Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship winners announced

Martin Scharf has been fortunate in his life, in many ways.Foremost, he is a highly successful New York real estate manager. In harness racing, he was blessed with 2000 Horse of the Year Gallo Blue Chip. Three years ago, Scharf established a scholarship to honor his champion pacer and on Saturday night, he will present the 2007 recipients with their awards at the Meadowlands.

Scharf’s decision to give back to the industry from which he has gleaned so much pleasure took shape after a discussion with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation in 2004. After thoughtful consideration, Scharf decided to establish a scholarship that would be administered through the HHYF. He wanted the Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship to assist children of horsemen, benefit children in the New York area and, most importantly, to be significant and life changing to the students selected.

Scharf takes an active role in all facets of the scholarship administration and selection. He contacts the recipients himself to give them the news of winning the scholarship and follows up with them to see how their academic life is unfolding.  

Andrea Nickerson will receive the $15,000 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship. Nickerson attends Elmira College and studies medicine, though she is undecided whether to work with humans or animals. Having been raised by very supportive parents, her father who is a dairy farmer and horseman and her mother who is a teacher, she understands the responsibilities of animal care as well as the importance of studying and learning. Nickerson is from Friendship, New York.

Te’neshia Washington will receive the $5,000 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship. She attends St. Rose and is studying graphic design. Washington and her family are from Monticello, New York.

For further information about the Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship, please contact the Harness Horse Youth Foundation at (317) 867-5877 or visit their website www.hhyf.org. (Meadowlands)

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