USHJA Announces 2022 Recipients of the $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education
Lexington, Ky.—August 03, 2022—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education as Erykah Glass, Brianna Hunt and Kelly Tehan.
The scholarship was designed to encourage further education among equestrians, and recipients are able to use the funding for college, trade or professional school. This year, the $25,000 scholarship will help three equestrians pursue their higher education goals.
Erykah Glass, 18, of Johns Creek, Georgia, is a recent graduate of Johns Creek High School and plans to study Business Marketing with a concentration in Data Analytics. She hopes to put her degree towards a better understanding of data science and how technology can improve Agriculture and barn operations.
"Receiving this scholarship is an honor and a blessing as it allows me to focus on what is important to me: my education,” said Glass. “The Hamel's generosity has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal and has inspired me to help others by giving back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to pay this forward by helping students achieve their goals just as you have helped me."
An incoming freshman at Delaware State University, Glass discovered her passion for the Hunter/Jumper sport at only six years old and has funded that passion by working at a local barn in a “Work to Ride” capacity. Her barn experience is what sparked an interest in Business Marketing and Data Analytics.
Brianna Hunt, 32, of Sacramento, California, has always dreamed of a career helping animals. Initially studying Animal Science at the University of California, she transferred to Art History due to health complications. After a successful surgery, she is now able to return to Penn Foster College in the Veterinary Technician program. Once completed, she plans to enter a graduate program studying Animal Sciences.
An avid life-long rider, Hunt’s passion for animal welfare flourished through medical issues with her horses–Sweetie, a roan quarter horse mare with short ligaments, and Jerry, a fancy junior hunter with blindness caused by uveitis. She hopes to use her education to give back to horses through research and medicine, following the quote said by Buck Brannaman, "Your horse is a mirror to your soul."
Hunt would like to dedicate this scholarship award to her trainer, Jan Humphrey, as the reason for her riding to the best of her ability, despite her medical setbacks. Her show horse, Czech Point, affectionally known as, Jubbie, can be seen above.
Kelly Tehan, 35, of Arlington, Virginia, plans to further her education through the MBA program at George Mason University. She plans to parlay her MBA and English Literature degree into a career in business development and business communications.
"I am so thrilled and honored to be a recipient of the Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education,” said Tehan. “This award has been a bright spot during a challenging time of my life, and I just can't thank Kristen and James Hamel enough for sponsoring this program with the USHJA. It means so much to me and helps reinforce my goal to keep looking forward by continuing my riding and bettering myself through education. I'd also like to thank my family, everyone at Highgarden Farm, and all my supporters near and far for all of their help, because getting to this point and receiving this award would never have been possible without them. With this scholarship and the wonderful team behind me, I am very excited to start my graduate school program this fall."
Tehan returns to higher education after a life circumstance put her educational and athletic goals on a temporary hold. She plans to continue moving on with achieving her riding and professional goals, following the motto "the sky is the limit."
The Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education is made possible by the generous support and donation from the Kristen and James Hamel Family Foundation. The USHJA awards up to $25,000 each year to one or more USHJA members to use for college, graduate, trade or professional school. Eligible candidates may apply for the Hamel Scholarship every year but may only be awarded the scholarship once. Applications for 2023 will open in January.
To learn more about the USHJA $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education, visit ushja.org/hamel.
Photos: Courtesy of Erykah Glass, Brianna Hunt, Kelly Tehan
