Dream Riders to offer scholarship program for high school volunteers

March 16-- Mar. 16--Juniors in high school who are looking for college scholarships may be interested in a new opportunity at Dream Riders of Kentucky.

Dream Riders, a Philpot nonprofit that provides equine-assisted therapy to people with disabilities, has created a $1,500 scholarship for a student who volunteers at least 50 hours through November. The award recipient will be named in March 2020.

It is the first time Dream Riders has offered a college scholarship.

Dream Riders hopes to have at least 10 students who are willing to volunteer and eventually vie for the scholarship. Only students who volunteer will be eligible to apply. In fact, scholarship applicants must answer three essay questions: They must explain what they learned from their volunteer experience, explain how the experience will impact their college studies and describe their favorite volunteer experience.

"Our goal with the scholarship is to get younger volunteers into the organization," said Kelly Flick, executive director.

Students must be trained before they are added to the volunteer roster. Flick said the opportunity may be best suited for students seeking degrees in special education, veterinarian studies, agriculture and equine science.

Volunteer work will be geared toward student interest. Some of the jobs are assisting during special events, side-walking, leading horses and horse maintenance.

Side-walkers travel around the arena beside horses during therapy sessions. It enhances client safety; however, side-walkers also socially engage with clients, which can be beneficial for people with certain disabilities. Anyone interested in teaching children with special needs may enjoy this type of work, Flick said.

Dream Riders owns 15 horses. They must be groomed, fed and watered. Also, their stalls need tending. These jobs are geared toward students who plan to work with animals.

The next volunteer training session is planned for June. Students who attend that session would have plenty of time left to volunteer at least 50 hours between June and November.

However, if enough students express interest in the new scholarship program, Flick will arrange for a special training session prior to June.

Besides becoming eligible to apply for Dream Riders' scholarship, volunteering opportunities look good on college and job resumes, Flick said. For more information, contact her at dreamridersofky@gmail.com.

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, rbeasleyjones@messenger-inquirer.com

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