My name is Alyssa Kowalski, I live in the Twin Cities and I’m currently a student at the University of St. Thomas. Not only am I involved in Dog Show and other AKC programs, I also sing, play guitar, lead worship and counsel youth programs and camps. I participated in Junior Showmanship for 6 years, and had an adventurous career. My first Golden Retriever, "Oopsie" was my Juniors dog throughout all my years and we are inseparable. We started off our first 3 years strong, leading us to qualify for the 2006 Eukanuba. When I moved into Open Senior, the competition grew tough and our winning streak slowed down. I never gave up, and that is something I would tell all Junior Handlers. It's not about winning. It's about the companionship with your dog, the skills you learn, and the people you meet. Junior Showmanship has lead me to meet people I will remain close with for the rest of my life and continue to participate with in the future. Juniors only prepared me for the next adventure in my conformation career. I feel honored to receive this scholarship and I thank the AKC.