2019: Lucile Vigouroux
By Christine Brune, May 30, 2019
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Centenary University
MAJOR: B.S. in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Science
CONFERENCE WON THE AWARD: High Desert Media Roundup, Albuquerque, New Mexico
CURRENT POSITION: Pursuing a master’s degree in Equine Performance, Health, and Welfare at Nottingham Trent University in England
2018: Emily Holowczak
By Christine Brune, June 15, 2018
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Mount Holyoke College
MAJOR: Creative Writing, Magazine Writing, English Literature
CONFERENCE SHE WON AWARD: The Hunt for Excellence, Hunt Valley, Maryland
CAREER GOAL: Equine Journalism, currently freelancing for Equestrian Living and Practical Horseman
2017: Kaycie Timm
By Christine Brune, June 15, 2017
COLLEGE ATTENDING: West Texas A&M University
MAJOR: Agricultural Media & Communication with a minor in English
CONFERENCE SHE WON AWARD: Saddle Up for Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
2016: Ema Klugman
By Christine Brune, June 17, 2016
COLLEGE ATTENDING: Duke University
MAJOR: English
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: May the Horse Be with You, Orlando, Florida
2015: Victoria “Dixie” Crowe
By Christine Brune, June 19, 2015
COLLEGE ATTENDING: Colorado State University
MAJORS: Equine Science, Journalism & Media Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: Tally-Ho at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas
2014: Catie Staszak
By Christine Brune, June 20, 2014
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Miami
MAJOR: Communication
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Gallop n’ Grits Seminar, Charleston, South Carolina
CURRENT POSITION: TV Team at ESPN and TV Host and Commentator at Shownet
2013: April Leonard
By Christine Brune, June 21, 2013
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Cazenovia College, New York
MAJOR: Equine Business Management
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Meet at the Peak Seminar, Colorado Springs, Colorado
CURRENT POSITION: Staff Writer at JRPR, an equestrian public relations company in Wellington, Florida
2012: Dani Moritz-Long
By Christine Brune, June 1, 2012
COLLEGE ATTENDED: William Woods University, Missouri
MAJOR: Communications Journalism & Public Relations and Equine General Studies (Equine Media)
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Ride Into History Seminar, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
CURRENT POSITION: Works for Disney Vacation Club and JRPR. Lives in Orlando, Florida with husband, Alex.
2011: Stephanie Smolek
By Christine Brune, June 17, 2011
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
MAJOR: Agricultural Journalism and Animal Science
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Hoofprints in the Sand Seminar, San Diego, California
2010: Hailey Elin Harroun
By Christine Brune, June 18, 2010
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Oklahoma State University
MAJOR: Double major of Pre-Veterinary Animal Science and Agricultural Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP 40th Anniversary Seminar, Lexington, Kentucky
CURRENT POSITION: After graduating from Oklahoma State in May 2010, Hailey attended veterinary school at Colorado State University and graduated in 2014. She is a Captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.
2009: Erica Larson Spradling
By Christine Brune, June 20, 2009
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Michigan State University
MAJOR: Journalism with external specialty in Equine Science
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Free Rein in the Big Easy Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana
CURRENT POSITION: News Editor, The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. She is married to Adam Spradling and lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently, Erica competes in three-day eventing with her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Dorado.
