Prestigious Equestrian Sporting Event Welcomes 22 Local Teens
to Serve on WIHS Junior Committee
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2015—The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, is pleased to announce Miriam Dupree, 17, of Washington, D.C., as 2015 WIHS Youth Ambassador. WIHS also welcomes 22 local teens attending schools in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. to serve on the 2015 WIHS Junior Committee.
“We have a great group of students joining us this year with an astonishing breadth of accomplishments, interests and dedication to service. They are passionate about horse sports and that’s what brings them to us, but they’re also actively involved in supporting the local community,” said WIHS Executive Director Bridget Love Meehan. “We’re very fortunate to have these future leaders join us to help produce our horse show in the city and bring their ideas and energy to our community events like WIHS Kids’ Day, Barn Night, Military Night and Breakfast with the Mounted Police.”
Miriam Dupree of Washington, D.C., newly named Youth Ambassador of the 2015 Washington International Horse Show with her horse, Medrano. Photo Emily Ambach.
Dupree is a rising senior at The Potomac School in McLean, Va., where she is a club leader for the Potomac Animal Welfare Society and former captain of the field hockey team. She also is an ambassador for JustWorld International, a volunteer organization helping impoverished children. This summer, Dupree will attend the Cultural Crossroads Leadership program at Wake Forest University and will travel to Vietnam to work as an intern. Her other interests include hiking, backpacking and running.
In her role as WIHS Youth Ambassador, Dupree will serve as the organization’s youth spokesperson and chair the WIHS Junior Committee, a group of students from local area schools, who together initiate and work on horse-related youth programs and community-focused educational events.
“The past few years have been truly amazing,” said Dupree, who has served on the junior committee since 2013 and attended the show since 2011. “The WIHS Junior Committee gives you such great opportunities to work with the most amazing people, inside and outside the ring. It also teaches you about team work, organizing projects and communication.”
An avid horsewoman, Dupree was exposed to horses as a young child. Her mother was an active eventer and fox hunter and her uncle is a racehorse trainer. She has competed extensively in hunter and jumper competition on the East Coast with her two horses, Medrano and Eros, and hopes to qualify to ride at WIHS next year for the first time. She trains with Ian McCartney at The Madeira School.
“The WIHS Junior Committee and Youth Ambassador Program represents the heart of the show,” said WIHS President Vicki Lowell. “Hands on, creative and inclusive, these hardworking teens will help bring together hundreds of horses and literally thousands of kids for a one of a kind equestrian experience in downtown D.C. Frankly we couldn’t do it without them and would like to congratulate and thank each one of them for their commitment to this special event!” said WIHS President Vicki Lowell.
2015 WIHS Junior Committee:
- Miriam Dupree, 2015 WIHS Youth Ambassador, 17, The Potomac School
- Jocelyn “Jacey” Albaugh, 15, The Madeira School
- Madison Allen, 14, Hayfield Secondary School
- Hayley Antonelli, 14, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
- Ana Bertozzi, 14, Stone Hill Middle School
- Thea Bitar, 13, The Langley School
- Charlotte Burch, 15, The Madeira School
- Mary Elizabeth Cordia, 16, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
- Adam Edgar, 15, Loudon County High School
- Sarah Holladay, 17, Connelly School of the Holy Child
- Olivia McCarren, 14, Westland Middle School
- Katie McCoy, 15, Yorktown High School
- Rachel Michael, 16, The Madeira School
- Holden Rafey, 15, Walter Johnson High School
- Natalie Ralston, 17, Langley High School
- Jenny Searles, 16, Home Schooled
- Chace Simmons, 17, Colonial Forge High School
- Jennifer Taylor, 14, Mount De Sales Academy
- Mollie Thomas, 17, The Madeira School
- Louise Whitner, 13, Hill School
- Kendall Ann Youngblood, 14, Cooper Middle School
- Jenna Zimmerman, 14, Kilmer Middle School
The WIHS Junior Committee and Youth Ambassador Program was created in 2009. Members are selected through an application process that begins in March. For more information, visit http://www.wihs.org/youth-ambassador-junior-committee/.
The 57th annual Washington International Horse Show will return October 20-25, 2015, to Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
About the Washington International Horse Show (wihs.org)
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show attracts more than 26,000 spectators to the six-day show, which includes Olympic-level competition along with community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders come to D.C. from all over the globe to jump for more than a half a million dollars in prize money. Event highlights include the Puissance high jump competition on Military Night (Friday), the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping qualifier, the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (Saturday night) and Kids’ Day (Saturday), a free, fun and educational community event. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and is recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group. WIHS is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports.