GEAR Awards Annual Youth Scholarships
At the June horse show, the Greater Eastern Appaloosa Regional Association, for the second time, awarded youth scholarships to five very deserving young Appaloosa Youth Competitors. Each scholarship recipient was awarded $750.00.
Let’s Meet the GEAR Scholarship Recipients
Alayna Rosynek
2023 marks the second year that Alayna was awarded a GEAR Scholarship. Alayna finished her first year at Moravian University with a 3.79 GPA and has decided that she would like to pursue a career in Wildlife Conservation. She is hoping to obtain an internship next summer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to help her move toward her goal of becoming a Game Warden.
In addition to attending school full-time Alayna works as barn help for Sport N Spots Appaloosas as well as working at a restaurant and a grocery store. She is also a member of the Moravian University Equestrian Team.
Alayna’s connection with Nicole Twiss of Sport N Spots Appaloosas has afforded her the opportunity to show several young horses in halter, hunter in hand and in hand trail. Last year she was 8th overall in the Yearling In Hand Trail and ended the year with the high point in the nation in Youth Most Colorful at Halter and Youth Hunter in Hand Geldings.
We wish Alayna the best of luck in the coming semester and are excited to help her move toward her goals.
Katherine Hochstuhl
Katherine is also a returning scholarship recipient. She is currently attending Bergen County Community College working towards a degree in Communications. Her educational goal is to pursue a career in Sports Marketing and Communications. She would love to work for a major league corporation.
In her application essay, Katherine stated that she has struggled to find her calling and determine her career path. She credits her Appaloosa, Allie, for helping her push towards her goals and setting in on her path forward. In addition to her schooling, Katherine works as barn help at Amy Wunderlich Performance Horses and as a server at the Taphouse in Wayne, NJ.
Last year, Katherine ended 2022 high point in the nation in Non-Pro Hunter in Hand Mares and Open Hunter in Hand mares.
Carly Studt
The final returning scholarship recipient is Carly Studt. Carly attends Rutgers University in New Jersey where she studies engineering. She plans to ultimately major in either civil or environmental engineering. Impressively, Carly has a 3.5 GPA in a very hard major.
Carly credits her years riding and showing with helping her learn to set goals and work hard to achieve them. She also believes that her involvement with Appaloosas has taught her good sportsmanship skills and that there is always room for us to grow and improve.
Emma Erickson
Emma is a first time GEAR scholarship recipient, having recently graduated high school. Emma has enrolled in King’s College Physician’s assistant program which is a 5-year BS/MS degree program. She plans to work in the fields of dermatology and surgery. In her final year of high school, Emma was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and the Science League. Throughout high school, Emma has also worked at Chick Fil A as a cashier.
Emma has been riding and showing for nine years. She received her first Appaloosa when she was 14 years old. She has shown both regionally as well as at the Youth World Show in the past two years.
Brooke Kuronya
Brooke is another first time GEAR scholarship recipient. She recently graduated from high school with a 3.9 GPA and plans to attend Northampton Community College for her first two years of college. She then hopes to transfer to another school with the ultimate goal of studying animal science.
In addition to her riding activities and school, Brooke works at the farm store of Dale Koehler and Sons Farm. She also helps with the care of the animals on the farm. In high school, Brooke was on the National Honor Society and participated in choir.
Brooke is a familiar name in the Appaloosa Youth Show arena. She has finished top 5 at the Youth World show 5 times and 14 times in the top ten. She has led the nation in events 7 times.
The GEAR scholarship committee was astounded by these amazing scholarship applicants. Each one presented with top academics, clear career goals and active involvement not only with the Appaloosa Horse club but also in other activities. We look forward to seeing each of these young people’s future success.
In order to be eligible for the 2024 GEAR scholarship, riders must be an ApHC member, complete the application AND show at the GEAR horse show in June.
