Washington International Horse Show Announces 2021 Youth Ambassador and Junior Committee Presented by Signature Academics

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2021 Youth Ambassador Evie Stettin, 17, of Washington, D.C., and her mare Birdie. Phinney Photography

WASHINGTON – May 11, 2021 – Evie Stettin of Washington, D.C., has been selected as the 2021 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Youth Ambassador, and 39 local teens attending schools in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., will join the 2021 WIHS Junior Committee presented by Signature Academics.

Members of the Junior Committee are an integral part of WIHS, working alongside staff during show week and serving as WIHS representatives within the local equestrian community. Junior Committee members participate in monthly show planning and brainstorming meetings as well as participate in volunteer opportunities with local charitable organizations throughout the year.

The WIHS Youth Ambassador holds a leadership role as chair of the Junior Committee and represents the show’s youth perspective to the media. With 39 members, Stettin will oversee one of the largest WIHS Junior Committees since it was established in 2009.

Stettin, who served on the Junior Committee for two years before being named Youth Ambassador, said, “This has been my goal since my first day on Junior Committee, and I’m chomping at the bit to get started (no pun intended)!”

When Stettin joined the Junior Committee, she had no idea what to expect. “I didn’t need to know what being on Junior Committee entailed; I just knew I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “I have been going to WIHS with my mother, a former equestrian herself, every year for almost a decade. It holds a very special place in my heart. That week as a Junior Committee member in October has been the highlight of my year.”

Stettin brings past experience as a social media content creator for WIHS, among numerous other projects, including serving in costume as Major, the WIHS mascot. She has attended WIHS for many years, most recently traveling to Tryon International Equestrian Center to lend a hand in 2020.

As Youth Ambassador, Stettin hopes to help build awareness of WIHS, both locally and nationally, all while being safe.

“The pandemic certainly threw us a curveball last year, but we’re ready this time around,” remarked Stettin. “This year’s show will be as incredible as ever.

Junior Committee members Bea, Evie & Charlotte taking care of the Peeps Foundation Minis in 2019. Jump Media LLC.

This year, two new leadership positions will be added to the Junior Committee: Charlotte Bassow, 17, of Washington, D.C., will serve as Social Media Ambassador, and Abbie Olmsted, 16, of Potomac, Md., will be the Regional Show Ambassador. These two positions will help support the Youth Ambassador and provide more guidance for Junior Committee members.
As Social Media Ambassador, Bassow will focus on enhancing the unique elements of WIHS in a virtual environment and strengthening WIHS’ connection with the equestrian and non-equestrian worlds, while building relationships within the Junior Committee.

“There are certain traditions of WIHS that make it such a memorable event,” said Bassow. “With an emphasis on virtual viewing this year, I want to help bring some of these distinct traditions to the live stream and social channels. In such an isolating time due to COVID-19, sharing special moments like this, even virtually, is so important.”

Olmstead will focus on the WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship held at Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Va., the week before WIHS at Tryon. She will guide committee members and manage participation in activities at the Regional Show.

“I want to help the Junior Committee come up with new volunteer events that allow everyone to participate either virtually or in person, while giving back to the local community and promoting WIHS,” said Olmstead.

Junior Committee having fun during 2019 show week! Hannah Jones Photography.

Supporting the Youth Ambassador and Junior Committee in their academic pursuits is Signature Academics. “We are delighted to return for the fifth 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 a one-to-one fully accredited school in Wellington, Fla.

Since 2014, Salomon, an avid equestrian herself, and her Signature team have been tutoring equestrian student-athletes year-round, with a permanent location in Wellington, seasonally in Ocala, Fla., and at major national horse shows, including WIHS. “We specialize in supporting equestrian student-athletes who value education,” said Salomon. “Our goal is to provide peace of mind to students and families that academic achievement is always a top priority, even in the face of non-stop training, traveling, and competition.”

Keep and eye out on the WIHS website and WIHS JC Instagram to view member profiles and learn more about the 2021 Junior Committee!

WIHS Junior Committee Class of 2021
With 39 members, the class of 2021 is one of the largest Junior Committee since the program began in 2009.
  • Charlotte Bassow, Washington, DC, School Without Walls High School
  • Isabella Bertozzi, Leesburg, VA, Independence High School
  • Virginia Bonnie, Upperville, VA, Foxcroft School
  • Samantha Bourque, Glenwood, MD, Glenelg High School
  • Emilia Cayelli, Herndon, VA, South Lakes High School
  • Barbara Colster, Fairfax, VA, Franklin Middle School
  • Abby Cole, Ashburn, VA, Riverside High School
  • Abby Dix, McLean, VA, Langley High School
  • Olivia Doughtery, Arlington, VA, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
  • Elsa Eastment, Chevy Chase, MD, The Holton-Arms School
  • Chloe Fagan, Bethesda, MD, Walter Johnson High School
  • Nora Fotuhi, McLean, VA, Langley High School
  • Sophia Fox, Great Falls, VA, The Madeira School
  • Noor Golesorkhi, McLean, VA, Connolly School of the Holy Child
  • Caroline Green, Gaithersburg, MD, Quince Orchard High School
  • Abby Griffith, Vienna, VA, Dominion Christian School
  • Caty Hogan, Washington, Dc, Maret School
  • Elle Grace Hogan, Chevy Chase, MD, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
  • Claire Jones, Herndon, VA, Herndon High School
  • Julianne Karol, Alexandria, VA, St. Stephens and St. Agnes School
  • Elizabeth Lowham-Ruzzo, McLean, VA, St. Stephens and St. Agnes School
  • Gabrielle Morin, McLean, VA, Holton-Arms School
  • Ali O’Brien, McLean, VA, Potomac School
  • Abbie Olmsted, Potomac, MD, Winston Churchill High School
  • Natalie Paley, Germantown, MD, Northwest High School
  • Katherine Pugliese, Malvern, PA, Conestoga High School
  • Catie Ries, Reston, VA, South Lakes High School
  • Carly Roberts, South Riding, VA, Freedom High School
  • Lauren Satola, Fulton, MD, Reservoir High School
  • Kendall Schuler, Great Falls, VA, Connelly School of the Holy Child
  • Lola Schumpert, Washington, DC, Woodrow Wilson High School
  • Lauren Seib, Germantown, MD, Seneca Valley High School
  • Evie Stettin, Washington, DC, School Without Walls High School
  • Katie Triantos, McLean, VA, Flint Hill School
  • Beatrice VanSant, Middleburg, Highland School
  • Natalie Wasson, Oakton, VA, Flint Hill School
  • Hannah Weingast, Vienna, VA, Cooper Middle School
  • Lauren Wiermanski, Fairfax, VA, South County High School
  • Ava Wolfe, Burke, VA, Bishop Ireton High School
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ABOUT WIHS

WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition, and holds the highest rating,  CSI5*-W, awarded by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, as well as a US Equestrian 6* Jumpers and  Premier Hunters. It is recognized by the US Hunter Jumper Association, Maryland Horse Show Association, and Virginia Horse Show Association. WIHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.