Yonkers, NY — Sandra Kaufman, chairman of the co-sponsored SOA of New York/Yonkers Raceway scholarship committee, has announced that Jennifer Lauer is the winner of the 2019-2020 scholarship award in the amount of $5,000. The second place award of $3,000 went to Dean Blumenfeld and John McDermott picked up the third place scholarship award of $2,000.

Jennifer Lauer is currently enrolled at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is pursuing a veterinary degree and plans on becoming an equine veterinarian. Jennifer’s father Bruce trains a stable of horses racing in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Dean Blumenfeld is currently enrolled at Arizona State University pursuing a PhD in Anthropology. Dean’s father Paul trains horses in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

John McDermott is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. John’s father John McDermott races horses at Yonkers Raceway and around the East Coast.

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.

The applicants were judged first by an independent third party to produce the top five candidates. Then the committee selected the top three winners from the five finalists. Personal information from all the candidates was redacted when presented to the independent party and the committee to assure a blind judging process.