Keli Jo Bell and Joanna Ricci have been named the recipients of scholarships awarded by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Keli Jo Bell will receive the 2019 Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,500. She is the daughter of Barry and Toni Bell from Windsor, Ill., and grew up racing horses along the Illinois fair circuit. At 14, she raised, broke and trained her very own horse Princess Sage who went on to win the Night of Champions and be named 2016 Illinois Horse of the Year. "This mare showed me I love what I am doing and I want to continue because I love to start colts."

In Kurt Becker's letter of recommendation for Keli, he said "I don't make recommendations lightly but I do recommend Keli because this would be in keeping with both his (Curt Greene’s) work ethic and love of the game."

Keli will attend Lakeland College as a freshman this fall and plans to obtain a degree in animal and equine science.

Joanna Ricci will receive the 2019 $1,000 Sweet Karen Scholarship, which is designed to assist graduates of HHYF programs. Entering her junior year this fall at University of Kentucky and studying equine science and management, Joanna is also busy this summer working as one of the Meadowlands marketing and promotions interns as well as working as a vet assistant for Dr. Meri Rantakallio.

Joanna said, "HHYF opened my eyes to various career possibilities and gave me a network of connections that have helped guide me. I plan to attend law school and be an advocate for our industry and help the industry that has always stood behind me. I am honored and thankful to receive the scholarship."

Joanna is the daughter of Brian and Kathy Ricci of Allentown, N.J.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people's lives since 1976; its programs include interactive learning experiences with racehorses as well as offering scholarships and creating and distributing educational materials relating to harness racing.

For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org or call 317.908.0029.

(HHYF)