Jamie Sutton
Dear PCQHA,
Thank You very much for my scholarship, I was very excited to hear the news and it will be very useful. Cornell University has excellent programs in anthropology and archaeology, which are subjects I plan to study as a dual major. I will also study Italian, as a goal of mine is to do field work in Ancient Roman archaeology in Italy, as well as to go on to graduate studies in Near Eastern Archaeology and Social Anthropology. I believe that understanding past cultures helps us understand and value our societies today, which is important now that cultures are interacting all around the world.

I hope to be able to continue showing horses to some extent during my college years, and I will try out for Cornell’s equestrian team. In the same way that I have made good friends in the PCQHYA based on a shared passion for horses and showing, I know that I will find new horse-loving friends at Cornell - and perhaps I will be able to introduce some to showing American Quarter Horses!

Kristy Graham
Dear PCQHA,
I would like to extend a big “Thank you” to the organizations scholarship committee. I am very honored to have received the 2009 scholarship and my family is very grateful as well. I feel very privileged to be both an accomplished equestrian and scholar. One of the greatest accomplishments of my life was receiving a valuable education at Templeton High School and skipping a grade to graduate a year earlier. With such outstanding academics I was very fortunate to get accepted into many universities. Next fall I plan on attending University of California Santa Cruz as a Bioengineering major. At UCSC I plan on becoming a member of the equestrian team and taking supplement courses in agriculture. Ultimately, in the future I hope to improve the healthcare industry as a medical professional.

Ellie Parsons
Dear PCQHA,
I am currently attending California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. I am a first year Business Administration major with a concentration in Business Management. After I finish Cal Poly I will return to my hometown to possibly take the paramedic program offered there. My goal is to run my parents ambulance company, First Responder EMS. I plan on joining the Equestrian team here at Cal Poly and compete against other schools. Along with the equestrian team I am joining the Water Ski team, and want to become a committee member for Cal Poly’s Relay for Life. I would like to thank PCQHA for their generosity in awarding me with this scholarship, and for making my horse experience a memorable one. Also I would like to thank Jennifer Thompson, Randy and Shelly Wilson, and my family for their support and guidance throughout my horse show career. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Jordyn Dupray
Dear PCQHA
I would like to express my gratitude to the PCQHA Scholarship Committee for choosing me as a recipient of a 2009 PCQHYA Youth Educational Scholarship. During these difficult economic times there is a high level of competition for scholarships and I am honored to have been selected. I hope to make the organization proud as I start my new life in college. Thank You.
Today my personal goals range far beyond the show pen where they originated. I have learned to strive for success which has inspired me to pursue an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. The University offers one of the most prestigious journalism programs in the country and thus suits me as the perfect stepping stone to my career goal of becoming a journalist. I plan to graduate from the University of Oregon in four years and go on to pursue a Master’s degree in journalism elsewhere. My ultimate career goal is to be the editor of a major publication, preferably related to the equine industry. My ambitious goals do not come without a cost to match. Out of state tuition is nearly double that of what a California public university charges for residents yet, I take on this expense knowing that the end result will be worth it. My interest in the journalism world originated from years of reading the Quarter Horse Journal and the Pacific Coast Journal. I have always felt that journalists are a crucial part of the equine industry because they bring public attention and awareness to the sport we all put so much time and effort into. While showing horses has always taken up a large amount of my time I have managed to stay on top of my school work. I have maintained a 3.9 grade point average throughout high school while challenging myself with multiple advanced placement courses and acting as my school’s senior yearbook editor. As yearbook editor I have had to learn to lead my peers and create a healthy and productive work environment while still being a strong leader and putting my ideas into action. This practical training has given me an edge that I hope will set me apart from my peers.

Erin Schlegel

I would like to thank the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association for awarding me a renewal scholarship.
This year has brought about many experiences in developing my education in the animal science and equine science field. I am currently entering my 4th year at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and plan to graduate in four more quarters. With my degree, I hope to enter the equine field representing the nutrition or reproduction aspect of the industry. Within this next year, I plan to acquire an internship within this field of focus. I have been an active student within Animal Science program participating in many enterprises including the Quarter Horse Enterprise and the Cal Poly Equestrian Team while maintaining a 3.5 GPA.
I greatly enjoy my time at Cal Poly and thank the PCQHA again for awarding me a scholarship.