Rachel Hunt’s smile could light up an arena. Graceful in the show ring, funny, and endlessly kind, she carried herself with a warmth that drew both people and pups alike. And she especially excelled at showing her dogs in AKC Junior Showmanship classes. 
 
Just as she was preparing to enter nursing school—ready to devote her life to healing others—Rachel’s journey was cut short by an undiagnosed brain tumor at 23 years old. But her story didn’t end there. To honor their daughter, the Hunt family established the Rachel Hunt Memorial Scholarship Foundation for Juniors. 
 
Since 2015, Scholarships have rewarded the dreams of young handlers who, like Rachel once did, pour their hearts into the sport of dog showing. Winners at designated AKC shows receive scholarships that help them chase their own educational futures.
 
Though Rachel’s time was all too brief, her legacy is anything but. In every confident handler and happy wag of a dog’s tail, Rachel lives on—inspiring courage, compassion, and excellence.