by Brittany Bell

Lexington, KY — The Race for Education continues to honor the life, legacy and career of Bobby Frankel with its fifth Robert J. Frankel Scholarship.

The 2017 scholarship will be awarded to Wade Tomaszewski, a student from New York attending Villa Maria College in Buffalo, N.Y. Wade will be in his third year, pursuing a certification to become a Physical Therapy Assistant.

Tomaszewski’s family has been involved in horse racing since the 1940s, with his grandfather training both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Wade himself has been licensed as a groom since age 14 and is now a full A driver.

“Mr. Frankel was a great horseman. I am honored to receive this scholarship as it means a lot to me that Mr. Frankel would leave a legacy which would help young horsemen and horsewomen further their education. While I aspire to achieve success on the racetrack as Mr. Frankel did I will never lose sight of the generosity provided by his estate. I aspire to respect that by doing what I can to pass along that kindness and generosity as I move forward in my career in the health field and racing industry,” said Wade Tomaszewski, the scholarship recipient.

Frankel’s estate has contributed more than $150,000 to The Race For Education to establish an endowed scholarship in his name. The Robert J. Frankel Horsemen’s Scholarship is $5,000 annually and offered to a student whose family is employed in the racing industry to attend the college of their choice. Recipients may also be eligible for an additional $4,000 in scholarship funds from RFE’s federal Assets for Independence grant program.

The first recipient of the Robert J. Frankel Scholarship was Bethany DeStefano, from East Williston, N.Y. Bethany graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2016 with a degree in accounting.

“Wade Tomaszewski is the perfect example of the students we like to support; smart, hardworking and committed. I look forward to following his career both on and off the track. By establishing the Robert J. Frankel Horsemen’s Scholarship, Mr. Frankel’s legacy will continue to inspire young people in the racing industry for generations to come,” stated Elisabeth Jensen, Race for Education’s President and Executive Director.

Through academic development programs, tutoring, internships, financial literacy training and scholarships, the Race For Education provides opportunities for educational success for young people with significant financial need and academic challenges. Launched in 2002, The Race For Education has provided nearly $7 million in college scholarships and educational programs.