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BITS & PIECES
2020 Scholarship Recipients
The Board of Directors and the Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce the Educational and Bill desBarres Industry scholarship recipients. We wish everyone the very best in their future endeavors!
Educational Scholarship JADA ARTOKIVI
Jada has been involved in the equestrian community for eight years, starting by volunteering with barn chores and assisting summer riding campers. As a young rider, she was a Pony Club member, gaining basic equine knowledge and currently participates in the Alberta Barrel Racing Association. Jada’s accomplishments include placing third in a 3D barrel race when it was only her second race; and her most proud accomplishment, gaining the courage to get back on the horse that had thrown her numerous times, making her more confident, patient and resilient as a rider. Her future plans are to obtain a certificate in equine dentistry, in hopes to start her own small business in floating horse’s teeth and to continue to be involved with animals on a daily basis.
Educational Scholarship RHEANN NAGEL
Since Rheann’s childhood, she has dreamed of becoming a large animal veterinarian. Currently accepted at Red Deer College in their pre-veterinarian program, she plans to continue her education at the University of Calgary in Veterinary Medicine. To further her development, she has spent six years show jumping, which has taught her valuable skills including the ability to work with her horse independently, use of safe bandage practices, and basic knowledge on the horse’s main systems. On top that, she has worked on a collaborative program between attending high school and Olds College called the Green Certificate in Equine Production Technician, completing both theoretical and practical testing with exceptional grades. Rheann volunteers at vet clinics around central Alberta to further her experience, and has volunteered at The Mane Event as a jump crew member during English jumping clinics. Her future plans involve purchasing her family farm, where she can build her own veterinary clinic practice.
Jennifer graduated in 2007 from the Olds College Equine Science Program. She has been involved exclusively and continuously in the Alberta equine industry for the past 10 years, working as a rider, a member of barn staff, and as an Equestrian Canada (EC) Certified Coach. She was awarded EC Coach of the Year in 2013, and recently attained the EC Coach Specialist Level, together with the Rider Level 10 Certificate. Volunteering has also been an integral part of her professional development, serving as a Board of Director on the student board for Olds College and as a board member for the Alberta Horse Trials Association. She also took great pleasure in volunteering for Pony Club, encouraging up-and-coming new riders. Jennifer had the opportunity to ride along for 50 hours with an equine veterinarian, and it became clear that a change in career to Animal Health Technology would satisfy her desire to understand and assist in equine sport medicine.
Brigitte’s riding journey started in 2013 with riding lessons at Whitemud Equine Learning Centre Association (WELCA), then transitioned to an eventing barn where she began competitively eventing in 2018 and hasn’t looked back! Eventing has been one of her biggest accomplishments, enjoying the thrill of galloping in an open field and jumping solid jumps. She has completed level four of the Equestrian Canada (EC) English Learn to Ride program with plans to finish the remaining levels in the near future. Brigitte has demonstrated her passion for equines through her countless volunteer hours with WELCA, where she is now a part-time employee while studying full-time at NAIT in the Animal Health Technology program. In the future, she hopes to become a registered veterinary technician, involved with the Thoroughbred racing industry or in an equine veterinary clinic. She also hopes to become more involved in the eventing community within the province, as it has provided an outlet for her to grow her confidence and passion in the industry.
The Educational and Bill desBarres scholarships are available each year to current members who are enrolled in/pursuing equine-related post-secondary education. For more information, please visit albertaequestrian.com/scholarships
