©Voice, August 2006

Ever aware of the importance of youth to the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and the need to encourage and support the next generation of leaders, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association^SM (TWHBEA^SM) allocates funds each year for undergraduate and graduate scholarships. These scholarships financially assist qualified TWHBEA^SM members with expenses related to higher education. The funds may be used at the junior college, college, university, or trade school of the recipient’s choice. TWHBEA^SM scholarships are awarded based on academics, extracurricular and equine activities, and financial need.

This year’s applicants were truly impressive. Many were ranked at the top of their classes and all had experienced high levels of extracurricular and equine involvement. With these young people at the helm, the future of our breed and our Association will indeed be bright.

Undergraduate Recipients

Whitney Barham
A native of Senatobia, Mississippi, Whitney Barham is the 20-year-old daughter of Lynn and Debbie Barham. She graduated from Magnolia Heights School in 2004 with a 4.0 GPA and currently attends Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where she is carrying a 3.67 GPA.
Whitney is majoring in Chemistry/Biochemistry and is interested in pursuing a career in research and possibly moving on to medical school.
As a student at Magnolia Heights she was a member of the National Honor Society, Interact, and the cheerleading squad. She was her class Valedictorian and she received the Star Student award. Her classmates voted her Homecoming Queen, Sparkling Senior, and Most Likely to Succeed. Outside of school she was active in her church’s youth group, Angel Tree Ministry, and MYHOP.

Since enrolling at Rhodes College she has made both the Dean’s List and the President’s List. She is a member of the Health Professional’s Society and a volunteer at the Regional Medical Center NICU. She is also a member of the Rhodes Admissions Representative Organization, Greek Fellowship, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and the cheerleading squad.
Whitney has been around horses her entire life. She started showing Tennessee Walking Horses in 1998 and she has participated in TWHBEA’s art, photography, and essay contests. She has also competed in the judging contest during TWHBEA’s Youth Day at the 2002 Celebration.

Nicole Hirsekorn
Nicole Hirsekorn of Leduc, Alberta Canada, is the 17-year-old daughter of Randall and Sandra Hirsekorn. Ranked 13th in her class at Leduc Composite High School, she plans on attending Olds College in Olds, Alberta, where she will enroll in the Breeding Management Course. Her goal is to devote her life to breeding, training, and promoting Tennessee Walking Horses.

Nicole’s academic achievements include multiple Student of the Year awards and multiple Standard of Excellence awards. She has received top honors every year since grade one. A talented writer, she was the recipient of the Certificate of Merit for the Scholastic Challenge Writing Contest and she had a short story published in the Poetry Institute of Canada’s Annual Short Story Anthology. She also wrote an essay that won several awards in the Remembrance Day Essay Contest sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion.

A devoted horsewoman, Nicole is active with the Wild Rose Walking Horse Club, Alberta Walking Horse Association, Tennessee Walking Horse Association of Western Canada, Clearwater Valley Pony Club, Beaumont Agriculture Society, and TWHBEA^SM. This TWHBEA^SM Youth Ambassador has two Tennessee Walking Horses, Rose’s Merry Spirit and Melting Point.
Both are enrolled in TWHBEA’s Versatility Program and both are on their way to achieving Youth Superior Versatility Championships. Also, Nicole has recently signed up for the Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association’s (TWHYA^SM) High Point and Ride with Pride Programs.

Mattie Reynolds
The 17-year-old daughter of Dennis and Holly Reynolds of Canby, Oregon, Mattie currently attends Canby High School where she sports a 3.75 GPA. Her short list of preferred universities includes the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University. She is considering pursuing a career in medical or biological research and is also interested in anthropology and archaeology.

A member of the National Honor Society, Mattie has made the Canby High honor roll every year. She is the Vice President of the Canby High School Environmental Awareness Club and a member of the Canby High Equestrian Team. She has lettered in both academics and the equestrian team. She had the honor of attending the Green Schools Summit in Eugene, Oregon, and she has appeared in two high school musicals – Singin’ In The Rain and Kiss Me Kate.

A lifelong walking horse enthusiast, Mattie is a youth representative for the Tennessee Walking Horse Exhibitors’ Association of Oregon and a representative on the Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association board. She started showing walking horses when she was eight and in 1999 she placed third in equitation at the Celebration. She has completed two Youth Superior Versatility Championships, one with Pride’s Lady Holiday and one with JFK’s Lady. She has also earned multiple Versatility High Point awards. In 2005, Mattie had the honor of representing TWHBEA^SM at Equitana in Essen, Germany. That same year she attended the National Youth Leadership Conference as a part of TWHYA^SM. She is a TWHBEA^SM Youth Ambassador and she has competed several times in the TWHBEA^SM art and photography contests.

Catherine Rivard
From Arlington, Minnesota, Catherine Rivard is the 16-year-old daughter of Curt and Jill Rivard. She is home educated and carries a 4.0 GPA. She is also currently attending Northwestern College through their Distance Education Program. Catherine plans on applying to several Midwestern colleges and is currently leaning towards continuing at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is interested in the field of equine publications.

