Lexington, KY (September 25, 2024) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to announce that Lillian Frenzel, of Bluffton, SC, has been named 2024 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed, both nationally and locally, to USDF and dressage. As the winner, Lillian Frenzel will be presented with a perpetual trophy, donated by the Akin family of Warwick, NY, in honor of Lendon Gray, which is on permanent display in the Roemer/USDF Hall of Fame. She will also receive a “keeper” trophy and be featured in the yearbook issue of USDF Connection.

In her nomination, Lillian is described by her nominator Kathryn Butt as, “a social lynchpin in the South Carolina youth dressage community and a stalwart helper of show management, clinic organizers, friends needing help braiding, facility managers, and more.”

One of her most recognized volunteer contributions has been her role with the South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association (SCDCTA) Annual Youth Clinic. This clinic, provided free of charge to SCDCTA youth member with over 8 non-consecutive volunteer hours, provides a unique opportunity for attendees to get their first taste of a high-performance clinic atmosphere while meeting and learning from FEI level clinicians they would most likely not have access to otherwise. Lillian easily logs over 100 volunteer hours in coordination with this clinic, as she facilitates and recruits sponsorships for the event. Specifically, her efforts in securing unprecedented sponsorship for this year’s clinic resulted in enough funding to prevent potential cancellation of the event. The SCDCTA Annual Youth Clinic is just the tip of the iceberg when discussing Lillian’s volunteer efforts. Her roles vary from delivering shavings, score running, ring stewarding, and coordinating other youth volunteers, all while excelling at school and other extracurricular activities, with a positive attitude and smile on her face.

USDF National Youth Programs Committee Chair Roz Kinstler had this to say, “Our youth dressage members are very clearly the future of our sport.  Lillian is exemplary in the variety of her efforts; from organizing clinics for other youth riders, to fund raising, to helping at competitions, she is always there to help in any way she can.  That kind of enthusiasm is infectious.  With youth members so involved and excited about dressage in all forms, we're insured a very bright future.”  

For more information about the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF office at youth@usdf.org.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.