Spring 2023

Enrichment Program

Kate is Director of Marketing & Communications for the Aiken Horse Park Foundation and an accomplished equestrian "Eventer". She attended Texas A&M University and received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Animal Science and a Master's degree in Equine Industry Management. The great loves of her life are her faith, family, friends, her cat Sully, her dog Miki, and her horse Vixie.

CSRA based artist A.C. Daniel has been drawing and painting just about as long as he’s been alive. He’s spent the last few years mastering his pen and ink style and painting murals when given the opportunity. New projects and endeavors for AC reflect his strong spirituality. Recently, AC has started an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist at the ANBU Art Collective.

Carol is a Certified Ageless Grace Educator/Trainer and a Certified Dementia Validation Worker, and has worked in the hospitality industry for 25 years. For the past 11 years, she’s been passionate about the subject of wellness.  She prides herself with offering programming suitable for all mobility levels. 

Lisa has worked for the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Department for over thirty-five years, as supervisor of the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum since 2000. Lisa is a lover of history and horses, volunteers with local equine associations, and published “Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Champions.”

Kathy Lewis is  retired from a career in mental health. She was no stranger to the implications of her husband’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.  After extensive research, Kathy now practices the “Bredesen Protocol” with her husband, and has seen remarkable improvements.  Kathy now shares any and all information she can on her methods of managing her husband’s condition.

Frank is a member of the Aiken Steeplechase Association Board, serving as its President, and is active in steeplechase horse ownership and racing. In addition, Mullins has played polo for many years and is a member of both the US Polo Association and Aiken Polo Club, where he is an active board member. He has had a successful career in real estate development, and has entitled, capitalized, developed and managed many projects for various clients.

Kristina Thomas is a recent graduate of USC Aiken, in Early Childhood Education. She is a key figure in her grandmother’s care, and enjoys the opportunity to spend time with her. She loves engaging her grandmother and others in interactive activities, to stimulate cognitive function and build relationships.

Taylor has been with SC House Calls since 2020, and has spent time in multiple areas within healthcare including hospice, assisted living, and primary care. Taylor has also worked indirectly with Home Health skilled nursing and insurance. If you are having questions about healthcare, Taylor may be able to help, and if she can't she knows someone who can!

Tierra, born and raised in Aiken SC, has been cooking since she was a young girl. Although not her first career, after deciding traditional college wasn’t for her, she decided to take cooking seriously. In 2017 Tierra enrolled at Helms College and graduated in 2019.

For over 30 years, Barry has owned, bought and sold, bred, raised, trained, raced, rehabilitated and repurposed top-level, champion Thoroughbreds. He was the President and member of the Board of Directors of the Thoroughbred Association of Indiana for many years. Now in Aiken, Barry pursues his passion for horses and is actively involved in finding new careers for Thoroughbreds whose racing days are behind them.

Eric has been a harness racing driver since 1991. He started his driving career in Michigan, and went on to earn numerous driving titles at tracks all over the state. After moving to the east coast, he competed on the biggest stages in Harness Racing, including The Meadowlands and Yonkers Racetracks. He has accumulated nearly 6,000 wins and close to $70 million in purse earnings.

Emily first developed the joy of knitting with her grandmother, visiting knitting shops and trying new patterns.  Now Emily has started to practice amigurumi, a Japanese style for stuffed animals. Emily now works selling crocheted items for her brand Enchanted Emporium, and spreads the love of crochet to everyone and anyone she can!

Julie has been following her passion as an avid fox hunter for almost 30 years. She has hunted throughout the western United States since 1996 until she moved to Middleburg VA in 2016 which has her hunting in VA, SC, GA and FL. For many years she also hunted with the Wilton hunt in England. "The thrill of chasing hounds at speed across beautiful terrain never gets boring!"

Emma received her BS degree in Health Care Administration in 2016.  She has worked in several Long Term Care facilities (assisted and independent living along with memory care units) in Tennessee and Georgia.  She has a tremendous passion to assist those that are in need of care.

Russel is a local, licensed and certified Medicare Agent. He has been in the insurance industry since 2008 and a Medicare agent since 2017. As a Broker, Russel represents many companies, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Drug Plans to ensure he is able to find the plan that best suits the needs of his clients.

Billy is an avid Fox hunter and prolific polo player. He has been head Patrol Judge at Queens Cup Steeplechase in Charlotte, 20 years running. Billy’s interest in Aiken began with preserving a primitive and rare breed of dogs found throughout the Southeast United States called the Carolina Dog.

Tiajuana has had a career in conservation and national park services.  She is registered as an artist of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma She enjoys listening to the birds as she works in her garden, and sharing crops with neighbors.

Kathy is originally from New Castle, Pennsylvania and has lived in Aiken for 30 years. She is married with 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren, and has a background in nutrition and healthcare.

Dr. Hagstette is currently teaching at USC Aiken. He has had a career in literature including editor of print for USC Press and Founding director of Digital US South initiative at USC Institute of Southern Studies. Dr. Hagstette has multiple credits as author, editor and reviewer for South Carolina publications.

Tiger is the Aiken Polo Club manager. He is a former 7-goal player that has won every major tournament in North America, loves to teach polo, and runs the polo school at Aiken Youth Polo. Tiger coaches three Interscholastic / Intercollegiate teams: a high school girls’ team, a high school open team, and the USC-Aiken collegiate team. 

Jessica has managed content across social media platforms for FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, and implemented social media marketing campaigns for an equestrian clothing retailer while working as the Business Services Manager for Athleux Equine, a National equestrian-based marketing company. She is an 8th generation Aikenite, active equestrian, and a graduate “A” level Pony Clubber. Jessica joined the Aiken Steeplechase Association as the Event Manager in 2017.

Darin retired from the Nuclear Power Industry before forming the company with Emma.  He retired as the Site Vice President at Plant Vogtle Nuclear Plant.  He served in the US Navy on Nuclear Subs in Charleston, SC and Kings Bay, GA.  (He and his wife Christy arrived in Charleston one month prior to Hurricane Hugo).