WDCTA State Scholarships

The purpose of the WDCTA State Scholarship Program is to provide educational opportunities to members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to and/or excellence in the sport, as well as service and ambassadorship within WDCTA.

Overview

The WDCTA Scholarship is intended to provide funding support for WDCTA members who are working to sharpen their riding skills, their teaching skills and/or to better their understanding of of the sport. Educational programs may have either a dressage or eventing focus. Annually, six grants of $250 maximum each will be offered to WDCTA members for concentrated work with a trainer of their choice within one(1) year of receiving the grant award. Two (2) grants will be awarded in each of the following categories:

• Adult Amateur
• Professional
• Junior/Young Rider (members who are up to and including 21 years of age)

The grant is meant for a WDCTA member to have the opportunity to be in a training situation that is not readily available during the course of his/her daily pattern. Grant monies must be used to participate in educational programs that include, but are not limited to: seminars, workshops, clinics and training programs offered by recognized or certified instructors.

Application Eligibility

Any WDCTA member who has been a member for at least two full membership years and completed at least 10 hours of volunteer service is eligible for the scholarship. Considerations to be weighed in awarding the scholarship include:

• Previous riding experience
• Past and current contributions to WDCTA

No persons will be ineligible to receive a scholarship based on board or committee memberships; however they must abstain from voting during any of the application process.

Only one scholarship per person per year may be applied for.

Scholarship Requirements

The scholarship must be used for any clinic, forum or other activity sponsored or endorsed by WDCTA, USEA, USDF, USET, USEF or other. This does not include show entry fees of any kind.

Because the applications are reviewed at the quarterly board meetings, it is in the applicant’s best interest to apply as early as possible. Reimbursement for a previously attended clinic, forum or activity will not occur.

If a clinic, forum or activity is filled or cancelled after processing the application, the scholarship monies must be returned to WDCTA.

Recipients must present proof that the clinic, forum or activity was attended.

Within six months of receiving the scholarship, all recipients will be required to:

• Write an article for the WDCTA Newsletter (eQuester), OR
• Make a presentation at a WDCTA Chapter meeting, AND
• Volunteer in some manner to forward the WDCTA mission (i.e. at a chapter-sponsored or state-sponsored clinic, show, or other activity)

Scholarship Amount

The dollar amount of the scholarship award is not to exceed $250 per scholarship.

The scholarships are available for TUITION ONLY. No transportation, stabling or personal costs are to be included.

Scholarship Committee and Application Procedure

The Scholarship committee will be chaired by the Vice President of the Association and committee members will include all chapter presidents of the Association. The committee will review all scholarship applications and present their recommendations to the Board. The Board will vote on the approval of the scholarship application, to include approval of the specific amount of the scholarship.

The Committee screens each application with a uniform set of criteria, eliminating the possibility of subjective selection or favoritism. While the criteria are slightly different for each category, they generally include such benchmarks as Length of WDCTA membership, Volunteer History, Goal of Program, Competition Level, Previous Awards and Recognition, Benefit to WDCTA'smembership, and Timeliness of Goal. The Committee attempts at all times to keep focused on how the overall membership can benefit from the educational opportunity the scholarships are providing.

Applicants should send their completed application form to the President of the Association.

More Information can be found here.  To apply for a scholarship, please complete the application FORM.