One Equestrian's Journey: The End of the Academic Year

Monday, May 9, 2011

The End of the Academic Year

Wow! Have we had a busy weekend with the IHSA hunter seat team and western individuals in Kentucky at Nationals, Baccalaureate Friday and Commencement Saturday. Half the staff travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park to either coach or learn how to run the National Championships that we will be hosting next year for Zone 4 Region 3. (The region is the actual host, but I am pretty sure SAPC is going to do the majority of the work!) At home the rest of us pulled together to take care of the horses, attend the end of year ceremonies and honor our graduates with a lunch in the party palace (also known as the TH indoor arena).

So IHSA first, a great weekend for Coach Duda and the hunter seat team. Early results had the team in 2nd place. After three days of competition the team placed 7th overall. A great achievement for the first time SAPC has sent a hunter seat team to the National Championships. Contributing to team points were Sami Cram in novice over fences in 5th place and intermediate flat 4th place, and Jen Callahan novice on the flat 4th.

Senior Rob Jacobs represented SAPC extremely well in the USEF/Cacchione Cup which is awarded to the National Individual Hunter Seat High Point Rider. After the first over fences phase Rob was in sixth place. During the flat phase he moved up to third place and held onto that placing following a ride off. Only 1.5 points separated the top three riders. What a great way to end a college career!

Saturday afternoon the four seniors dressed in blue gowns and hats participated in their own graduation ceremony conducted by program director Peggy McElveen. Missing graduation at SAPC is a sacrifice and Peggy made sure the seniors were recognized for their academic achievements. During graduation at SAPC Dean Hopkins made special mention of the seniors that were competing at IHSA.

Sunday our two individuals for western took the stage and both ended up as Reserve National Champions in their divisions! Brittany Powell in Intermediate Horsemanship and Leah Davison in Walk/Jog. Leah’s family was on hand to celebrate with her and handed her the keys to a new F150 as a graduation gift!

Speaking of graduation, SAPC does a terrific job with one of the prettiest graduation ceremonies anywhere. The pipe band leads the faculty, trustees and graduates across the cause walk to the library terrace for the ceremony. It is a great photo opportunity for parents and friends. Several times the graduating class was recognized for their courage to stick with SAPC during the tough times with our accrediting agency SACS. This class were freshmen when the dispute began and have stuck with the school for their entire college career. With the partnership with Webber International moving forward the classes’ commitment has paid off for both the graduates and the school.

Alexandra Hartner was remembered by her classmate Dani Buchanan during the ceremony. Alex was tragically killed in a car accident in January of 2008. Alex was at SAPC for a short time but she is greatly missed by all who knew her.

As is our tradition the Equestrian staff hosted lunch for the graduates and their families. About 100 people joined us in the party palace for some home made goodies and an opportunity to wind down after the earlier formalities. Family members also have an opportunity to see the equestrian center as many grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings have never visited. Graduation is always bitter sweet. We don’t want to see our friends move on but at the same time we are proud of their accomplishments and know they will go out into the world as servant leaders to give back to the greater community.