from the SOA of New York

Yonkers, NY — Bob MacDougall, chairman of the co-sponsored SOA of New York/Yonkers Raceway scholarship committee, has announced that Olivia Amitrano is the winner of the 2013-2014 scholarship award in the amount of $5,000 and Stephanie Lauer is the winner of the $3,000 award.

Olivia Amitrano is currently enrolled at Fordham University/Rose Hill, N.Y., where she is majoring in psychology, and has made tremendous strides this past semester towards her goal of creating awareness to the importance of nutrition, along with providing counsel to others to make and maintain healthy dietary and nutritional choices as a physcologist/nutritionist.

Stephanie Lauer is planning to attend Radford University, Radford, Va., this fall where she intends to study recreational therapy. With this major, her goal will be to teach others how to ride and work with horses, mainly the Standardbreds, and show how the calming effect of this therapy can impact those with special needs and improve their quality of life.

MacDougall noted that the “Scholarship records of both winners, along with their participation in extracurricular activities were excellent, and should serve as examples for all high school and college students to follow. The committee wishes all of the applicants the very best as they continue on with their education.”

The annual SOA/Yonkers Raceway scholarships are awarded to SOA members, or members of their immediate families, or to covered individuals (backstretch personnel) or a member of their immediate families, for study beyond the high school level. The recipient is chosen on the basis of merit and financial need.