The children of three prominent standardbred trainers have been selected to receive the 2013 Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey Scholarships.
Caroline Fanning will receive a $5,000 award while John McDermott and Nicole Coyne will each take home $1,500.
The recipients will be honoured in ceremonies in the Meadowlands Racetrack’s winner’s circle on Friday, July 26.
“We are pleased to be helping three outstanding students who are continuing their education and are the children of leading trainers in New Jersey,” said SBOANJ President Tom Luchento. “All three are good students, active in their communities and involved in harness racing.”
Caroline Fanning, 18, is the daughter of Tom and Moira Fanning of Jackson, NJ. Her sister, Veronica, is a previous scholarship winner.
John McDermott, 19, is the son of John and Nancy McDermott of Lyndhurst, NJ. His cousin, Caitlin, was a past recipient.
Nicole Coyne, 20, is the daughter of Ron and Regina Coyne of New Egypt, NJ. Her sister, Kristen, was a two-time scholarship honouree.
Caroline Fanning, a 2013 graduate of St. Rose High School in Belmar, NJ, will be heading Stockton College in the fall to study environmental sciences with a focus on communications.
“I think there is an important tie between the traditions of harness racing in this country and how important the racing business is to the agricultural economy of New Jersey,” she wrote in her essay. “My plan for my post college career is to combine by two dream (working with animals as well as film, television and writing) so I can help to promote harness racing and keep the sport alive.
“I want to capture the excitement of a race and portray it in a way that others will be able to love it and get caught up in it just as I did,” she said.
In high school, Fanning received varsity letters in soccer, track and lacrosse and was voted Best Sense of Humor and Prom Queen.
“Caroline has always liked harness racing and been involved since she was very young -- from riding Red Bow Tie in lead line, to Harness Horse Youth Camp and marching as Hambo Tony in the Hambletonian parades,” said her mother, Hambletonian Society publicist Moira Fanning. “Her interest in harness racing is ongoing, and we are deeply grateful to the SBOANJ for helping with college costs. It's a future investment that will be returned.”
John McDermott was a four-year honour-roll student at the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology in Hackensack, NJ. He played junior varsity football, varsity basketball and took part in the Model United Nations.
He is heading the University of Florida. Despite his high school years spent at a science academy, his economics courses have lured him into the world of business, which will be his major.
“I love seeing the ways that I could apply economics to the real world,” he said in his essay.
Nicole Coyne, who graduated New Egypt High School and attended Ocean County College, plans to pursue her studies at Monmouth University. In high school she was active in lacrosse, field hockey, Spanish Club, History Club and Future Business Leaders of America.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being around horses since I was a small child,” she said. “My father has also been devoted to the business throughout much of his life and works as a full time trainer while my mother tends to their needs as a groom. We share a mutual love for this profession.”
(SBOANJ)