Recognizing the Two Silver Medal Volunteers and 12 Bronze Medal Volunteers of 2021

Dec 22, 2021

Recognizing the Two Silver Medal Volunteers and 12 Bronze Medal Volunteers of 2021

By Claire Kelley - USEA Staff

The USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) launched the Volunteer Medal Program in 2020 to enhance the recognition of these resilient volunteers. The Volunteer Medal Program recognizes the volunteers who consistently volunteer year after year. Hours earned are cumulative over a lifetime of volunteer service. To earn a bronze medal, volunteers must record 500 volunteer hours; to earn a silver medal, volunteers must record 1,000 volunteer hours; and to earn a gold medal, volunteers must record 2,000 volunteer hours at eventingvolunteers.com.

Last year in 2020, seven volunteers earned their bronze medal and in 2021, 12 volunteers earned their bronze medal and two volunteers earned their silver medal. These hours have accumulated since December 1, 2016.

Silver Medal Volunteers:

The leading volunteer featured on the Volunteer Medal Program leaderboard is Diane Bird who has accumulated 1,130 hours and 16 minutes. She has recorded over 100 volunteer hours every year since 2017. She was the 2019 USEA Volunteer of the Year presented by Sunsprite Warmbloods. Get to know more about Diane Bird by clicking here. Diane Bird’s path to a silver medal:

2021: 282 hours and 55 minutes
2020: 222 hours and 43 minutes
2019: 307 hours and 31 minutes
2018: 213 hours and 40 minutes
2017: 103 hours and 27 minutes

The 2021 USEA Volunteer of the Year, Cynthia Smith also achieved her silver medal this past year. Since 2016 Smith has recorded 1,045 hours and 45 minutes. In 2021 alone she recorded an impressive 536 hours and 59 minutes, which is the most hours recorded in a single year since the creation of the VIP program in 2014. Cynthia Smith’s path to a silver medal:

2021: 536 hours and 59 minutes
2020: 264 hours and 21 minutes
2019: 243 hours and 43 minutes

Bronze Medal Volunteers:

There were 12 volunteers who joined the already seven bronze medal volunteers in 2021. The seven bronze medal volunteers from 2020 were Diane Bird, Michael Smallwood, Art Bird, Paige Ervin, Leah Fleming, Angie Leihy, and Cynthia Smith. The 12 new bronze medal volunteers include David Slagle, James Newman, John Bandrofchak, Dick Owen, Dennis Davis, Susan Hart, TJ Costa, Joan Harper, Margaret Potorski, Todd Killalea, Doug Flick, and Cindy Jezerski.

David Slagle of Tennessee has accumulated 856 hours and 11 minutes since 2016. In 2021 he earned 471 hours and 36 minutes which ranks him #2 on the 2021 National USEA Volunteer of the Year leaderboard. David Slagle’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 471 hours and 36 minutes
2020: 246 hours and 35 minutes
2019: 138 hours

The 2020 USEA Volunteer of the Year, James Newman of Virginia, earned his bronze medal in 2021. He has recorded 764 hours and 24 minutes since 2016. To learn more about Newman, please click here. James Newman’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 471 hours and 36 minutes
2020: 292 hours and 51 minutes
2019: 171 hours and 8 minutes

The Georgia resident, John Bandrofchak has accumulated 702 hours and 54 minutes. John Bandrofchak’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 235 hours and 24 minutes
2020: 119 hours and 4 minutes
2019: 207 hours and 41 minutes
2018: 52 hours and 8 minutes
2017: 88 hours and 36 minutes

Dick Owen from Florida has logged in 596 hours and 38 minutes since 2016 to achieve his bronze medal. Dick Owen’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 282 hours and 8 minutes
2020: 130 hours and 4 minutes
2019: 138 hours and 50 minutes
2018: 9 hours and 45 minutes
2017: 25 hours and 30 minutes

The Maryland resident, Dennis Davis has recorded 585 hours and 40 minutes to earn his bronze medal. Dennis Davis’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 286 hours and 40 minutes
2020: 32 hours and 4 minutes
2019: 111 hours and 27 minutes
2018: 113 hours and 15 minutes
2017: 42 hours and 15 minutes

Susan Hart of Pennsylvania has recorded 557 hours and 15 minutes to earn her bronze medal in 2021. Susan Hart’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 272 hours and 17 minutes
2020: 143 hours and 41 minutes
2019: 132 hours and 16 minutes
2018: 9 hours

Another Pennsylvania resident, TJ Costa has recorded 556 hours and 24 minutes to earn her bronze medal. TJ Costa’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 77 hours and 3 minutes
2020: 6 hours and 30 minutes
2019: 226 hours and 48 minutes
2018: 125 hours and 57 minutes
2017: 120 hours and 4 minutes

Like TJ Costa, Joan Harper has also recorded 556 hours. Harper of North Carolina has recorded 556 hours and 17 minutes to earn her bronze medal. Joan Harper’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 184 hours
2020: 144 hours
2019: 137 hours
2018: 91 hours and 17 minutes

Margaret Potorski of Massachusetts has recorded 537 hours and 26 minutes to earn her bronze medal. Margaret Potorski’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 233 hours and 50 minutes
2020: 45 hours and 14 minutes
2019: 184 hours and 57 minutes
2018: 62 hours and 55 minutes
2017: 10 hours and 30 minutes

The California resident, Todd Killalea has accumulated 514 hours and 22 minutes to earn his bronze medal. Todd Killalea’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 128 hours and 51 minutes
2020: 123 hours and 34 minutes
2019: 124 hours and 28 minutes
2018: 94 hours and 44 minutes
2017: 42 hours and 45 minutes

The third bronze medal volunteer from Pennsylvania is Doug Flick who has logged in 514 hours and 18 minutes to earn his bronze medal. Doug Flick’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 138 hours and 35 minutes
2020: 64 hours and 3 minutes
2019: 144 hours and 19 minutes
2018: 125 hours and 51 minutes
2017: 41 hours and 30 minutes

Rounding out the 12 new bronze medal volunteers is Cindy Jezerski of Florida who has recorded 500 hours and 31 minutes to earn his bronze medal. Cindy Jezerski’s path to a bronze medal:

2021: 149 hours and 22 minutes
2020: 68 hours and 34 minutes
2019: 227 hours and 20 minutes
2018: 45 hours and 15 minutes
2017: 10 hours

**These volunteers mentioned above will receive their bronze and silver medal awards in the mail in January 2021.

Congratulations to all the volunteers! The USEA looks forward to seeing you next year.

About the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport, the unsung heroes, and the people who make it possible to keep the sport alive. In efforts to recognize the dedication, commitment, and hard work that volunteers put into eventing, USEA formed the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) in 2015. In 2017, an online management portal was designed for volunteers, organizers, and volunteer coordinators at EventingVolunteers.com (available as an app for iOS and Android).

Volunteer incentives include national and area recognition, year-end awards with ribbons, cash prizes, and trophies, a top ten USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a Volunteer of the Year award which is given to the volunteer who tops the leaderboard by accumulating the most volunteer hours over the USEA competition year. Click here to learn more about the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program.

The USEA would like to thank Sunsprite Warmbloods for sponsoring the Volunteer Incentive Program.

Volunteer Incentive Program

Dec 23, 2024 Education

Saddle Fit Simplified

Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?

Dec 22, 2024 USEA Foundation

Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant

Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!

Dec 21, 2024 Education

3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025

With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.

Dec 20, 2024 Sponsor

“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA