted by email to Megan Taylor by Feb. 22.
Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship The IEF invites coaches to nominate a rider from their team in honor of the late Jon Conyers. 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; be a full-time IHSA undergraduate member in good standing; display a passion for horses, strive for excellence and demonstrate financial need. The winner is selected by the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship Committee. The recipient’s name will be announced at the 2018 IHSA National Championship Show.
Conyers competed as an undergraduate IHSA rider, instructed and coached for numerous college programs; served as a member of the IHSA board of directors for many years in a variety of capacities, including as a regional president, zone chairperson, director of alumni, director-at-large and National Horse Show manager. Deadline: Nominations by email to Megan Taylor by Feb. 21. megandtaylor310@gmail.com .
Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge is sponsored by EQUUS. It is a free online test covering non-discipline-specific, general horsemanship topics and is open to all IHSA undergraduate members. The timed test consists of 50 questions from the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Study Guide.
The test will be available online for two weeks only, from Monday, Feb. 19, at 6 a.m. EST through Monday, March 5, at 6 p.m. EST. It will be accessible on the IHSA website, by logging onto your personal IHSA membership account. Click on the Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge link and follow the instructions. Scores will be emailed at the conclusion of the test. The test may only be taken once.
The participants with the top-two scores from each Zone are invited to compete in a practicum phase at the 2018 IHSA Nationals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The top-10 scorers win scholarships. All participants that complete the test receive a digital subscription to EQUUS magazine.
Teresa L. McDonald taught at Virginia Tech and was an active IHSA board member for many years. McDonald was a founder of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association. She was known for her sense of diplomacy and nicknamed “Madeline Albright.” Test available online Feb 19 - March 5.
IHSA Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Awards recognize seniors who have earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. To be considered, the applicant must have been on an intercollegiate riding team for three full years, if they attended a four-year college or university, and two full years if they attended a two-year institution. Recipients of this award will be named in the 2018 IHSA National Horse Show program and receive a certificate of recognition for their achievement. For questions regarding the Senior Awards, contact CJ Law at cjlaw@mtholyoke.edu. Materials and transcripts must be mailed and postmarked on or before March 30.
IHSA Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Essay Award has the same requirements as the Senior Athletic Achievement Award and in addition, the applicant must submit a 500-word essay about how the intercollegiate experience and academic achievement have prepared them for a future career. The applicant is required to agree in writing to allow their essay to be published. For questions regarding the Senior Awards, contact CJ Law at cjlaw@mtholyoke.edu. Materials and transcripts must be mailed and postmarked on or before March 30.
The IHSA National All-Academic Award recognizes academic achievement for an IHSA undergraduate or alumni member based on their fall 2017 semester grades. The student must have competed in at least one IHSA horse 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 each recipient’s name and institution are published in the National Horse Show program. Coaches are responsible for filling out and submitting the All-Academic scholarship form. Contact Cricket Morris with any questions at csmorris@averett.edu. The All-Academic reporting form is found on IHSAinc.com and must be postmarked no later than March 16.
For more information about scholarships go to IHSAinc.com.