Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association (7/2/12)
Contact: Gary Mack, info@mackcommunications.com
630-357-7552
IL students awarded "Big Tom" horseracing scholarship
$2,500 each for two deserving students
HINSDALE, IL – The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA) announced today the winners of the "Big Tom" Scholarship which is funded through a donation from Tom Lewandowski.
Emily Magee and Chas Walker will split the $5,000 scholarship. Both students’ families have long histories in the horseracing industry.
Emily Magee, daughter of Hall of Fame driver Dave Magee from Big Rock, Illinois will be attending Waubonsie Valley College this fall.
Chas Walker from Carrollton, Illinois is currently enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. His family has been involved in harness racing for 40 years.
“Both of these students are deserving of this honor,” said IHHA President Dave McCaffrey. “It was a real close finish and in the end we couldn’t turn either one of them away.”
This year, at the Land of Lincoln Sale at Walker Standardbred Farm, a breeding to Jereme’s Jet, donated by John and Jolene Leahy, will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to support future years of the Big Tom Scholarship.
An essay on what Illinois harness racing means to the applicant was an essential factor in the decision-making process of the award.
