United States Polo Association Announces Inaugural Intercollegiate Scholarship Award Recipients

LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Sept. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- The United States Polo Association® (USPA) today announced the recipients of the 2015 Inaugural Intercollegiate Scholarship Program Award, which offers $4,000 to six outstanding interscholastic and intercollegiate polo players. The mission of the Inaugural Intercollegiate Scholarship program is to promote horsemanship, sportsmanship, moral character, and academics.

The USPA welcomes this year’s Scholarship Award winners ahead of the 2015-2016 I/I season beginning in September. The Intercollegiate Scholarship Program joins a list of new I/I initiatives, which include the Middle School League, the Interscholastic Varsity Letter Program and regular season champions.

“Academics and polo go hand in hand within the United States Polo Association Intercollegiate/Interscholastic program and this is the first time we are able to offer academic support to young players who have proven their dedication both on the field and in the classroom,” said Amy Fraser, USPA I/I Director. “We are proud to support some of the best student athletes across the country and to help them continue pursuing their passion for the sport of polo. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients, a truly inspiring group of individuals.”

The six recipients of the 2015 Inaugural Intercollegiate Scholarship Program Award are:

Anna Campbell

From Geneseo, NY, Anna is currently a senior at Alfred State College in Alfred, NY, playing for the Western NY Polo Club’s interscholastic team. She is Captain/Founder of the Alfred State College polo program, winner of the 2015 USPA Northeastern Intercollegiate Women’s Preliminary, and recipient of the Northeastern IC Women’s Prelim All Star Award. Ann is also on the Alfred State Dean’s list and President of the Newman Club, as well as recipient of the Phia Theta Kappa honors and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship.

Nicole Cohen

Originally, from Greenwich, CT, Nicole is now a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, playing on the Gardnerton Polo Club and Yale Polo Club interscholastic teams. She is the recipient of the 2015 USPA Northeastern Interscholastic Open Preliminary All Star Award. She is on the Academic Honor Roll. In addition to polo, Nicole also plays Varsity Field Hockey and runs Varsity Track.

Fiona McBride-Luman

Fiona, from Oakdale, CA is a freshman at Cal Polo University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She plays on the Oakdale Polo Club’s interscholastic team and was awarded the 2015 USPA Western Girls’ Interscholastic Regional All Star Award, as well as a 2015 Varsity Interscholastic Polo letter. She also raises guide dogs for the blind.

Kathleen Moriarty

Kathleen is a freshman at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, serving as the captain on the Connecticut Polo Club’s interscholastic team. She earned a 2015 Varsity Interscholastic Polo Letter, while also making the Honor Roll and the National Honors Society. She also participates in the Girl Scouts, 4-H, and choir.

James Shiverick

Raised in at Atlanta, GA, James is now a sophomore at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, playing on the Atlanta Regional Polo Center’s interscholastic team. He participated in the 2015 USPA National Intercollegiate Semifinal team and received the 2015 USPA Men’s Central Regional All Star Award. He enjoys riding young horses.

Marissa Wells

Marissa, from Freeland, MD, is a freshman at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, playing on the Maryland Polo Club’s interscholastic team. She is a 2015 USPA Girl’s Interscholastic National Champion and 2015 USPA Girls’ Southeastern Regional Champion. Marissa received the 2015 USPA Girls Interscholastic National All Star Award, 2014 PTF Interscholastic Female Player of the Year, and was named a 2015 USPA Girls’ Southeastern Regional All Star. She graduated with honors and enjoys training polo horses and photography.

About the United States Polo Association ® Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Program

The United States Polo Association runs over 30 tournaments annually through its Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) program, whose mission is to promote and grow the sport of polo by providing maximum exposure to the sport, recruiting collegiate and scholastic institutions, coordinating activities of member schools and players, providing for organized competition including sponsoring and administering regional and national tournaments with an emphasis on sportsmanship, fairness and safety, and by effectively utilizing funding for the benefit of I/I activities.

About the United States Polo Association ®

Founded in 1890, the United States Polo Association (USPA) is the national governing body for the sport of polo in North America and is the second oldest sport governing body in the United States preceded only by the United States Tennis Association. With nearly 300 member clubs and 40 national tournaments, the USPA governs polo handicaps, tournament rules and safety regulations, to ensure the welfare and being of both pony and player. Funded by sales from the officially licensed consumer brand, U.S. Polo Assn., the USPA purposefully re-invests revenue by underwriting numerous development programs to expand and sustain the sport of polo. For more information please visit www.uspolo.org.