Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the Kent Stirling Memorial Scholarship!

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the Kent Stirling Memorial Scholarship:

Valeria Abougaida, Edgar Agustin Benitez, Yazmin Agustin, Valerie Collazo, Liseli Coy, Ronald Coy, Julio C. Fernandez, Mia Fernandez, Angie Fuenmayor, Jorge Gallegos, Yiovani Gallegos, Ashley Grullon, Keisha Huerta, Gabrielle Kopach, Adriana Monterrey, Yubelki Morales, Arnold E. O'Farrill, Erick O'Farrill, Antonella Pizarro, Katie Ramos, Anna C. Ruiz, Daniella Sanchez and Nathan Truong.

Scholarships totaling nearly $80,000 were awarded to a record 23 deserving students whose studies ranged from criminal justice to  neuroscience, nursing and political science, to computer engineering and, more.  Since its inception, over $330,000 in scholarships have been awarded to backstretch employees and their families.

The recipients were celebrated Sunday, August 9th at a luncheon at Ten Palms restaurant at Gulfstream Park.

The FHBPA began awarding scholarships in 2000 and, in 2022 renamed the scholarship in honor of the late Kent Stirling former president and first executive director of the FHBPA.  Mr. Stirling was a passionate supporter of the backstretch community and the horse racing industry as a whole.

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