CHHA Scholarship Winners

Cory Deyermand - Jefferson, Ohio
Andrew Didonato - Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
Emily Gaskin - Anderson, Indiana*
Melissa Landis - Decatur, Indiana*
Jacob Murphy - Sunbury, Ohio
Brittany Schwartz - Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Jennifer Stockwell - Sunbury, Ohio

* Special congratulation to Indiana recipients, Emily Gaskin and Melissa Landis!

Congratulations to these outstanding and deserving young people who have been chosen to receive CHHA scholarships.  CHHA is very pleased to announce that each recipient will receive $1,000.

CORY DEYERMAND

of Jefferson, OH, is the son of Larry and Patricia DeyErmand.  Cory plans to attend Ohio Wesleyan University located in Delaware, OH, where he will begin his freshman year.  His expected course of study is Biology in hopes of eventually becoming a dentist or veterinarian.

Cory has been involved with harness racing for his entire life.  He is a third generation horseman earning his grooms license at 14 and recently passed his driver/trainer test.  At the time of his application, he was applying for a license for both trainer and driver.

In his early years Cory was involved with little league, bowling, Boy Scouts, chorus, football, basketball and track.  After 9th grade he began working more with the horses at home and decided baseball was his sport.  He played through his senior year.  In addition he was active in FFA through his junior year.

Cory's work history is centered around raising and racing harness horses on the family farm.  When he was not helping local farmers bail hay, he worked briefly at Subway and as a lawn care manager for a plumbing company.

He was raised in a Catholic family and credits the church for his humble attitude that he feels is his greatest characteristic in terms of reaching his overall goals.  His church did not offer many activities for youth, so when a friend introduced him to a Nazarene youth group, Cory was able to get involved in numerous activities such as Sports Blast at Mount Vernon Nazarene.  Events such as this have greatly inspired him.  His ultimate life goal is to find the right balance between family, work and God.

ANDREW DIDONATO

of Bridgeville, PA, is the son of Reverend Joseph and Marcella DiDonato.  Andrew will be attending his second year at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa.  He will continue his studies in Business Management.

Andrew's involvement with harness racing has been through his father, Rev. Joe DiDonato, chaplain at the Meadows.  He has been going to the track with his dad since he was five years old.  He used to participate in the many activities his dad had for the kids, which led to teaching children's church and Sunday school.

During high school Andrew was a four-year letterman on football and basketball teams, and has received numerous athletic awards.  He was a National Honor Society member, Who's Who Among H.S. Students, Who's Who Among H.S. Athletes, Congressional Leadership Conference Invitee, and numerous other awards.  His community service has included youth basketball camp instructor, umpire and referee; youth football instructor; early childhood development helper; fundraising for charities and non-profit groups; helping his father in ministry for community outreach.

The majority of Andrew's work experience has involved working with children as noted in his community service accomplishments above.

Andrew is exploring his interest in business communications, but ultimately wants to work with children as a positive role model.  He wants to give back to others the valuable things he has been taught in life.  He also plans to continue teaching Sunday school.

EMILY GASKIN

of Anderson,  IN, is the daughter of Ernest and Darla Gaskin.  Emily plans to attend the University of Kentucky where she plans to study Animal Science.

Her childhood memories are of going to the barn with her dad and harness racing at the fairs with her grandparents.  She also began showing Quarter horses at an early age that forced her to learn to balance her responsibilities between showing horses and her academic career.

Emily was team captain of the University of Kentucky Equestrian Team, was in 4-H, American Quarter Horse Association, University of Kentucky Judging Team, Ovid Community Church, Teens Against Tobacco, a volunteer at Indiana State Museum, member of National Society, Beta Club, Spanish National Honor Society, SADD, girls' basketball and cross country, Indiana Horse Council, and Indiana State Junior and Senior Champion Showman for several years.

Her work experience includes six years as caretaker for Ernie Gaskin Stable, working for Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as an unlicensed vet tech and working at Bob Evans Restaurant.

After several devastating incidences in her life she realized that these very events were making her a stronger person because she began to live every day with God.  Instead of hurting from the pain of lost loved ones, she now lives each day for them.

MELISSA LANDIS

of Decatur, IN, is the daughter of Randy and Debbie Landis. She plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN or University of St Francis, Ft, Wayne, IN for her second year of college.  She will study Nursing with the hope of specializing in pediatrics.  This would allow her to combine her love of children and her desire to help others.

Missy's background in horses evolved through her parents as 4-H volunteers.  She finished ten years in the Adams County 4-H Horse & Pony Club and was elected president for four years.  She is returning as the Mini Horse & Pony Leader for Adams County and is excited to give back to a club that has given so much to her.  Her interest in harness horses is through her uncle who raises trotters.  She spent many hours helping with the breeding, foaling, and sales preparation   She is a member of the Indiana Horse Council, Indiana Standardbred Association and CHHA.

