The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2020 Karen Skvarla Fund Grant for Young Professionals has been awarded Eleanor Millerschin of Rochester Hills, Michigan. She plans to use the $1,000 grant to train with Lauren Sprieser.
Eleanor, a member of Midwest Dressage Association, has been a professional instructor for three years and teaches beginners up to 2nd Level, including students at a local hunter/jumper barn where she teaches the fundamentals of dressage. In 2018, Eleanor and her horse, Galassia, were MDA’s year-end champions in the open division for Training and First Levels. In 2019, they were the 2nd Level champions. Additionally, Eleanor was honored with MDA’s 2019 Jean Brown Memorial Award in recognition of her strong work ethic, sportsmanship, and volunteer work.
Eleanor shared, "I am so grateful to be receiving the Karen Skvarla Fund grant and continuing my riding education with Lauren Sprieser throughout 2020. This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the support of The Dressage Foundation. Thank you to the donors and TDF for giving me, and many other equestrians, the opportunity to pursue learning opportunities we wouldn’t be able to participate in otherwise. With this grant, I look forward to improving myself and using what I learn in my training to help other horses and riders."
The purpose of the Karen Skvarla Fund is to provide grants enabling dressage professionals to pursue training or educational opportunities. Grant applicants should be in the beginning stages of their dressage careers as instructors and/or trainers. The Karen Skvarla Fund Grant selection committee will especially look for applicants who are eager to grow and improve, and who are fair and respectful to both students and horses.
The Karen Skvarla Fund for Young Professionals awards one annual $1,000 grant, with applications due on or before February 15th of each year. The application can be found here.
For more information about the Karen Skvarla Fund or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585, by email at jenny@dressagefoundation.org, or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
