from Harness Horsemen International

Burlington, NJ — Parker Steck has been awarded the 2018 Harness Horsemen International annual $4,000 Jerome L. Hauck Scholarship.

Steck, 18, hails from Marengo, Ohio and hopes to attend Ashland University this fall to pursue a degree in nursing.

Steck is the daughter of trainers Ron and Kila Steck, who have been involved in the Standardbred business in the Buckeye State their entire lives. She currently resides with her parents, along with 12-year-old brother, Ranger Steck.

Steck maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 during her years at Highland High School in Marengo, and was an Ohio Scholars’ Association member and Scholar Athlete. She also worked for her parent’s stable — Steck Racing — as a caretaker, and for the Cardinal Shooting Center & Campground, helping to support events during one of America’s largest trapshooting events.

In addition, she was President of Marengo’s Livestock Unlimited 4-H Club and helped to schedule donors for the local American Red Cross Blood Drive. Steck received numerous awards in team volleyball, basketball and softball and was Showmanship Champion for lamb and equine at the 2017 Morrow County Fair, and had Reserve Grand Champion Lamb at the 2013 Morrow Co. Fair.

Steck says she wants to become a nurse after a 2014 car accident took the life of her oldest brother.

“When my brother passed, I had no idea at that point what I wanted to do, but those days at Grand Hospital quickly showed me,” Steck said. “I wanted to be a nurse like the ones who helped my brother, and ran three blood drives a year for three years in honor of my brother. I am also a new owner of my first racehorse and will remain active in the industry no matter what degree I achieve.”

Harness Horsemen International is delighted to present the Jerome L. Hauck Scholarship to such a deserving candidate as Parker Steck.