Kuhlenschmidt & Martin Awarded 2010
Russell-Rice TRA Scholarship

August 11, 2010 - Jack Kuhlenschmidt and Jackson “Jake” Martin will enter the freshman class at Vanderbilt University as the 2010 co-recipients of the 52nd Fred Russell-Grantland Rice TRA Scholarship for sports writing, it was announced by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) Wednesday.

Kuhlenschmidt, a graduate of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, Calif., and Martin, a graduate of Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta, Ga. were selected from 102 applicants for this year’s stipend, which covers full tuition at Vanderbilt for four years.

Named in honor of two legendary sports writing alumni of Vanderbilt, the scholarship has an extraordinary record of producing prominent and successful writers and television personalities, including Roy Blount, Jr., Bill Livingston, Skip Bayless, John (Joe Bob Briggs) Bloom, David Sheinin, Tyler Kepner, Lee Jenkins, and Daniel Wolken.

Kuhlenschmidt, extensively involved in sports journalism, served as the president of content for the calihighsports.com website for high school sports in California and was feature football columnist for scoutingthesports.com. He played lacrosse in high school and received the prestigious Eagle Scout Summit and Bronze Palm Awards.

He will be an Economics major at Vanderbilt and hopes to become either a journalist or an attorney.

Martin received the Coca-Cola Scholar Athlete Award as a high school senior, having played water polo, varsity baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, and golf all while maintaining his academic standing in the top 10% of his class. He was Georgia All-State in water polo and serves as an instructor at the Emory Baseball Camp.

He was voted All-Georgia (Best in State) Sports Columnist in 11th and 12th grades, was Producer of Grady High School’s sports television show, “Gametime,” and was Managing Editor of his high school newspaper, The Southerner. He will major in Communication Studies and intends to pursue a law degree after graduation. His goal is to work as a sports broadcaster, preferably announcing Major League Baseball or college football games for ESPN or a similar sports network.

The scholarship winners, selected by a panel chaired by Oaklawn Park President Charles J. Cella, have distinguished themselves not just in sports writing and broadcasting, but in other fields as well.

The four-year scholarship is co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the TRA and is awarded to an outstanding high school senior with special interest and potential in the field of sports writing. The TRA represents 49 member racing associations conducting Thoroughbred racing at 42 racetracks in North America.

The scholarship honors Vanderbilt alumni Grantland Rice and Fred Russell, two of the greatest sports writers of all time. Initially, the scholarship was created in 1956 to honor Grantland Rice, the dean of American sports writing, who died in 1954. The scholarship received a funding endowment from Mr. Cella on behalf of the TRA in 1986, and its name was amended to include the late Fred Russell, the famed Nashville Banner sports columnist for 69 years and a mentor to many of the scholarship winners.