Contact: Ron Del Vecchio, Ph.D., head, Agriculture Department, 218-281-8109 Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

CROOKSTON, Minn. (March 28, 2007) – Danika Kent, a sophomore from Lancaster, Lindy Hausauer and Danika Kent Minn., at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), placed first in the Intercollegiate Horse Showing Association (IHSA) Western Horsemanship semi-finals competition held in Pomona, Cal., on Saturday, March 24, 2007. "This is an amazing accomplishment for a student athlete to attain. To progress to the national finals competition in any NCAA collegiate sport is a dream come true, and we are very proud of Danika and her diligence, hard work and success,” said Ron Del Vecchio, Ph.D., head of the agriculture department. “We are confident that she will represent UMC well in the national competition." Kent, a double major in equine science and animal science, will now compete against the nation's best in the national finals competition to be held in West Springfield, Mass., from May 3-5, 2007. With the recent decision for UMC to stay Division II, the success of the IHSA athletic team and individual riders demonstrates that UMC's student athletes within the equestrian sports can successfully compete and excel to the level of the National final's competition. "I am so proud of Danika and the accomplishments she has made in IHSA, both individually and for the team. She demonstrates a great attitude, willingness to learn and great sportsmanship. She is a fantastic rider and is definitely a tremendous role model for the other IHSA riders at UMC." said Jessica Sathoff, head IHSA coach. Sophomore Lindy Hausauer, Moorhead, Minn., also competed in the semifinals placing seventh. Kent and Hausauer competed against 13 others semi-finalists from Universities such as Ohio State, Midway, Ohio University Southern, Cal Poly Pomona, College of Southern Idaho, Oregon State University, Western Washington University and the United States Military Academy. For more information on IHSA or the equine science program at UMC, visit www.UMCrookston.edu/academics  or call Amy Lubarski at 218-281-8101 (lubarski@umn.edu). The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further and dream bigger dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.