WASHINGTON, March 5, 2019-Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Junior Committee & Youth Ambassador Program presented by Signature Academics. This innovative program, now in its 10th year, is an opportunity for Washington-area teens to be a part of the inner workings of one of the most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events in North America. WIHS returns Oct. 22-27, 2019, to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
“The WIHS Junior Committee & Youth Ambassador Program represents the heart of the show,” said WIHS President Vicki Lowell. “These motivated teens are passionate about horse sports, and that’s what brings them to us, but they’re also great students and actively involved in giving back to the local community. We appreciate their creativity and teamwork in helping make WIHS such an exciting and special event every year.”
Junior Committee members meet at the WIHS office to share ideas for the show.
Each year through an application process, WIHS management selects approximately 30 teens from public, charter and private schools in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., to join the WIHS Junior Committee. Working with WIHS staff, committee members participate in planning and brainstorming meetings, learn new skills, and work on youth and community activities.
During show week, Junior Committee members serve as tour guides and press escorts, manage the Snapchat takeover, and share equestrian knowledge to help educate show visitors about horses and horse sport. Junior Committee members also are involved in equine-related volunteer activities, culminating in the ever-popular WIHS Kids’ Day on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Channel 7 visits with Junior Committee at the WIHS Breakfast with the Mounted Police community event. Photo Alden Corrigan Media
The WIHS Youth Ambassador holds a leadership role as chair of the Junior Committee and represents the show’s youth perspective to the media. Those wishing to be considered for the position as 2019 WIHS Youth Ambassador will be complete an additional application to showcase strengths in leadership and management.
“We are delighted to return for the third year as sponsor of the WIHS Junior Committee,” said Wendy Salomon, Executive Director of Signature Academics, a leading provider of educational services for student athletes, including one-to-one fully accredited school in Wellington, Fla. “The WIHS Junior Committee members are an exceptional group of teens, and it’s our pleasure to support their efforts in leveraging a love of horses into fun and innovative programs, like Barn Night and Kids’ Day, for show spectators and the local community.”
A JC team volunteers at American Horse Council’s National Meet A Horse Day.
Since 2014, Salomon, an avid equestrian herself, and her Signature team have been tutoring equestrian student-athletes year-round in Wellington, seasonally in Ocala, Fla., and at major national horse shows, including Washington. “We specialize in supporting equestrian student-athletes who place a high value on education,” said Salomon. “Our goal is to provide peace of mind to students and families that academic achievement remains the number one priority, even in the face of non-stop training, traveling, and competition.”
During show week, Signature Academics team members can be found working with students in the Signature Academics study center, located on the competition level at WIHS.
Gloves on for fence mending at Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding.
The deadline to submit applications is April 1, 2019. Applicants must be students between the ages of 14 and 18 enrolled at local Washington, D.C.-area schools.
For more information, requirements and application forms, visit WIHS Junior Committee. For WIHS news and information, visit www.wihs.org, ‘like’ WIHS on Facebook, and follow on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to tag WIHS by using #WIHS2019 and #HorsesInTheCity.
The 61st Annual Washington International Horse Show will return to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22-27, 2019. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, email info@wihs.org.
About Signature Academics
Signature Academics offers a full range of educational services to support today’s student-athletes. From Wellington and Ocala, Fla., through Devon and the indoor horse shows, Signature Academics provides year-round subject tutoring; standardized test preparation; custom, seasonal and year-round accredited one-to-one school; and college counseling to students in middle school through college. By combining academic excellence and a full understanding of the equestrian world and its challenges, the team at Signature Academics is uniquely qualified to help equestrian student-athletes excel in everything they do. For more information, visit signaturetutoring.com
About Washington International Horse Show
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America’s most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events attracting more than 26,000 spectators annually to Washington, D.C., for Olympic-level competition plus community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders arrive from all over the globe to jump for more than a half a million dollars in prize money. Highlights include the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup presented by Events DC, the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals, the $25,000 Land Rover International Puissance (high jump) on Military Night presented by Caterpillar, Inc., and Kids’ Day, a free, fun and educational community event. WIHS, an official USEF Heritage Competition, is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization based in Washington, D.C. Visit wihs.org.