An accomplished musician, Catherine is second chair flute for the Crow River Arts Youth Orchestra and first chair piccolo for her local community band. She is also a member of Sibley Area Scholars at Home, SWAT, Crow River Arts Society, and Lake County Pastel Society. She has won numerous national, state, and local art, photography, writing, speech, and music awards including seven top three placings in TWHBEA’s art, photo, and essay contests. In addition, she has served as a high school page for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Catherine has been riding Tennessee Walking Horses since she was seven and she began showing when she was nine. Extremely active in 4H, she has served as treasurer, reporter, committee member, and county ambassador for the 4H County Federation. Also, she has served as secretary, reporter, junior leader, and play director for her local 4H club. She was president and youth chairperson for 4H horse project, senior team captain for 4H horse bowl, and youth chairperson, dog agility trainer, and junior obedience trainer for 4H dog project.

Sarah Rowland
Sarah Rowland, a native of Winchester, Tennessee, is the 18-year-old daughter of Robert and Laura Rowland. She is a 2006 graduate of Tullahoma High School where she sported a 4.28 GPA. While she hasn’t settled on a major yet, she plans on attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
While attending Tullahoma High, Sarah was very active. She was a member of Student Council, Junior Class Vice President, and Vice President of the Tullahoma High School Student Body. She also held memberships in Business Professionals of America, the National Honor Society, Barrett-Browning Honorary English Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honorary Mathematics Society, Interact, the varsity tennis team, French club, the competition dance team, Tullahoma High School Singers, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Sarah also devotes a great deal of time to serving her community. She is a member of her church youth board, her church’s children’s board of directors, and her church’s youth group. She volunteers in her church’s nursery and for Meals on Wheels, Caring for Kids, the Salvation Army, and in the Cancer Walk A Thon.

The granddaughter of longtime walking horse enthusiast James Rowland, Sarah has been involved in Tennessee Walking Horses her entire life.

Heather Sanders
Heather Sanders is the 18-year-old daughter of Rickey and Lisa Sanders of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. She is a 2006 graduate of Edmonson County High School in Brownsville, Kentucky, and she plans on attending Western Kentucky University where she will major in Behavioral Science/Psychology.

A leader in her community, Heather has served as youth representative for the Edmonson County Cooperative Extension Service Council and as a delegate to the District 6 Horse Council. She has been an Edmonson County 4H Youth Council Representative and a teen counselor at the Dawson Springs 4H Camp. She is president of the Cave Rider 4H Horse Club and has also served as secretary, reporter, and treasurer for the club. She is a junior horse judging coach and the coordinator of the Edmonson County TWHBEA^SM Jamboree. She has been honored as the KY-ASAP mini-grant writer for the 4H Gold Award in 2005 and as the KY-ASAP mini-grant writer for the Community Education Youth Contest in 2006. She has also been the recipient of numerous national, state, and local 4H awards.

Heather is a member of the Union Light Missionary Baptist Church, Future Business Leaders of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Community Youth Council, FFA, TWHYA^SM, and the Walking Horse Owners Youth Association (WHOYA).

A walking horse enthusiast since age 10, Heather is a TWHBEA^SM Youth Ambassador. She is a TWHBEA^SM Versatility Program participant and a TWHYA^SM Youth Day participant. She is also a TWHBEA^SM photo and essay contest winner.

Graduate Recipients

Leslie Perry
A resident of Morehead, Kentucky, Leslie Perry has recently been accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Kentucky. Upon completion of the program she will become a licensed Physical Therapist with special training in Hippotherapy. Leslie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Horsemanship and a Master of Arts degree in Adult and Higher Education, both from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. She is currently enrolled in the pre-medical curriculum at Morehead State.

In college, Leslie was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Psi Chi Club, the Morehead State University Intercollegiate Show Team, and the Morehead State University Equestrian Club. In 2005 she was a candidate of Morehead State University’s staff congress.

Outside of school, Leslie has been involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the American Heart Association. She has been a 4H club president, vice president, and secretary. She is a two-time Equitation World Grand Champion, a five-time Equitation World Champion, and a two-time Equitation Reserve World Champion. She has served as an assistant director for the United States Equestrian Federation and as a director and vice president for TWHBEA^SM. She has penned articles for Voice™ Magazine and Equestrian Magazine, and she is the author of a showmanship handbook. Leslie is a licensed horse show judge, show manager, and much sought after clinician.

Tracy Sturgill-Wright, DVM
Tracy Sturgill-Wright of Midway, Kentucky, currently attends the University of Kentucky as a Fort Dodge Animal Health Research Fellow in Equine Veterinary Medicine. Already a licensed veterinarian, her goal is to become a professor and researcher at a large university or college of veterinary science. Her primary research interests are the immunologic response of foals; immunologic response to infectious disease; and the immunologic response of the lung. Tracy earned her undergraduate degree at Morehead State University in 1991. She earned her DVM at The Ohio State University in 1995 and from 1995 to 2003 she ran her own successful veterinary practice.

Tracy is the author or co-author of numerous professional publications and presentations focusing on equine immunology. Her honors include an American Association of Veterinary Immunologists Junior Scientist Travel Stipend in 2004, the A.G. Madden/Cincinnati Veterinary Medical Association Scholarship in 1994, a 1993 TWHBEA^SM Scholarship, and The Ohio State University Veterinary Medicine Scholarship in 1991.

Tracy has held memberships in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, TWHBEA^SM, and Midway Women’s Club. She has been a 4H advisor and a career day presenter at several schools. Very active in the walking horse industry in the 1980s and 1990s, she is currently raising a Tennessee Walking Horse foal.