The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is pleased to announce that Jessica Hallett has been named recipient of the Curt Greene Scholarship and Travis Ceppaluni has won the Sweet Karen Scholarship for 2017.

Hallett, of Margate, Florida, is a freshman at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale where she plans to study for a dual-track pre-law/pre-med degree. Hallett, a softball pitcher, was named her high school’s outstanding athlete in 2016. She has a wide range of community involvement including hundreds of hours in the Broward County Sheriff’s Explorer program and also in the companion Fire Cadet program. She is the daughter of trainers’ John and Michelle Hallett. The $2,500 Curt Greene Scholarship is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated a passion for harness racing and has financial need. It honours the late Hall of Fame journalist and racing official.

Hallett was thrilled, saying, “It is an honour to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship.”

Travis Ceppaluni pictured warming up a horse (Image courtesy HHYF)

Travis Ceppaluni, the recipient of this year’s $750 Sweet Karen Scholarship for HHYF program alumni, has a broad range of experience in harness racing. He currently holds a fair/qualifying-driver’s license and recently joined the racing office staff at Freehold Raceway. While he hopes to pursue harness racing full-time, he understands the importance of a college degree. A graduate (and salutatorian) of Ocean County Academy of Law and Public Safety, Travis plans to attend Ocean County College in Tom’s River, New Jersey, where he will study business. He plans to eventually attend Rutgers University to continue his business studies and to study equine science. He is the son of Shannon and Chris Hubert and of Jackson, New Jersey.

Ceppaluni was thoughtful as he discussed his experience. “HHYF has been a big part of my life for years. The continued support I receive from everyone at HHYF means so much to me. With Sweet Karen by my side I attended camps, worked as a summer intern, trained on several well-known racetracks and taught others about harness racing since I was 12. I am honoured to receive the Sweet Karen scholarship award and feel it is a privilege to be a part of such a great organization which has given me the support I need to follow my dreams.”

For more information on HHYF Scholarships, click here. The organization also maintains a harness racing scholarship database which can be accessed here.

(HHYF)