Missy was a student council representative and class officer during her four years in high school, a member of the Sunshine Society which raises money for a local hospital, National Honor Society, teachers aid and cadet teacher helping an autistic child, Club International, Students Making A Difference, FFA and Who's Who of American High School Students.  She was also a student in the vocational Health Occupations Education class, has walked in the Hope Center Walk For Life, and has participated in numerous fundraising events to help others.

She has worked on a dairy farm, at a local hospital and at an express photo center.

During high school Missy was a member of Campus Life Student Leaders, spreading the news of Jesus Christ.  She chose Indiana Wesleyan University her freshman year because of the spiritual atmosphere on campus.  She attended Chapel and Bible Study and says she is learning more about Him and the plans He has for her life.             

JACOB MURPHY

of Sunbury, OH, is the son of Matt and Lisa Murphy.  He plans to continue at Ohio University in Athens, OH.  His course of study is Integrated Social Studies/Special Education.  Jake's plan to become a teacher was influenced by the teachers, mentors and role models (4-H advisors, coaches, neighbors, friends, youth group leaders) in his life.

Jake was raised on Success Acres Standardbred Farm where he proudly became a paid employee and worked full time the summer he was eleven.  His involvement is with the breeding of  harness horses, but he enjoys the races and follows the careers of the horses raised by his family.  After Jake becomes a teacher he plans to work summers on the farm.

He is a volunteer at the Beacon School where he swims with and reads to children with disabilities, is a member of the OU  Boxing Club Team, and is currently being trained to become a Peer Mentor for the freshman class next year.  When he is not in school or working, Jake enjoys fishing, hiking, camping and mountain biking.

In addition to working as a farm laborer, he has registered patients in the emergency room at a local hospital, held multiple jobs in the OU dining hall, and washed dishes in a pizza facility.

Jake says his greatest role models outside of home were his youth group leaders from St. John Neumann.  He went on many retreats and missions in youth group including trips to Washington D.C. for the March For Life, trips to Appalachia to work on houses for the poor, and a trip to Canada to see Pope John Paull II for World Youth Day.  He says the group leaders helped open his eyes to the importance of faith is our lives.

BRITTANY SCHWARTZ

of Strasburg, PA, is the daughter of Paul and Priscilla Schwartz.  She will return to Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA, where she will continue in Equine Studies.  Her goal is to own a training facility where she could breed, train and board horses.

Brittany became interested in harness horses when she started working as a stable hand at Groff's Training Stable.  She obtained a Groom's License.  As she gained experience doing the basic barn chores, she moved on to driving horses and helping with the yearlings.  At Delaware Valley College she has been working in the Standardbred breeding facility that includes breeding, training, barn management and business management.

During high school she was in National Honor Society, served as class president, was on the student advisory committee, a member of several clubs.  She participated in track & field, cross country, indoor track and soccer receiving numerous awards.  She continues to excel in academics and athletics at DVC.  Her volunteer work includes Adopt A Highway, mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Landis Homes Retirement Community, Christ's Home for Children, and tutoring.

In addition to working at Groff's Training Stable, she worked at Cherry Crest Farm in Paradise, PA, where she was a cashier and also in entertainment and maintenance

Brittany says that through having Christian parents, attending Christian schools, being actively involved in youth groups, and attending church regularly, her walk with Christ has grown significantly over the years.  Her recent trip to the Dominican Republic opened her eyes to the need for world ministry.  After college she plans to continue doing the Lord's work taking additional mission trips.

JENNIFER STOCKWELL

of Sunbury, OH, is the daughter of Wendy Little and Mark Stockwell.  She plans to continue her studies in English and Theater at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.  Her goal is to get a masters degree in education and become a teacher and a director of a theater program.  She hopes to teach at Big Walnut in Sunbury, OH.  She would like to be involved with the high school homechurch (a group of students meeting together to study the Bible and reach the lost).  She is an alumnus of this group.

Jennifer was raised as a child of a harness racing family and can't remember not being in the barn or at the tracks.  She has been exposed to every possible aspect of racing.  She says that in her younger years she considered herself a pro washing the horses!  She traveled to the county fairs and commercial tracks to watch their horses race.  She often thought it was her innocent words of encouragement whispered in the ear of their horse that motivated it to win!

During elementary school and through high school, Jennifer was actively involved in 4-H and Girl Scouts.  She was in National Honor Society, History Honors Society and Theater

Jennifer would like to become a leader and teacher in her church, Xenos Christian Fellowship, but more than that, she hopes to learn to serve her brothers and sisters selflessly and give the good news to others boldly.  She is working toward this goal by becoming increasingly involved in Xenos and serving as a student leader in her homechurch on campus.  She has taken mission trips to Tennessee and Ecuador and would like to do short-term mission trips to South America, eventually leading a student trip there.  Jennifer's love for and involvement in theater had her preparing to perform at a dinner theater as a fundraiser for a mission trip to Cambodia.