Alumni

Kate Kunka is a 2007 Lake Erie College Summa Cum Laude graduate with a degree in Equine Facilities Management. Haling from Yorkville, Wisconsin, Ms. Kunka currently resides in East Lansing, Michigan and attends Michigan State University College of Law. During the coming summer, Ms. Kunka aims to work at a Criminal Law Firm or Public Defender office, and plans to serve as a future lobbyist against the Death Penalty and handle local equine law cases.

During her time at Lake Erie College, Ms. Kunka gained a wealth of experience in various capacities, including serving as a tutor, as a Student Ambassador, and as a research and teaching assistant. Ms. Kunka put her degree courses in Equine Science to use in drafting a report for an attorney litigating an equine torture case in Michigan, and will continue to serve her in her future career in equine law.

Emily Miller began taking jumping lessons at the Lake Erie College Equestrian Center at the age of 12, later choosing to attend the college to study Biology. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree and awards in her field of study in 2000, Ms. Miller moved on to enter the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Newly graduated with her DVM degree in 2004, Dr. Miller began working for Cleveland Equine Clinic, based in Ravenna, OH. The state-of-the-art facilities of the Clinic currently provide Dr. Miller with the tools necessary for her to explore her interest in race and performance horses. Now happily married to Darren Otero, Dr. Miller looks forward to continuing to grow as an equine veterinarian, as well as seeing a return to riding and competing her Quarter Horses.

Dr. Miller's degree in Biology from Lake Erie College prepared her to meet the pre-veterinary requirements and in-depth studies awaiting her at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to the courses applied toward her degree in Biology, Dr. Miller participated in a variety of equine-related classes, including the subjects of nutrition, reproduction, and lameness. Tackling courses specific to her interest in horses provided Dr. Miller with the chance to develop skills that would later prove invaluable to her daily practice as an equine veterinarian.

Dr. Miller credits the leadership opportunities and personal interaction with strong mentors provided by the small-campus atmosphere of Lake Erie College as being a valuable contributor to her post-baccalaureate endeavors.

Theresa Scout, a 1998 Lake Erie College graduate, currently serves as a valuable asset at Maypine Farm in Willoughby Hills, OH (teaching students). Following her graduation, at which time she was awarded her B.A. in Business Administration and Equestrian Teacher/Trainer, Ms. Scout worked under another highly distinguished LEC alumn, Nancy Smith, known for her professionalism and accomplishments in dressage. Ms. Scout rode horses with Nancy from Training Level up through Grand Prix and competed up to 4th Level. Relocating to California, Ms. Scout was employed by Campbellot Farm to start, show, and present to prospective clients the fine young horses raised at this Hanoverian breeding facility.

In 2004, Ms. Scout began her service for Maypine Farm in Willoughby, OH, where she currently rides and teaches on a daily basis. She looks forward to continuing to develop the solid showing program at Maypine Farm, following in the footsteps of previous trainers and coaching her students to nationally ranked levels in their respective divisions.

Ms. Scout's achievements during her time at Lake Erie College include advancing to the Regional competition in the Novice Hunter division in IHSA, serving as president of the Team de Ville Club to organize and run the sizable event, in which she also competed in both the jumper and dressage portions. Ms. Scout is also the only student to have shown Absolut, Lake Erie College's spirited Swedish Warmblood stallion.

The most valuable experiences of Ms. Scout's Lake Erie College career were interactions with different types of people and the chance to network with professionals in the industry. The advice Ms. Scout would most like to offer to current and future Lake Erie College students is that a willingness to work hard and focus on the purpose of one's goals is the most important factor for success.

Janie Rentz credits her education at Lake Erie College for her success in the horse world. While at Lake Erie College, she rode on the IHSA team and became the first LEC rider to make it to Nationals, winning her National title in her flat class in her junior year. During her senior year, she again competed at IHSA Nationals and in the Jumper Team De Villes. One of Janie’s best memories of riding for Lake Erie was riding in the Team De Villes. Before one of the jumping rounds, she entered the arena and got bucked off. She somehow landed on her feet and hopped back on before the buzzer rang, and amazingly won the class!

After graduating from LEC Janie continued on to Georgetown University
where she completed the Training and Development program. Janie started and ran the Georgetown and George Washington Intercollegiate Teams in1997. She coached them for many years and then headed down to Florida to compete and train with top Olympic riders. Janie then moved to Germany where she rode and continued her training at Performance Sales International (P.S.I.), one of the elite auction barns of Europe. Upon returning to the United States, Janie focused on developing her own teaching, training and sales business "JL Training” at her farm in Purcellville, Virginia (http://web.me.com/jltraining/Site/JLTraining.html ). Janie shows at the FEI level, and has shown to Prix St. George level and trained to Grand Prix dressage.

Janie Lynn Rentz learned along the way to always keep your goals in
mind, and that you might be surprised about your journey to success. She reflects that LEC is an amazing stepping stone for anyone to learn about themselves in a safe and supportive community. The small classes, experienced teachers and faculty give you the best education you can get.

An alumna of Lake Erie College, Sue graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies in 1975. She is the founder and co-owner with her husband Dyke Shaffer of Fairwind Farm (http://fairwindfarm.biz) in the wine country of Santa Rosa, CA. Sue has competed at the FEI levels for over 20 years, and has had multiple horses in the top ten nationally. She has had multiple students reach the top ten in USDF standings, and several of her Young Riders have medaled in the prestigious North American Junior/Young Rider Program. Of special note is Riana Porter, a recent National Champion. Sue Schaffer is a USEF "S” Dressage Judge, and is also an FEI Para-Equestrian Judge. In addition to the busy teaching and clinic schedule, Fairwind Farm stands Donnerschlag, a well-known Oldenburg stallion, by Donnerhall. Donnerschlag has sired multiple Premium foals, many of whom are competing very successfully at the FEI Level.