Jessica Bieber Hein: 2003 AHP Student Award Winner

Photo by Daniel K. Lew

Jessica Bieber of Lubbock, Texas, is the American Horse Publications 2003 Student Award Winner. She is a senior at Texas Tech University, where she majors in Agricultural Communications and has a 4.0 GPA. She is the daughter of Rick and Sharon Bieber of Ovilla, Texas.

The equine industry has been Jessica's passion for as long as she can remember. She has been involved since 1989 through horse ownership, competition, organizational memberships, and as an employee at three equine operations.

She chose to attend Texas Tech University because of its outstanding agricultural communications program. This summer, she is an editorial intern for AHP member, Carriage Driving World.

Upon graduation in May 2004, Jessica plans to enter the industry as a journalist for an equine magazine or breed association. She also plans to attain her judge's card from several breed associations and continue competing her horse in hunter/jumper and eventing trials.

Jessica was honored on Friday, June 20, 2003, at the Student Award 10th anniversary party held during the AHP Hunt Country Seminar in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The event was held in a 50s diner and called the AHP Doo Wop Hoof Hop. Poodle skirts, dungarees, rolled-up tees, bowling shirts, and saddle shoes were among the popular attire. Members of all ages danced and sang the night away to tunes from the fabulous fifties and munched on all the favorite calorie-laden food from that era.

Jessica joins an elite group of 11 talented young women who hold the Student Award title since 1993. A special commemorative sterling silver lapel pin was created to present to past, present and future Student Award winners.

As part of the evening's activities, former Student Award winners, Summer Best and Jennifer Denison, produced and narrated a presentation titled, "Who's That Girl," to provide an update on the past winners who are working in the horse industry.

After winning the AHP Student Award in 1994, Jennifer (Ruth) Denison interned at Horse & Rider and later worked for 6 ˝ years as Assistant Editor, Associate Editor and Senior Editor. She is currently Associate Editor of Western Horseman and Managing Editor of Equestrian Retailer. She and her husband, Robert, live in Woodland Park, Colorado, where they are remodeling their home and horse property.

"Winning the Student Award inspired me to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming an equine journalist," Jennifer says. "Today, the organization and members continue to motivate me to reach the next level in my career. I'm proud to be among such a talented group of peers."

Stephanie Lynn Church, the 1998 Student Award winner, is the News Editor at The Horse in Lexington, Kentucky. "There's something new every day, and I still get the 'buzz' from following breaking news stories," she says. "Working with veterinarians is a lot of fun, and I am getting more comfortable with 'translating' vetspeak into something that the horse owner can understand, but yet challenges them."

Summer Ann Best, the 1999 Student Award winner, is currently Communications and Marketing Director for Seminole Feed in Ocala, Florida. She is also the Editor of ec magazine, an equine health and nutrition magazine published by Seminole Feed. Previously she spent two years as field editor for The American Quarter Horse Journal and had interned with the Paint Horse Journal and NSBA Magazine.

"I credit AHP with nearly all my success in this industry," Summer says. "Everything…from my first internships, to my first job, to relationships I continue to build…is related somehow to AHP and its networking and educational opportunities. I'm sincerely grateful to belong to the organization, and I'm thrilled to have received my first big 'boost' from each of you."

Michelle Berg Anderson, the 2000 Student Award winner, is the Assistant Editor for the Appaloosa Journal, where she has been employed for four years and completed an earlier internship. She and her husband, Seth, bought a house last spring in Moscow, Idaho.

Maggie Martin Malson, the 2001 Student Award winner, is Editor and Publisher of the quarterly Line Rider Magazine and News Brief newsletter for the Idaho Cattle Association. She and her husband, Josh, live in Parma, Idaho, and are expecting their first child this fall.

"I feel as though I have achieved success both personally and professionally," says Maggie. "I'm very thankful for the opportunities I received at the internship at AQHA and for receiving the AHP Student Award…the experience has proved invaluable. I am very lucky to be involved in the equine and livestock publishing industries."

Caraneen Smith of Carlisle, Massachusetts, last year's winner and a recent graduate of Boston College, is the owner and developer of BigEq.com. "Attending the AHP Seminar, and learning about the equine publishing industry and meeting the people who make it happen was an eye-opening experience," she says.

The former winners summed up the success of the Student Award program in their 10-year report. 

• The AHP Student Award Program works! 

• The majority of recipients work successfully in the equine publishing industry. 

• AHP Student Award winners give back to the program, mentoring future equine publishing professionals and sharing what AHP has ingrained in them - even hiring interns through the program.

During the past decade, American Horse Publications has seen a steady growth in participation from students seeking careers in equine publishing. In 1993, AHP named its first Student Award winner. In 1998, the association offered a Student Membership category and developed the AHP Internship Handbook. In 2002, the AHP Student Mentoring Program was initiated. Today, Student membership is at its highest with 37 members for 2003.

To further gauge the success of these programs, you only have look at the staffs of AHP members. Through active pursuit of their careers, these individuals became involved in American Horse Publications through membership, internship or the Student Award, and made a place for themselves in our industry. Former student members like Teresa Jascob, Equine Resources International; Lisa Munniksma, USDF; Heidi Nyland, Horse & Rider; Christy West, The Horse, Andrea Caudill, AQHA, and Janna Krajci, American Miniature Horse Association, have earned positions within their chosen fields. Numerous college students have interned at AHP members through the AHP Internship Program.

For further information on the AHP Student Award or any of its student programs, contact: Chris Brune, American Horse Publications, 49 Spinnaker Circle, South Daytona, FL 32119; (386) 760-7743 or visit the AHP website at www.americanhorsepubs.org.