Shashanna Moll, a third-year veterinary student at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the Ellen DiBella Memorial Scholarship during the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 70th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on December 8, 2024.
Established in 2023, this scholarship is funded by Drs. Karen and Frank Wolfsheimer of Micanopy, Florida, in honor of Ellen DiBella and is administered by The Foundation for the Horse. It is awarded annually to an exemplary third-year equine veterinary student from one of four veterinary colleges: Auburn University, the University of Florida, Louisiana State University, or Purdue University. The scholarship is designed to support the recipient’s transition from school to practice, providing financial assistance over five years as long as they remain active in equine veterinary medicine.
Karen Wolfsheimer, a longtime AAEP member and former professor, is a consultant internist and endocrinologist who earned her veterinary degree from Auburn University in 1978. Her husband, Frank, is a retired physician-turned-farmer and “horse husband.”
“Our hope is to see young equine practitioners’ passion strengthened as they learn about other passionate equestrians like Ellen DiBella, who believed that all horses should be valued and cherished,” says Mrs. Wolfsheimer. “We also hope this award, in its design, will keep recipients engaged in the wonderful world of equine medicine.”
DiBella’s contributions to equestrian sport and the Morgan horse industry were profound. She dedicated her life to inspiring others and creating opportunities for equestrians and their horses. She served on the governing boards of the United States Equestrian Federation, the American Morgan Horse Association, and the Colorado Horse Park. She was the founding president of the Western Dressage Association of America and received the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. DiBella passed away in August 2023.
In her acceptance speech for the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award, DiBella said, “I would say to everyone, ‘Love your horses. Listen to your horses. Be partners with your horses. Share your horses with as many people as you can, because those horses will make you better and make everyone else better.’”
About The Foundation for the Horse
Established in 1994, The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the welfare of the horse through education, research, and help for horses at risk. It is governed and stewarded by world-renowned equine veterinarians and equine stakeholders. In 2024, in honor of its 30th anniversary, The Foundation awarded a record $3 million in scholarships, grants, and program support to help transform the lives of horses throughout the United States and across the globe. To learn more, visit FoundationForTheHorse.org.
