The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that two grants have been awarded from its George Williams Young Professional Fund. The recipients, Katja Waldron (CO) and Meghan Kelley (OH), will each receive $5,000 for continuing education opportunities that will enable them to provide high-quality instruction to their students.
The George Williams Young Professional Fund was established in 2018 by Williams’ friends and colleagues to honor his lifelong commitment to dressage. The Fund supports dressage professionals, aged 25-35, who are committed to the sport and have established businesses as instructors and trainers.
Katja Waldron is an FEI trainer and member of the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society (RMDS). She plans to use the grant funding to attend the USDF Instructor/Trainer Program teaching seminars and complete a Professional Development Assessment as she works toward becoming a USDF Certified Instructor. Through these opportunities, she hopes to further her education and bridge the gap between grassroots education and elite performance by sharing valuable knowledge with her students.
Photo by Una Schade Photography and Design
Katja said, "Receiving a grant from the George Williams Fund at The Dressage Foundation means the world to me at this stage in my career. As a newly established Grand Prix rider, this grant opens up incredible opportunities for my continued growth through classical training and the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program. I look forward to bringing this knowledge directly back to my students and horses that I train. Thank you to TDF and its donors for believing in young professionals and investing in the next generation of trainers!"
Meghan Kelley is a Grand Prix rider and a member of the Three Rivers Equestrian Association (TREA) and the Northern Ohio Dressage Association (NODA), where she serves on the board. She plans to use the grant funding to pursue her USDF Instructor/Trainer Certification and complete the final exam of the USDF ‘L’ Judge Program. Through these opportunities, she hopes to continue developing as a rider and trainer and to better serve her students, who range in age from 12 to 72.
Photo by Jessa Janes
Meghan said, “I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive a grant from The Dressage Foundation's George Williams Fund for Young Professionals. A sincere thank you to TDF and to the donors who make this opportunity possible. Receiving this award is both encouraging and inspiring, and I am truly thankful for your investment in my future. As someone who is passionate about teaching and committed to continuing my education, this award means so much to me. Thank you again for your generosity and for believing in young professionals who are committed to lifelong learning. I am honored to be a recipient of the George Williams Fund, and I look forward to carrying forward its mission throughout my career by sharing my knowledge, continuing to learn, and giving back to the sport that has given me so much.”
For more information about this Fund, contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, at (402) 434-8585 or sara@dressagefoundation.org. Applications are due June 1.
TDF welcomes donations to further support young professionals through the George Williams Fund. Gifts can be made online at www.dressagefoundation.org or by calling Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, at (402) 434-8585 or jenny@dressagefoundation.org. Donations by check can be mailed to TDF’s office at 1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68508.
The Dressage Foundation
The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to educating, supporting, and advancing the sport of dressage. The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the donations, and awards grants to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high-performance teams, nonprofit equestrian organizations, and more. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
