February 7, 2012, Vero Beach, FL: The PRO Junior Young Rider Training Level Scholarship Program returns with a few new faces for it's second year. The 2012 mentorship team consists of program founder Marcia Kulak of Scotia, NY; Will Faudree of Southern Pines, NC; Shannon Lilley of Gilroy, CA; and Amy Tryon of Duvall, WA.
Kulak, who spearheaded the effort to put together the PRO Junior Young Rider Training Level Scholarship Program, is a strong advocate of the role that experienced riders can play in mentoring the next generation of young riders: "At some stage in our lives, high performance riders have been mentored by someone who not only educated them as horsemen, but also challenged them to bring their riding up to a new level. It's very important to offer Juniors and Young Riders that same opportunity."
The focus of the PRO Junior Young Rider Training Level Scholarship Program is to spot upcoming talent based on set criteria. The goal of the program is to encourage Training level Junior and Young Riders to strive to become more competent earlier in their careers by offering them an attainable and very attractive goal with no financial burden. Ultimately, PRO would like it to help feed talent into the broader picture of future USET riders.
In 2011, four Junior Young riders were awarded the scholarship. Patience O'Neal and Natalie Kuhny were the West Coast scholarship winners. Patience will be training with Hawley Bennett-Awad in March, and Natalie will be working with Amy Tryon during the summer. Sarah Nelson and Jacqueline Larouche were awarded the scholarship for riders on the East Coast. Sarah will work with Marcia Kulak, and Jacqueline will train with Jan Byyny. Due to their school commitments, both girls elected to use their scholarship award weeks this summer.
"I am so proud to be a part of PRO's Junior Scholarship program," said Shannon Lilley. "As a judge last year, I was able to get to know so many Juniors from the West Coast that I wouldn't have otherwise. It allowed me to see where the level of riding and horsemanship is at the 'grass roots' level of our sport and, hopefully, give one of them an opportunity to further her education."
The program takes place at designated events on both the East and West Coasts. PRO professional members observe and score participating PRO Junior/Young riders in the training level divisions. The top two point-earning riders from the Eastern half of the country will each earn a scholarship award with Marcia Kulak or Will Faudree. Two top point-earning riders from the Western half of the country will each earn the same scholarship award with Shannon Lilley or Amy Tyron. The award includes a week of training and the boarding of both horse and rider at no cost to the scholarship awardees.
Detailed information about the PRO Junior Young Rider Training Level Scholarship Program can be found on the PRO website.
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