From NSBA
The National Snaffle Bit Association Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of two NSBA Foundation scholarships for 2023.
Alexis Potts, of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, has received the NSBA Foundation scholarship. Alexis received her high school education from South Carolina Connections Academy, where she graduated with a 4.8 grade point average. Alexis represents the fourth generation in her family to grow up in a competitive horse show environment. She has noted the horses helped shape her into the person she is today, helping her learn the value of hard work, perseverance and responsibility as well as becoming a goal-driven person.
She was very involved with the South Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association, having served as vice president of the association for three years. In addition to creating fun and welcome events at horse shows, Alexis also served her community by developing the Alexis Potts Passion Foundation and Stirrup Your Spirits, as well as collecting pop cans and pop tabs as well as food for various non-profit organizations and volunteering at Trailer Park Ministries.
Alexis plans to attend Auburn University this fall and will major in apparel merchandising. She plans to use her degree to expand her online boutique, The Frilly Filly LLC, to have storefronts across the country.
Alexis will receive a total of $2,000 over the next two years with $1,000 awarded during her freshman year of college and an additional $1,000 awarded during her sophomore year.
Kaitlyn McCulley, of Lubbock, Texas, has been named the recipient of the inaugural T. Joe Jeane Memorial Scholarship. This multi-year award is presented to an NSBA member following the completion of their first year of veterinary school and is presented once every three years. The award presents $4,000 annually over the three-year duration.
Kaitlyn recently completed her first year of veterinary medicine at Texas Tech University. She graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in animal science with a certificate in equine science. While earning her degree, Kaitlyn worked for a number of large animal and equine organizations, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Texas Equine Hospital, the AQHA World Championship Show, Char-O-Lot Ranch and Equine Sports Medicine.
Kaitlyn has been involved with AjPHA for a number of years and held positions of secretary, vice president, president-elect and president. Her presidential service project, Painting The Future, created scholarships for AjPHA members.
She sees equine sports medicine as a path that will allow her to combine her career with her greatest passion – horses – eventually owning her own veterinary practice.
The scholarship is named after the son of long-time NSBA members Joe and Suzy Jeane, and spent the majority of his youth at his parent’s ranch, Down The Rail, in Valley View, Texas. Joe had earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a masters in medical sciences from Mississippi Baptist College, and had begun to pursue his dream of pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine at the time of his death in 2021.
NSBA Foundation Scholarship and the T. Joe Jeane Memorial Scholarship are just two of several educational opportunities offered by the NSBA Foundation. To learn more about scholarship opportunities, please visit nsba.com/education.
About the NSBA
Established in 1983, the National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and eight breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.
The National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. In 2021, NSBA members earned more than $13.6 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows. The association sanctioned nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries last year.
About the NSBA Foundation
The National Snaffle Bit Association Foundation is the non-profit 501(c)3 arm of the National Snaffle Bit Association. Operating under a separate board of directors, the NSBA Foundation serves NSBA’s more than 20,000 members, the equine therapeutic community and the equine community at large through educational programming, scholarships, and financial assistance to equine professionals in crisis. The NSBA Foundation also works to keep animal welfare at the forefront of the equine industry.
The National Snaffle Bit Association’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike. In addition to its extensive membership, NSBA has more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. Annually, NSBA members earn more than $13.6 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows. The association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year. To learn more, please visit nsba.com/foundation.