2009 AHP Student Award Contest
Erica Larson Named 2009 AHP Student Award Winner
Erica Larson was named the American Horse Publications 2009 Student Award Winner
on Friday, June 26, 2009, during the AHP Free Rein in The Big Easy Seminar in
New Orleans. AHP presented Erica with a $1,000 cash award, framed certificate
and commemorative lapel pin. Publishers Press, Inc., Shepherdsville, KY
presented her with an all expenses paid trip to one of their Two-Day Customer
Education Seminars held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Erica Larson attends Michigan State University majoring in Journalism with external specialty in Animal Science. She interned with the United States Eventing Association (USEA) and has continued to work with them while at college, having her articles and photography published in Eventing USA as well as on the USEA website. She is also a contributing journalist for Warmbloods Today and had a feature article published in their premier issue. She has received an offer from USEA to work for them after graduation and is thrilled about that proposition.
Horses have been in her blood since she was five-years-old, winning her first blue ribbon at age seven and acquiring her first horse at age ten. She plans to compete in USEA-sanctioned events, hoping to qualify for the Championships in September. Erica is an ARIA certified instructor and enjoys working with young horse lovers.
Her father, Keith Larson of Howell, Michigan, accompanied Erica on her trip to New Orleans.
In 2009, AHP expanded the Student Award Contest to include awarding up to three students with $750 travel awards to attend the AHP seminar in New Orleans. In addition to Erica, two other students, Laura Pepper and Jennifer Lynn Whittle, both attending the University of Kentucky, had an opportunity to meet equine publishing professionals and discuss career possibilities during the three days of educational sessions and related activities.
The Student Award Committee interviewed the three Travel Award Winners on Friday morning before reconvening to select the Student Award Winner. In the past, the task of selecting the winner was the sole responsibility of the committee chairman. This year’s chairman was Sandy Kucharski of The Sentinel. She reviewed the 14 applicants who were scored on the following criteria: academics, relevant experience, skills/abilities, presentation of materials, and career goals/assertiveness. The three students surfacing to the top of her list were Erica, Laura and Jennifer Lynn.
All Student Award Committee members reviewed the three Travel Award Winner applications prior to coming to New Orleans. Each student was scored on the initial criteria by each committee member prior to the interview. Announcing the winner, Sandy commented that the decision was very difficult as all three young women were very talented and deserving of a career in equine publishing.
The Mardi Gras theme of this year’s Student Award Party was Carnival du Cheval. Attendees adorned masks, beads and boas and enjoyed an evening of music, color and Cajun food. Welcoming the students to New Orleans was Molly the Pony, who has become a symbol for New Orleans itself. Molly was an equine refugee when Katrina hit southern Louisiana. Abandoned, rescued and then attacked by a pit bull terrier, the gray-speckled "POA" pony, almost died from a badly infected front leg. But Molly survived and her story is one of hope and the “good” that exists in the horse community.
In New Orleans, the Main Line is the "main section” or the members of the actual club that has the permit to parade. The parades consist of a larger element of fans and the curious following that section of members. Those fans, admirers and curious are the "second line" or part two of this planned street parade.
Molly the Pony entered the ballroom as the “Main Line” followed by her costumed AHP fans swirling their napkins above their heads to form the "Second Line." Soon all AHP members were up on their feet parading and dancing around the room behind Molly.
A silent auction to benefit the AHP Student Fund was held and a free seminar registration to the 2010 AHP Seminar in Lexington, Kentucky was raffled. Event sponsors for the evening were Pfizer Animal Health, AQHA publications and Freedom Health’s SUCCEED®.
High school seniors and undergraduate college students pursuing a career in equine publishing are encouraged to compete for the 2010 AHP Student Travel Awards and Student Award.
American Horse Publications offers students interested in pursuing a career in equine publishing with the opportunity to participate in its association programs, including Student Membership, the Student Award Contest, the AHP Internship Program and the AHP Mentoring Program.