Kentucky Kernel (@kentuckykernel) • Instagram photos and videos
College students from across Kentucky attended Keeneland’s semi-annual College Scholarship Day, which offered horse racing and scholarship opportunities.
All pre-registered students were offered free admission to Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 10, and were entered into a raffle for a chance to win scholarships totaling $40,000.
Students who attended also received complimentary tote bags, T-shirts, hot dogs and coffee from Bad Ass Coffee.
“The whole city of Lexington turns over in the months of April and October to bring in people from all 50 states, all around the world to ensure that we are doing it for the love of the horse and the love of the sport,” Erin Betts, Keeneland community relations planner, said.
Betts has served as Keeneland’s community relations planner for three years and has helped organize and oversee College Scholarship Day since fall 2022.
“It’s a great day to be together, make new friends, watch horse racing and enjoy this beautiful fall day,” Betts said.
This fall’s event awarded a $2,000 scholarship for each of the 10 races, with two $10,000 scholarships awarded during race five.
Riley Harper, a senior marketing major at Transylvania University, said she was “completely in shock” after winning one of the $10,000 scholarships.
“I have scholarships at Transy, which I’m very grateful for, but I have been looking into graduate programs, so this will be good for that,” Harper said. “Which would ultimately help me go to grad school and be more successful in my career.”
Jenna Akers, a senior parks and recreation major at Eastern Kentucky University and Keeneland college ambassador, was also awarded one of the two $10,000 scholarships.
“It (the scholarship) means everything,” Akers said. “It’s going to help me achieve my master’s and get going with the rest of my career.”
For students such as Benjamin Williams, College Scholarship Day serves as an opportunity to bring communities together.
“It’s (College Scholarship Day) a long-lasting tradition, and as you look around and you just kind of see the standards that they’ve upheld over here. It’s just a valuable experience,” Williams said. “It just brings together a great community of people.”
Williams, a UK senior double majoring in agricultural economics and business management, said he has been attending College Scholarship Day since his freshman year.
“It’s a great environment,” Williams said. “You get to meet a lot of great people, you can see a lot about the equine industry here in Kentucky.”
UK senior agricultural and medical biotechnology major Ava Van Schaick said she enjoys Keeneland for the “unique” experience it has to offer.
“It’s one of the only things we’ve got that sets us completely apart from every other school in the nation,” Van Schaick said.
Van Schaick said she and her roommates have attended Keeneland College Scholarship Day several times and “love” the experience every year.
“Spending time with your friends, seeing the horses, even the Uber ride over is super duper fun,” Van Schaick said. “We’re especially excited for a free hot dog.”
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