2008: Bana Varnon Jobe
By Christine Brune, June 20, 2008
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Texas at Austin
MAJOR: Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Break from the Gate Seminar, Saratoga Springs, New York
2007: Nicole Lanphear
By Christine Brune, June 22, 2007
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Western Washington University
MAJOR: Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Fiesta Del Caballo Seminar, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2006: Nikki Hupman Richardson
By Christine Brune, June 20, 2006
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Oklahoma State University
MAJOR: Agricultural Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP It’s A Horse World After All Seminar, Orlando, Florida
2005: Jessica Eissfeldt
By Christine Brune, June 10, 2005
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Oklahoma State University
MAJOR: English and Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP North By Northwest Seminar, Seattle, Washington
2004: Melissa Dymock
By Christine Brune, June 11, 2004
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Utah
MAJOR: Double majors in Print Journalism and Animal Science
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Red, White & Bluegrass Seminar in Lexington, Kentucky
2003: Jessica Bieber Hein
By Christine Brune, June 20, 2003
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Texas Tech University
MAJOR: Agricultural Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Hunt Country Seminar in Hunt Valley, Maryland
CURRENT POSITION: Director of Publications, American Paint Horse Association, and Editor, Paint Horse Journal, Chrome, and Flash
2002: Caraneen Smith
By Christine Brune, June 21, 2002
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Boston College
MAJOR: Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Catch The Spirit Seminar, Park City, Utah
CURRENT POSITION: Owner and developer of BigEq.com.
2001: Maggie Martin Malson
By Christine Brune, June 22, 2001
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Kansas State University
MAJOR: Double majors in Journalism and Agricultural Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Golden Opportunity Seminar, San Mateo, California
CURRENT POSITION: Owner of Maggie Malson Photography and Publisher/Editor at Idaho Cattle Association. Maggie lives in Parma, Idaho, with husband Josh and four children.
2000: Michelle Berg Anderson
By Christine Brune, May 19, 2000
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Washington State University
MAJOR: Mass Communications with an emphasis in Print Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP T2K Seminar, Irving, Texas
CURRENT POSITION: Digital Managing Editor, TheHorse.com. A lifelong horse owner, Michelle currently competes in dressage and enjoys trail riding. She and her husband, Seth, live in Bend, Oregon.
1999: Laura Denissen
By Christine Brune, May 21, 1999
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
MAJOR: Journalism with Public Relations emphasis
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Music City Seminar, Nashville, Tennessee
1999: Summer Best
By Christine Brune, May 19, 1999
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Florida
MAJOR: Magazine Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Music City Seminar, Nashville, Tennessee
CURRENT POSITION: Summer lives in Ocala, Florida and graduated with her master’s in mass communication from the UF College of Journalism and Communication in December 2014.
1998: Stephanie Lynn Church
By Christine Brune, June 26, 1998
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Averett College
MAJOR: Equestrian Studies and Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Seminar Del Sol Seminar, San Diego, California
CURRENT POSITION: Editor-in-Chief of The Horse. She has worked in six positions at the magazine since 1999. Her equine background is in eventing, and she enjoys photography, cooking, cycling, swimming, and traveling in her free time. Stephanie currently serves as the 2014-2015 AHP President. Stephanie is a strong believer in the student award program and has two other past student award winners on her team.
1997: Angie Welch Moore
By Christine Brune, May 30, 1997
COLLEGE ATTENDED: West Texas A&M University
MAJOR: Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Vail Valley Seminar, Vail, Colorado
CURRENT POSITION: 8th Grade Math Teacher and Owner/Manager of CBT Productions. Her current interest includes western shooting horse competitions. She lives in Canyon, Texas with her husband, Brant.
1996: Laura Duffin
By Christine Brune, June 21, 1996
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Texas A&M University
MAJOR: Agricultural Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP A Capitol Seminar, Reston, Virginia
1995: Molly Nicodemus
By Christine Brune, June 15, 1995
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Southwest Missouri State University
MAJOR: Agricultural Communications
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Mountain Seminar, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
1994: Jennifer Ruth Denison
By Christine Brune, June 17, 1994
COLLEGE ATTENDED: Colorado State University
MAJOR: Journalism and Equine Science
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Horse Lovers Seminar, Lexington, Kentucky
CURRENT POSITION: Senior Editor, Western Horseman Magazine, Lives in Woodland Park, Colorado
1993: Carol Nelson
By Christine Brune, June 18, 1993
COLLEGE ATTENDED: University of Wisconsin-Madison
MAJOR: Animal Science and Ag Journalism
SEMINAR SHE WON AWARD: AHP Southwestern Seminar, Santa Fe, New Mexico