Wellington, FL – September 13, 2011 – The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) continues to make great improvements to their program as the 2012 horse show, held January 13-15, quickly approaches. The second annual CPI Horse Show will be larger, allowing more riders to compete, and will include dressage classes and more educational opportunities for participants. Organizers are also pleased to announce that the number of scholarships for the 2012 horse show has increased. A total of five scholarships will be awarded this year, rewarding the young riders on their social conduct and academic success, as well as competitive success.

In total, there will be five scholarships awarded to eligible CPI participants, including: CPI Horsemanship Test Award, CPI Highest Point Hunt Seat Equitation Rider, CPI Essay Contest, CPI Champion of Service Award, and CPI Highest Point Dressage Rider. CPI co-founder Jeanne Rouco-Conesa is still looking to add more award possibilities to the 2012 CPI. “As the donations come in, we may increase the award amounts, add new scholarship awards, or we may add Reserve or Runner-Up awards,” she noted.

CPI competition managers Heidi Lengyel and Jeanne Rouco-Conesa with last year’s High Point Rider Scholarship Winner Victoria Griffith

The Entry Deadline for the Horsemanship Test Award and the Champion of Service Award is the same date as the CPI Application Deadline: October 1, 2011. The Entry Deadline for the Essay Contest is November 1, 2011. The essay topic was posted on the website on September 1, 2011, allowing two months time for riders to submit their essay.



New Scholarships Offered!

In addition to scholarships, the CPI has added new photo awards for the 2012 competition. CPI will award $50 each for the best eight pictures taken by CPI riders of the 2012 competition. Riders with media, journalistic, or photographic interests will have the opportunity to submit their pictures within a week of the show so that their photos can be featured in official CPI material.

Photos will be judged in eight categories, including: CPI Horse Athlete (horse only), CPI Sponsor signage or presence, CPI Spectators, CPI Event Seminar, CPI Rider(s) Receiving Ribbon/Prize Photo, Friends Together at CPI (candid), CPI Rider(s) in action (over fences, flat, or dressage) or Miscellaneous CPI Photo (any moment of your choice captured during the event). All entries must be submitted and received by 11 a.m. on January 22, 2012.

These scholarships and awards are made possible by the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show Scholarship Fund, which was created to award cash scholarships to student riders that display good citizenship, equestrian talent and academic excellence. The CPI scholarships encourage riders to educate themselves about the charitable organizations in their communities, lay emphasis on horsemanship and sportsmanship as key elements needed for equestrian success, and promote higher education as a foundation to future success in life.



You Can Help the CPI

It is the generosity of special donors to the not-for-profit CPI Horse Show Scholarship Fund that makes it possible to reward the student riders. Currently the Fund accepts three types of donations: Cash to be used for the Scholarship Awards and for the Care of the Show Horses; Horses and Tack to be used at the CPI Horse Show; Donation of Items valued at a cost of $500 or greater to be awarded as raffle or silent auction items. The CPI is continually looking for contributions to extend more award possibilities to the student riders. We will increase the value of the awards or add more awards to the upcoming shows as funds are received. 



University of South Carolina head coach Boo Major speaks at a seminar at the CPI to discuss intercollegiate riding

Donors can also establish a perpetual scholarship. With a one-time cash donation of $10,000 or greater a perpetual scholarship can be created in the name of your choice; it can be named after an individual, a corporation, a foundation or in memory of a friend or family. The scholarship will be distributed in increments of the donor’s discretion, but no less than $1000 to be distributed at each show. The criteria for the scholarship will also be made in coordination with the donor. A half page ad will be awarded to perpetual scholarship donors in the CPI Horse Show’s full color event magazine for the duration of the scholarship’s existence. Please contact Jeanne Rouco-Conesa at 305-773-3810 or via email at JeanneRC@collegeprepinvitational.com to establish the perpetual scholarship. 



The CPI also offers opportunities for corporate sponsorships, which includes print and online promotion of your sponsorship. There are nine different levels for corporate sponsorship, which range from the Platinum Level (official recognition, editorial in the event magazine, recognition in press releases, full page ad on the inside front cover of the event magazine, logo placement on the CPI website, banner placement, access to all seminars, and more) to a bag insert, where a product sample or company information is included in all attendee welcome bags. 



Additional opportunities include sponsorship of: saddle pads for CPI horses, tack, saddles, helmets, and/or show clothes for prizes and awards, golf cart rentals, meals for volunteers and judges, and advertising in the CPI Event Magazine, which is featured in full color print and online.

For more information on sponsorships, please contact Teresa Callava at (786) 344-4193 or email tcallava@yahoo.com.

Hunt Seat Alumni Class to Benefit Charity

The CPI will also host alumni riders, and the proceeds of the class will go towards the CPI scholarship fund. The entry fee for the class is tax-deductible. The alumni class is open to college and university alumni with a degree of skill equivalent to at least Class 4 and either showed in IHSA Over Fences classes as an undergraduate, or have had 6 months of continuous professional training over fences within the past 12 months.

The alumni competitors will compete over six or more fences at least 2′ 3″ in height and not to exceed 2’9″, fence width not to exceed height, and including at least one change of direction.



A tax deductible donation of $150 to the CPI Horse Show Scholarship Fund will enter eligible college alumni in this class as well as grant admission to the rider and two guests to all CPI seminars and presentations. The winner of the class will receive an invitation for two to attend the CPI Coaches Cocktail.



The mission of the CPI is to prepare and educate student riders in grades 8 – 12 about the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship, and to provide the riders with resources to create their desired college equestrian experience.  The show is specifically geared to promote college recruitment of equestrians by providing the opportunity for coaches and potential students to meet.



Along with the competition, the CPI will offer seminars and question & answer sessions during the show.  Riders and their families will hear about the college equestrian experience and familiarize themselves with the different associations that govern collegiate riding. There will also be a number of colleges and universities present at the CPI to distribute literature and introduce the academic and riding opportunities, including scholarships, offered at their institution.



For more information on the 2012 College Preparatory Invitational, to find out more about scholarship opportunities, or to give your financial support to the program, please visit www.collegeprepinviational.com for more information.

The College Preparatory Invitational is held during the prestigious 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The management company of the FTI WEF, Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), joined forces with the CPI to host the unique event, aimed at both young college-bound equestrians and their families.



Please visit the CPI horse show’s website at www.collegeprepinvitational.com or find them on Facebook for more information about the event, venue, scholarships and much more.

Photo Credit: Photos from last year’s College Preparatory Invitational seminars and awards presentation, copyright Rolando Conesa AIA. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with proper credit.