128 SIDELINES AUGUST 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jan Westmark
Earning an A+ is a great achievement. Parents have been
known to hang report cards on refrigerators for far less then an
A+. Even if you’ve been out of school a long time, earning an A+
is something to cheer about — so I’m sending out a big cheer
to
Sidelines
writer Lauren R. Giannini on winning the Alltech A+
Journalism Award.
Lauren won the award for a story she wrote about Gentle
Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses called “Little Horses Do
Big Jobs.” The story appeared in the September 2013 issue of
Sidelines
and Lauren has been recognized twice so far for the
award: the first time at an Alltech media dinner in May in Lexington,
Kentucky, and again at the American Horse Publications (AHP)
conference recently in Charleston, South Carolina. This big shout-
out is her third time to be recognized — but since I feel like a
proud parent hanging Lauren’s A+ report on the fridge, I think it’s
just fine.
The Alltech A+ Equine Journalism Award is presented to the
author of the best AHP article that increases awareness and love
of equestrian sport to mainstream readers. The official press
release stated: Lauren Giannini won the award with her article,
“Little Horses Do Big Jobs,” published in
Sidelines
Magazine.
The judge commented, “In looking at the criteria for this award for
‘increasing awareness and love of equestrian sport to mainstream
readers,’ this heart-warming tale is difficult to beat. Although there
were other very well-written articles in this category, this story far
and away takes the lead in appealing to the mainstream public
Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner
Musings About Awards,
Charleston and Weddings
e
The Bottom Line
and engaging them in the tale of these therapy horses. Really
enjoyed reading about these little horses and their big jobs but
also about the big hearts of these horses’ humans.”
Sidelines
won additional writing awards while in Charleston,
and while we didn’t sweat it out during the awards ceremony, we
did sweat it out while touring the historic city. Is there a muggier,
hotter city in existence? We still had a great time galloping around
the city, although we missed
Sidelines
assistant editor Dani
Moritz, who wasn’t there to pick up her second-place award on
her story “Remarkable Reed” written about Olympic show jumper
Reed Kessler. (I have it Dani and it’s hanging on my refrigerator!)
Dani had a different plan during the AHP weekend — she got
married. Dani married her high school sweetheart, Alex Long, who
is also part of the
Sidelines
family. Alex currently works as our
graphic design intern and re-designed the “Letter From the Editor”
page at the front of the magazine, of which I am a big fan!
While we missed Dani, we were able to catch up with
Sidelines
writer Katie Navarra, who took home a first-place win for an online
story she did called “Horse Trailering Accidents” which appeared
on an equine medical website. Congratulations Katie! A few other
friendly faces were spotted, including former
Sidelines
intern Catie
Staszak, who won the AHP Student Award. Way to go Catie! The
last three winners of the AHP Student Award have interned for
Sidelines
!
I love the saying “Winner, winner chicken dinner” so I send
this shout-out to all the winners. Or since the awards took place
in Charleston and we ate shrimp and grits during the awards
banquet, let’s change the saying to “Winner, winner seafood
dinner.” Congratulations everyone!
Bride and
Groom!
Sidelines
assistant
editor Dani
Moritz
married
Alex Long in
Chicago on
the weekend
of the AHP
conference.
The Alltech A+
Journalism Award:
(left to right)
Sidelines
editor Jan Westmark,
Sidelines
writer
and Alltech award
recipient Lauren
R. Giannini and
American Horse
Publications president
Christine Hamilton.
Photo by Diana De Rosa
Photography
Sidelines
writer
Katie Navarra (left)
with editor Jan
Westmark at the
AHP conference.
Former
Sidelines
intern Catie Staszak
won the AHP
Student Award.
