2013 Winners
Photo Credit: Rolando Conesa, AIA

 

 

Tweaking Some "Key Ingredients"

2014 CPI Show Manager, Peter Cashman

Recipes with great ingredients are essential to deliver great culinary outcomes. The CPI is in the process of stirring up its recipe for ongoing success, committed to improving all aspects of the show, the horse competition management being one of these key ingredients. The CPI is delighted to announce the addition of Show Manager Peter Cashman   to the 2014 event during the last week of WEF,  March 28 - 30, 2014, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach, Florida. Born into an equestrian family, Peter Cashman brings a wealth of experience. When asked about his appointment at the CPI, Cashman had this to say, "I derive great pleasure from having the opportunity to help guide and work with these young riders who are the future of our industry".

 

Sherry & Peter Cashman
Sherry & Peter Cashman

Peter Cashman grew up in the harness racing industry where he began his career as a groom and quickly rose to second trainer for some of the major racing stables in the country. Soon after, he opened his own public stable. In the mid eighties, he made a career change and took on the position of Director of Riding at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he oversees a 50 stall barn, a lesson program, the USMA Cadet Equestrian Team and the Army Mules. Along with his wife Sherry Cashman, co-coach of the USMA teams, the Cashmans have built the program into a highly competitive unit and have sent seven American Quarterhorse Association riders to Nationals as well as individuals in Western and English. They have also had three riders at the National Cacchione Cup. To Peter and Sherry, the USMA team has become an extension of their own family. Their daughter Randi graduated from Centenary College and rode on their equestrian team for four years. Randi is currently an equestrian professional and coaches an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team in Zone 2. Their younger daughter, Shelby, rode in the IEA and is currently a college sophomore at Centenary College.

 

Peter was awarded the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Coach of the Year in 2008 and has served on the IHSA Board of Directors for over 20 years. He has held numerous positions in the IHSA, from regional president, zone chair, and is currently Director at Large and Chairman of the IHSA National Horse Show Committee.

 

Jeanne Rouco-Conesa, CPI President, is thrilled to have Peter join the CPI team. "To have a gentleman of such knowledge and integrity accept this position is a seal of approval of  the CPI program and of the opportunities the CPI has provided student riders in the past three years. I am looking forward to working with Peter for years to come."

 

 

An Opportunity for All Students to Get Involved

Introducing the CPI Junior Ambassador Program

The CPI Junior Ambassadors are a select group of students that serve the junior equestrian community by raising funds to support The CPI Horse Show Scholarship Fund and by building awareness among student riders about the educational, competition, and scholarship opportunities available to college bound students at the CPI Horse Show. Ambassadors do not need to be equestrians! CPI Junior Ambassadors are important members of the CPI not-for-profit organization and share with their community the 3 T's that define volunteerism: TIME, TALENT, or TREASURE.

 

High school students, Camila Conesa and Marisa Tomassetti, both in Class of 2015, founded the program. They noted that the CPI draws a great pool of skilled student riders that are not aware of the numerous and varied collegiate riding opportunities offered around the country. By promoting the CPI Horse Show Scholarships, Marisa and Camila look to raise awareness of the CPI and help provide scholarship awards to more participants. Funds raised by the CPI Junior Ambassador Program will be strictly used to award scholarships to deserving student riders that participate in the CPI events.

 

CPI Junior Ambassador Program members are afforded the opportunity to earn community service hours by hosting fundraising events for the CPI Horse Show Scholarship Fund. For Junior Ambassadors that live close to the CPI Horse Show venue, the opportunities to learn, practice, and improve their personal skills are also available through volunteer service work at the CPI event.

 

Acknowledgement of CPI Junior Ambassadors:

 

Community Service Hours

The CPI Junior Ambassador Program depends on the service and commitment of its members, providing many tangibles that cannot easily be qualified. It takes time, talent, and treasure to organize successful fundraisers. In an effort to put a community service hour value to the dollars raised by CPI Junior Ambassadors, the founders drew up this formula:

Ambassadors will receive 1 community service hour for the first $25 raised. Each additional increment of $15 raised will earn the Ambassador an additional service hour.

 

Experience, Learn and Practice Personal Skills

CPI Junior Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to earn community service hours while working at the CPI Horse Show event. Volunteer opportunities will include the distribution of ribbons and prizes at the horse show ring, serve as aids for judges and show managers, work the CPI barn, stuff participant gift bags, register riders and caches at the event, perform clerical, data entry and office work, set up tables and banners, help colleges set up their display tables, manage the silent auction, etc.

 

EQUUS Foundation Champion Benefits

The EQUUS Foundation Champions Equine Service Program, sponsored by Ariat International, rewards volunteerism in support of the equine organizations participating on its carrots4acause network. The CPI Horse Show is an Alliance member and is listed on the network. To learn more and receive Champion benefits, including scholarships for your community service hours worked in support of the CPI, please visit:http://www.equusfoundation.org/carrots4acause-champions.php .

 

Participation in CPI Scholarships 

A CPI Junior Ambassador that cannot participate at the CPI Horse Show, yet raises a minimum of $300.00 for the CPI Scholarship Fund forty-five (45) days prior to the CPI Horse Show Event, will be allowed to participate in their choice of one of two CPI scholarship contests, the CPI Community Service Award or the CPI Essay Contest Award. If the Ambassador raises $500.00 prior to forty-five (45) days, s/he will be allowed to participate in both of the contests. Once a CPI Junior Ambassador reaches these threshold fundraising amounts, additional monies raised by the Ambassador will accumulate towards the following year's CPI Horse Show scholarship contests threshold amounts.

