WASHINGTON, May 28, 2020–The Washington International Horse Show is pleased to announce Hanna Sing of McLean, Va., has been selected as the 2020 Youth Ambassador. WIHS also welcomes 38 local teens attending schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to serve on the 2020 WIHS Junior Committee presented by Signature Academics.
“WIHS’ Junior Committee members bring a passion, enthusiasm and caring for not only horses and our sport, but also for the local community,” said WIHS Executive Director Mary Helen Shaughnessy. “No idea is too big and no task is too small for the dedicated members of the committee. Whether it is working behind the scenes to help execute the challenging tasks during show week or participating in charitable outreach projects throughout the year, each member of the JC is invaluable to achieving WIHS’ mission of entertaining and educating the D.C. region through the joy of horses.”
Meet Hanna Sing
2020 WIHS Youth Ambassador Hanna Sing from McLean, Va., attends Sidwell Friends School.
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 38 members, Sing will preside over the largest WIHS Junior Committee since it was established in 2009.
Sing, who served on the Junior Committee for two years before being named Youth Ambassador, says those years gave her valuable insights into the production and business of horse showing, and opened her eyes to the hard work it takes to put on a top international show.
She brings experience from WIHS as manager of the Kids’ Day subcommittee and numerous other projects, as well as knowledge gained as a student-athlete on her high school’s Athletic Advisory Board and budget subcommittee.
Sing has attended WIHS almost every year since she was ten. She first joined the Junior Committee because “WIHS is one of my favorite equestrian events and brings riders from all over the world to Washington. The general public can be introduced to the sport I love. Kids’ Day is one of my favorite parts because it allows children living in urban areas not often exposed to horses to experience the joy these animals bring all equestrians every day, an opportunity that they otherwise might not have.”
As Youth Ambassador, Sing hopes to focus on education, volunteerism, and team bonding. She sees an opportunity for the Junior Committee to help the general public better understand what shows are about—the work, special connection between horse and rider, and the exciting sport–by creating informative and fun videos for social media, as well as Instagram stories to expand social media collaboration with equestrians, barns, and horse shows.
Working alongside WIHS staff, Junior Committee members participate in monthly show planning and brainstorming meetings, which this year largely will take place virtually rather than in person due to the impact of COVID-19.
In the coming weeks, expect to see a greater presence of committee members on WIHS social media with the newly created Junior Committee Instagram account! Give them a follow at @wihs_jc!
Members of the 2019 WIHS Junior Committee take a break from show duties to gather for a group photo on the event level of Capital One Arena. Photo: Hannah Jones
WIHS Junior Committee Class of 2020
With 38 members, the class of 2020 is the largest Junior Committee since the program began in 2009. This year three sets of siblings will serve on the the committee.
- Charlotte Bassow, Washington, DC, School Without Walls High School
- Isabella Bertozzi, Leesburg, VA, Independence High School
- Daisy Bishop, Washington, DC, Connelly School of the Holy Child
- Virginia Bonnie, Upperville, VA, Foxcroft School
- Emilia, Cayelli, Harndon, VA, South Lakes High School
- Frankie Dussek, McLean, VA, Connelly School of the Holy Child
- Elsa Eastment, Chevy Chase, MD, The Holton-Arms School
- Nora Fotuhi, McLean, VA, Langley High School
- Sophia Fox, Great Falls, VA, The Madeira School
- Grace Frulla, Bethesda, MD, The Madeira School
- Noor Golesorkhi, McLean, VA, Langley High School
- Caroline Green, Gaithersburg, MD, Quince Orchard High School
- Susanna Hardee, Washington, DC, The Madeira School
- Elle Grace Hogan, Chevy Chase, MD, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
- Mary Kate 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
- Katie Kleinberg, McLean, VA, McLean High School
- Elizabeth Lowham-Ruzzo, McLean, VA, St. Stephens and St. Agnes School
- Maggie McCabe, Ashburn, VA, The Madeira School
- Andrew Morin, McLean, VA, Langley High School
- Gabrielle Morin, McLean, VA, Holton-Arms School
- Vicky Navarrete, Purcellville, VA, Loudoun Valley High School
- Abbie Olmsted, Potomac, MD, Winston Churchill High School
- Gwendolyn Peace, Alexandria, VA, T.C. Williams High School
- Lily Pollin, Bethesda, MD, Holton-Arms School
- Catie Ries, Reston, VA, South Lakes 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
- Hanna Sing, McLean, VA, Sidwell Friends School
- Evie Stettin, Washington, DC, School Without Walls High School
- Beatrice VanSant, Middleburg, Highland School
- Natalie Wasson, Oakton, VA, Flint Hill School
- Lauren Wiermanski, Fairfax, VA, South County High School
- Ava Wolfe, Burke, VA, Bishop Ireton High School
- Kayla Wolfe, Burke, VA, Bishop Ireton High School
Supporting the Youth Ambassador and Junior Committee in their academic pursuits is Signature Academics. “We are delighted to return for the fourth 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 teaching 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,” says 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.”
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 signatureacademics.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. Highlights include the $136,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup presented by Events DC, WIHS Equitation Finals, $25,000 Land Rover International Puissance (high jump), and Kids’ Day, a free, fun and educational community event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization based in Washington, D.C. Visit wihs.org.
To learn more about the WIHS Junior Committee and selection process, visit WIHS Junior Committee and Youth Ambassador Program.
For interviews, contact Jennifer Wood, jwood@jumpmediallc.com.
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The Washington International Horse Show, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1958, is a historic world-class equestrian event that engages, entertains and educates the Washington, DC, community while supporting charitable and military causes.
