Meza earns prestigious Kentucky Equine Management Internship:

COS Equestrian student-athlete Vanessa Meza has earned the prestigious Kentucky Equine Management Internship after being on the COS Equestrian Team for the past three seasons. 

"We are really excited for her and this is a great opportunity for Vanessa. She has been great to work with and is very deserving. This internship is very difficult to land with students all over the nation applying. We are proud of her," said COS Equestrian Head Coach Kim Pitigliano. 

Meza graduated from La Sierra Military Academy in Visalia before coming to COS Tulare and has had a great experience at COS competing for the Equestrian Team. "It was great getting to know and meet people who have my same interest (in equestrian). Coach Pit and my teammates were great and we all worked toward the same goals," said Meza. 

Meza leave this Sunday June 10 for Kentucky. As a part of her internship program, she will be working on farms that partner with the University of Kentucky as well as other educational institutions. Meza will be working on the farm six days per week for six months with weekly classes scheduled to learn more about how to care for horses. After the six month of internship is up Vanessa will earn a certificate which will allow her to continue her studies in Equine Science or she will have the option of staying at the farm in Kentucky to have a permanent position. "I'm not sure yet what I am going to do. I'm just looking forward to getting started next week" said Meza.  

"I am really thankful to our community that is helping fund this internship, my teammates, Coach Pit, and COS Tulare who organized the Coordinator of the program to come and speak to us at COS. This is a dream I have had since my father bought me my first horse when I was twelve."