CPI Junior Ambassadors will be listed in the CPI e-newsletters and additionally, CPI ambassadors with outstanding fundraising accomplishments and initiatives will be highlighted form time to time in marketing and media materials and on the CPI website.

 

 

Camila (far left), Marisa (far right) with friends
Founders Camila Conesa (far left) and Marisa Tomassetti (far right),with Friends

 

Criteria for Membership:

  •  All students up to grade 12 may join the program; students do NOT have to be equestrians to be a member of the CPI Junior Ambassador Program.
  • Volunteer at or initiate a CPI Junior Ambassador fundraising activity. Ambassador will serve as representative and spokesperson of the CPI Horse Show and Scholarship Fund and shall be appropriately dressed when fundraising, distributing educational material, or performing volunteer work for the CPI. 
  • A CPI Junior Ambassador is always courteous and tactful, and interacts positively when fundraising or distributing material about the CPI Horse Show & Scholarship Fund. Organization and neatness are essential characteristics when distributing, handling, and submitting CPI documents.
  • The CPI Junior Ambassador is encouraged to purchase a CPI Horse Show baseball cap at the reduced price of $10 to wear at all fundraising or awareness-raising activities, especially for interviews and photographs. The purchase of the cap is not required to be an Ambassador, but encouraged.

 

Are you interested in becoming a CPI Junior Ambassador?

Download and complete the CPI Junior Ambassador Application. The CPI Ambassador Application cannot be submitted online, it must be mailed to:

 

CPI Junior Ambassador Program

c/o Camila and Marisa

111 San Lorenzo Avenue

Coral Gables, FL 33146

 

Once processed, applicant will receive a welcome letter, CPI distribution forms, and CPI donation forms via email to the email address provided by Ambassador. Please note all communications for the program with the ambassadors will be via email, newsletter and social media.

 

The CPI Junior Ambassador Program seeks and values your suggestions, comments and feedback. Please contact us at Ambassadors@collegeprepinvitational.com

 

 

North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Shares a Post
Focus on Sarah Vossers experience at the 2013 CPI
  
Recently, we discovered a post on the NCHJA's website made by Adele Marchant, the NCJHA Junior Representative. The CPI would like to officially thank Ms. Marchant for this initiative. We share with you portions of her interview with first time 2013 CPI participant, Sarah Vossers, Class of 2014.
  
Q: What was your experience at the CPI?
Sarah: It was really great! Not only are the facilities amazing, but talking one on one to the colleges is quite helpful. I ended up drawing rides that are totally different from my own horse, so it was fun to test out my skills on horses that weren't my preferred ride. Plus, most riders went to the Grand Prix at WEF after showing (at the CPI) and I even met Reed Kessler there!
  
Q: Would you recommend attending the CPI?
Sarah:  I would definitely recommend going to CPI! If you are at all interested in riding in college it is extremely informative and gives you a head start with recruiting. I'm so glad that I went!
Srah Vossers with her coach, Tony Alberstson
with her coach, Tony Albertson

Q: Why did you attend the CPI?

Sarah: I attended because I heard about other girls doing it, and when I read more the process,it seemed to be exactly what I needed. I was at the point where I could send colleges emails, but it would make a huge difference for them to see me. I also wanted to learn about the differences between IHSA and NCAA, but most importantly if I was going to enjoy riding a horse other than my own.

 

Q: What did you get out of it?

Sarah: CPI gave me a new way to gauge my riding abilities because I was competing against riders coming from WEF and all over the country who probably had more A show experience whereas I had only been to one A show before I went. I think it made a big impression being able to introduce myself to the coaches in person and let them know me as an individual and not another email in their inbox.

 

Q: What was it like meeting Reed Kessler?

Sarah: Meeting Reed Kessler was truly amazing. I'm kind of one of those groupies who is obsessed, but what she has accomplished for being her age is insane! She was so nice!! I got her autograph and a picture with her. She even replied to my picture on twitter that she found! I love that she is connected with her fans. That was probably the highlight of my visit at WEF!

with Olympian Reed Kessler

Q: What steps have you taken after attending the CPI to continue your college search?

Sarah: I have attended a camp at Auburn University, been offered a position on an IEA team, and been in contact with lots of coaches who saw me ride. Many schools sent letters or approached me after I finished my rides at CPI to visit their programs. After CPI, I began to create my equestrian r�sum� and videos to send out as well as actively contacting coaches. I have learned that its all about contact and interaction. I am considering attending a few schools such as Sweet Briar and SCAD, but during one of the talks at CPI presented by Ellen White, the head coach at Baylor, I learned that I loved the NCAA head to head format and I am pursuing that goal at the moment!

 

 

 

Please remain current with CPI developments and events.


"Like" College Preparatory Invitational on Facebook and join the CPI electronic mailing list through the link at the top right of this newsletter
  
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
  
The CPI Horse Show & Scholarship Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Alfred University

  

  

  

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

  

  

  

  

 

  

Centenery College

 

 

 

 

 

 DerDau 

 

 

 

 

Dietrich Insurance  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dyer Equestrian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Univ of Findlay Orange Stamp

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practical Horseman

 

 

 

 

 

Purina 

 

 

 

 

 

 Randolph College Seal 

 

 

 

 

 

  The Clothes Horse

 

 

 

 

 

USHJA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countach