GEAR Announces 2022 Scholarship Recipients
When several northeastern regional ApHC clubs decided to try to bring the GEAR show back to life a few years ago, one of the goals was to make the show a fun event for its exhibitors. Another goal was to raise enough money to provide scholarships to the youth and young non-pro exhibitors that are going to school.
The scholarships are available to anyone who is attending college, trade school, etc. They must be an ApHC member and they must show at the GEAR show. The application includes an essay on the meaning of the Appaloosa horse in their lives and questions as to how they can promote the vision of the GEAR consortium.
Last weekend, GEAR awarded its first scholarships to 6 worthy young ladies.
Carly Studt
Carly is a senior honors student at Pope John High School. She will be graduating with a 4.1 GPA and plans to attend Rutgers University in the fall as an Engineering major. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the German Language National Honor Society.
Carly has been an active 4-H competitor and representative whose showing goal was to move up from 4-H to showing at Appaloosa Regional shows. She started to show at ApHC regional shows in 2020 was Top Ten in the Nation in Youth Ranch Rail Pleasure, Novice Western Showmanship and Novice Western horsemanship. In 2021 she achieved her Youth Achievement Roll as well as an ROM in Youth Ranch Rail Pleasure. She was also Top Ten in the Nation in Showmanship 16-18 and Novice Western Showmanship.
Carly believes that her experiences riding and showing Appaloosas has been positively correlated with her academic success. Her involvement in horses has taught her a lot about setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals as well as the value of hard work both in school and at the barn.
Elizabeth Horn
Elizabeth is a Graduate Student at Rowan University in the Writing program. She hopes to work in higher education as a professor teaching composition and writing. She also hopes to continue her graduate work and eventually obtain her Ph.D. in English. At Rowan University, Elizabeth has been on the Dean’s List for the Spring and Fall semester and was on the Dean’s list all four of her years of undergraduate work at Moravian University. She is also a member of the English Honor Society and the History Honor Society.
In addition to her academic success, Elizabeth has been a consistent winner at ApHC shows. She has 20 World, National and Reserve Championships under her belt competing from 2012 to 2019. She was the Reserve High Point 16-18 rider at the Youth World Show and has been named the High Point Equitation exhibitor at the Youth World Show three times.
Elizabeth stated that her experience with Appaloosas has been a defining factor in most of her life and it has tested her determination, compassion and patience. She always comes out a better person in the end. Elizabeth’s passion for education is equal to her passion for riding and she hopes to continue to both educate young minds and encourage young riders.
Chloe Sullivan
Chloe is a double major in Special Education and Early Childhood Education at Bloomsburg University. Her professional goals are inspired by her brother Quinn who has a genetic disorder. As a child, she always wanted to help him, and she translated this into her desire to pursue education. Chloe graduates next year and hopes to work as a high school teacher specializing in life skills. At Bloomsburg, Chloe is the President and Western Captain of the IHSA equestrian team as well as a peer mentor and community buddy. She does all of this while maintaining a 3.99 GPA.
As a youth rider, Chloe was involved in her local 4-H as well as ApHC events. She has won the James Halderman scholarship and won the Berks County PA 4H outstanding member aware five times. She is a 5-time PA State 4-H Show Champion and two-time Reserve Champion. Most recently Chloe was the Reserve National Champion in Level II Ranch Riding at the IHSA National Show. Her achievements in ApHC events are outstanding as well. She has shown to multiple top 5 and to 10 placings at the Youth World show and has been top ten in the Nation in several events for the past 5 years.
Chloe was raised with Appaloosa horses and says that there are two things in this world that make her feel fulfilled and truly happy. Those two things are horses and teaching individuals with special needs.
Alayna Rosynek
Alayna is a graduating senior this year who plans to attend Moravian University in the fall to major in Environmental Science. Her goal is to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and possibly become a State Game Warden. She is a High Honor Roll Student at Nazareth Area High School.
Alayna is a relative newcomer to the Appaloosa family. She has been a member of her local 4-H club and Poly Club for 11 years. She has also shown Hunters to top ten placings at the Colonial Classic. She has shown Appaloosas to a Reserve Championship in Yearling and 2-year-old in hand trail at the PA State Junior 4H Championships. This year is her first year showing at GEAR in halter.
Being new to the Appaloosa breed, Alayna has found Appaloosas to be versatile, adaptable, loyal, patient and much more. She is grateful for her exposure to the breed and ability to work with Appaloosas and to learn from those in the Appaloosa family.
Katherine Hochstuhl
Katherine studies communications at Sussex County Community College. She plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications and eventually obtain a master’s degree in Sports Communication.
Katherine has been an active member of her 4-H group and the Appaloosa community for a number of years. She has earned numerous year end High Point in the Nation Awards in Youth and Non-Pro Classes. She is also an active volunteer at horse shows and can frequently be seen helping others.
Chloe Meyers
Choe recently graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Civil Engineering. She has a passion for designing bridges, roads and dams to ensure public safety. She recently competed in a National Steel Bridge competition and has been hired as an engineer at French & Parrello Associates.
Chloe has been a long time competitor with the Appaloosa Horse Club. She started showing at the age of 8 and continues to compete today. She has achieved her Appaloosa Youth Achievement Roll Award, Appaloosa Youth Achievement Award, Youth Achievement Champion and her Appaloosa Youth Superior Achievement Champion. She has won many Youth World and National Top Ten Placings and was Reserve High Point Youth four times.
Outside of the Appaloosa arena, Chloe was a member of the National High School Rodeo Association of New Jersey and was the high point pole bending rider for two years. She rode for the Lafayette IHSA team and was nominated for the region sportsmanship award.
