In a winner’s circle presentation during the Saturday, January 4 race card at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Martin Scharf presented the Gallo Blue Chip Scholarships to Kayla Prentice of Vernon, New York and Michelle Galligan of Cuddebackville, New York.

Prentice, who was awarded a $15,000 scholarship, attends Syracuse University and studies health and exercise science. The daughter of Jessica and Howard Okusko Jr. is an Honours Graduate of Vernon-Verona-Sherill High School with a 4.0 GPA. She ran track and cross-country, captaining both squads her senior year. Kayla has a wide-ranging record of community service including work on relay For Life, on a number of community-based running events and volunteering with the K9 of Central New York Rescue. She also has experience working with standardbreds, often paddocking horses in the family’s stable.

Galligan, is studying equine science at New Jersey’s Centenary College. She has spent parts of the last four years working for the Mark Ford Stable as a caretaker. Galligan also has experience riding and she has shadowed equine vets on their rounds and through surgeries. She graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma from Pt. Jervis High School in June and spent her senior year taking several college level courses offered by Orange County Community College and Syracuse University. Through her work with the Ford Stable, she has actually worked hands-on with the great pacer in whose honour the scholarship is named. She received a $5,000 stipend.

(HHYF)