There is a very good reason that the American Paint Horse Foundation continually solicits money from APHA members and Paint Horse enthusiasts: scholarships. Educational assistance is the primary mission of the APHF.
Since its inception, and through the 2014-2015 scholastic year, the foundation has issued a total of 812 scholarships worth $810,000 to 305 students, helping them realize their dreams of becoming veterinarians, engineers, agriculturists, educators and more.
Each year, high school seniors apply for one of now 54 $1,000 scholarships. As long as the students meet the criteria and apply, the scholarship recipients can benefit from the APHF scholarship program for up to eight semesters for a total of $4,000.
These scholarships are the result of academic endowments that have been set up over the past 30 years. Some are memorial scholarships and others are honorariums, but more than half have been set up by regional Paint Horse clubs.
The Jason Sheriff Memorial Endowment was completed in 2014, and will start issuing a scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year. The Cross Timbers Paint Horse Club made a sizable donation to increase the Dr. Bill Jackson/Cross Timbers Paint Horse Club endowment to $25,000 and to complete the second Dr. Bill Jackson Memorial Endowment. The second endowment will issue its first scholarship for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Nicole Jennings, pictured at right, is the current recipient of the Dr. Bill Jackson/Cross Timbers Paint Horse Club scholarship. She is from Swartz Creek, Michigan, and attends the University of Findlay in Ohio, where she is double-majoring in Pre Law and Political Science with a minor in Equine Business.
The scholarship application deadline was March 1, and 17 applications have been processed for approximately 11 new scholarships. The applications will be sent to the APHf Scholarship Review Committee at the end of March and scholarships will be determined by mid-June. Application information can be found at apha.com/foundation/scholarship-application-info/academic-scholarships.
The APHF expects to renew more than 40 scholarships this year. Existing scholarship recipients must take the proper steps by May 1 to ensure their scholarships will be renewed for the next academic year—this includes an update on their educational plans and goals as well as transcripts for fall 2014 and spring 2015. A “B” average is required to maintain an existing scholarship.
Another way Paint Horse youth can receive scholarship money is through showing at the AjPHA Youth World Champion Show. For the past two years, each of 10 halter classes has paid out scholarship funds for first through sixth place. That program is being expanded to a select set of performance classes for the 2015 show. A minimum of $1,000 can be donated toward a specific class. Funds earned by exhibitors are kept in trust by the APHF until they graduate from high school; then, the funds are paid directly to the college, trade school or university that student attends. So far, $10,350 in scholarships have been activated by 10 youth exhibitors. It’s a wonderful incentive to return to and compete in the show each year. And over time, it can add up to big bucks for youth.
Want to help make a difference in the higher education of a young hard-working horseman or -woman who is passionate about Paint Horses? Then donate to our academic scholarship general fund or our World Show scholarship general fund. You can do it by check, money order or our easy on-line donation form at apha.com/foundation/aphf-donation-form. For more information, call APHF Director Laura Jesberg at (817) 222-6412 or by email at [email protected].
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.
About the APHF
The American Paint Horse Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and our Federal 501(c)(3) identification number is: 75-2699500. Your donation could be a potential tax deduction due to the Foundation’s non-profit status. Be sure and check with your tax professional.