North Dakota State University Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team member Katie Beaudine will advance to national competition in West Springfield, Mass., in May.

To compete in the national event, competitors must qualify for regional competition by gaining enough points at regional shows. The top two competitors at the regional event go on to zone competition, where the top two advance to nationals.

Beaudine, a senior majoring in Equine Studies, was named champion in the Western regional show in Brookings. S.D., and placed sixth in semifinal competition in Pomona, Calif. She was champion in the hunt seat division at the regional competition in Crookston, Minn., and reserve champion in zone competition in Elgin, Ill.

NDSU team members Lynn Brockway, Jackie Feil and Tuula Kallioniemi also competed in the Western regional event. Feil placed third and Brockway sixth.

Participants in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association events can compete in two disciplines, Western and hunt.

NDSU's team ended its current competition season third out of 13 teams in the Western division and sixth out of 12 teams in the hunt division.

""I am very proud of the team this year,"" coach Tara Swanson says. ""It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve the goals the team reached this year."

Agriculture Communication