When There’s a Will There’s a Way Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship Winner Tom Schoen By L.A. Pomeroy for IHSA Miami University of Ohio freshman Tom Schoen is the 2010 recipient of the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship. Schoen rides on the Miami University Equestrian Team (MUET) in the Walk Trot division under coaches Heather Pinnick and Lori Cramer. The 19-year-old English Education major was not a rider before college, but his passion for the sport will lead him to become a horseman by the time he graduates. His interest in horses was sparked by his mother, who started riding the summer before his freshman year. “I went a few times with my mom to the barn to attempt to ride,” Schoen said. “When it came time to go to school, I told her I was going to miss the barn and horses. She suggested I get a job at the stables at Miami U. and try to squeeze in lessons. So I emailed Heather Pinnick about a job, and by the end of my first month, I was picking out stalls and feeding horses.” Soon Schoen was taking lessons and it wasn’t long before he was invited to join MUET’s hunter seat team. “From that day forward, things started falling into place. They say some people get hooked. Well, I got hooked.” Schoen’s enthusiastic commitment did not go unnoticed by his coaches, who nominated him for the scholarship. In Schoen, Pinnick saw everything the late, great horseman (Conyers) loved about student riders: “Tom came to school with no riding experience, but an unsurpassed desire to learn all he could. His love of horses led him to join our student staff, and he is always willing to pick up an extra shift to ensure the best care of our herd. Miami students pay to ride on the team, and Tom is responsible for paying for all of his riding at college. This scholarship will ensure he can continue in the years to come.” The Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship was established by the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation to honor its extraordinary teacher, judge, and coach. It is presented annually to an undergraduate competing member of IHSA, and includes a $1,000 award. For more information about IHSA , visit www.IHSAinc.com.