By Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com

DALLAS, TX—OCTOBER 21, 2017—The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation is very proud to announce the 2017-2018 recipients of the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation Scholarship Awards Program.

The foundation was seeking graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled college students or those who have the desire to attend a technical or vocational schools that have family involved with the horse racing community in some capacity.

Applicants were required to meet multiple requirements in the application process, including have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA with a plan to attend a two to four year college, technical or vocational school.

The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation received ten applicants for the scholarship program this year, and will be awarding $38,000 in scholarships for the 2017-2018 school year.

Below is the list 2017-2018 of recipients with excerpts from their essay submitted during the application process.

Ashton Shepler – Oklahoma State University - Winner of the Dave Weaver TVG Scholarship

"As soon as I turned 16, I began working nights at the racetrack. I was following the example my mom had set of working hard to make a way for myself. I worked every weekend during most of the school year, and missed out on a majority of the experiences other high school students enjoy. However, in my opinion that time was very much worth it, because it sparked a passion in me for the racehorse industry. I have always had the dream to become an equine veterinarian, and the time spent at the track allowed me to meet people and gain experiences that have given me a better understanding of the racing industry. It has also given me a stronger career focus."

Ciara Lackey - University of Oklahoma

"Even though my career choice is not in the horse racing industry, it has played a key factor in who I am as a person. I have never met so many genuine, caring people than in this industry. My dad (James Lackey) was a jockey for over 20- years, and rode some of the great horses like Cash Rate and First Down Dash. I love the industry with all my heart, and I feel that his scholarship will help me potentially change the world. I want to be a pediatric oncology nurse. My goal is to inspire kids even with they are struggling with physical and emotional turmoil."

Colton O’Dell - Arizona State University

"It is a great privilege for me to apply for a scholarship named in memory of Sam Thompson. My father Christopher O’Dell and Sam were great friends, and he rode many horses for my father at Ruidoso and Los Alamitos. It brought tears to my father’s eyes when he told me I should apply for this scholarship. He told me of all the good times he had, not only professionally with Sam, but also as a close friend of his. It would be a privilege to be a recipient of this scholarship to aid my studies at Arizona State University in Phoenix. I will be attending Arizona State this fall in Phoenix as a freshman. My course of studies will be majoring in Sports Management, a new major now being offered to help students in administration, marketing and increasing public awareness of professional sports venues. My goal is to graduate with this degree, and apply it within the horse racing Industry."

Eric Jones - Life Chiropractic College West

"Luckily enough, I was raised in an environment where I was gifted the opportunity to develop a meaningful relationship with horses, beyond just my own. I intend to implement my services learned from Life Chiropractic College West to the horses at the racetrack. I will attempt to shine light on the healthcare, and the wellness of racehorses wherever I find myself travelling to. I believe this implementation is imperative to develop a specialty in this field to not only increase the horse’s lifespan on and off the track, but to give back a quality of assurance to the horses."

Kyler Lambert – St. Mary’s University

"Watching my father working throughout his career has taught me that the minute we expect something to be given to us, the less our chances will be of actually receiving it. However, with a strong work ethic and a burning desire to succeed, we do nothing but help give ourselves a better chance at success. This is exactly why I feel as though I would be a strong choice as a recipient of The Sam Thompson Scholarship. Through horse racing, I have learned that if we are in constant pursuit of bettering ourselves, do not let our failures discourage us, but rather use them as learning experiences, and treat others well, we give ourselves a great shot at ending up in the ‘winners’ circle’."

Makenzie Atkinson – University of Southern California

"Working hard is a trait that the racing community as a whole exemplifies. I feel that something that genuinely ties me to the racing community is my work ethic, because of the hard work of my parents on the track, as well as my own work at Santa Anita Racetrack. From the hot-walkers on the backside to the most successful of jockeys, everyone fiercely works together to create the community that to so many is home. This work ethic has translated seamlessly into my school work."

Mayra Valdiva – University of Arkansas, Fort Smith

"Being around the horse racing industry makes you aware of the time, and hard work that is put into the business. I am now working on my future as a college student, and my father is one of my biggest support systems in my journey. Because of him, I realized that nothing comes easy in life. I feel that I should receive this scholarship, because I understand the stigma that the children of the horsemen/women are under. With the help of this scholarship I would like to change the perspective of the youth in the horse racing community."

Roxana Franco – California State University

"At a young age, I realized that I had to start doing many things alone. My father was a groom for one of the most amazing horses, Stormello. My father would go on trips with Stormello to several of the big races. My mother, a hot walker, hot walked a talented Thoroughbred runner, Lava Man. As an only child, my parents feel accomplished of how I turned out….a young, independent, and responsible daughter."

Sarah George – Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

"As a previous recipient of the Sam Thompson Memorial Scholarship, I would like to thank those who believed in me, as well as my academic merits. This scholarship has helped relieve some of the debt I have incurred as a veterinary student as I continue to strive to do my best in the academic arena, as well as find the time to volunteer in my community. I am also pursuing an MBA degree at Oklahoma State University, which I believe will serve my future goals of owning my own veterinary practice in the future. While at clinics at Oklahoma State University, I have been able to nurture my love of equine medicine and surgery, and piqued an interest in specializing in professional equine dentistry. I have taken the initiative to schedule outside rotations with practicing veterinarians at Los Alamitos Race Course, and look forward to a career helping to serve the equine racing industry."

Sierra Meadows – Southwestern Oklahoma State University

"I want to be a part of helping the equine industry grow, and to find ways to get more of the next generation involved so that we can continue our heritage. I have chosen to pursue a degree in Dental Hygiene, because I feel it will allow me to work and still continue bettering myself and others through the sport of rodeo. I would like to continue to bring kids into this industry anyway possible. It is a longtime dream of mine to be a college rodeo coach. The equine industry has taught me to be responsible for myself, respect my equine athletes, respect for our leadership, and to respect other competitors. It has taught me to always be humble, because the ride may go up, but it always comes back down. I do not take for granted the opportunities I have been given, and realize there are many people who dream of living a life like mine."