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Applications Now Being Accepted for 2019 WIHS Junior Committee

Channel 7 visits with the Junior Committee at the WIHS Breakfast with the Mounted Police community event. Photo Alden Corrigan Media.

Washington, D.C. – 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.”

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.

Join the WIHS Junior Committee

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.

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 need to 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.”

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.

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 on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org.

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