Each
spring, seniors from throughout Indiana apply for college scholarships awarded
by the Indiana Golf Foundation and David E. Simon Scholarship Programs. Both scholarships encourage and promote the
attainment of higher education goals for high school seniors who have actively
participated in the game of golf and have excelled in their academic
achievements.
Applicants
must be nominated in writing by their high school golf coach or PGA
Professional and must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0
grading scale or a 9.0 or higher on a 12.0 grading scale. Additionally, all applicants must be a member
of the Indiana Junior Golf Tour.
Foundation
Scholarship Recipients
Pierce Dahl
Pierce
Dahl grew up playing many sports, but claims golf has by far been the most
rewarding. Pierce played on the varsity
golf team all four years of high school.
His freshman year he was named the Arnold Palmer Player of the Year for
outstanding leadership on his team. Pierce has also volunteered at PGA Tour
events, including the Senior PGA Championship and the BMW Championship, both at
Crooked Stick Golf Club. Pierce has also
volunteered his time at Rotary Club Autism Sensory Park, White River in
Noblesville, and coached a 7th and 8th grade Student
Impact Christian Basketball team. Pierce
plans to study accounting this fall.
Hannah Dooley
Hannah
Dooley did not start playing golf until she was fourteen years-old, but says
the game has given her life meaning.
Hannah played varsity golf all four years of high school and caddied at
the Dye Course at French Lick from sophomore through senior year. During high school, Hannah has also been
involved in several extra-curricular activities including Booster Club, Spanish Club,
Science Club, SADD, Orange County Youth Council, 4-H, and Valeene Wesleyan
Church. Hannah says that golf has taught
her to become more than just a person, but also a friend, a competitor, and
someone that others will look up to.
Hannah plans to study nursing this fall.
Christian Fairbanks
Christian
Fairbanks calls golf ageless, constantly entertaining, challenging, and the
best game a child can play for their entire lives. Christian started playing golf in third grade
and has had a lot of success ever since.
He won the USGA Junior Amateur Championship in 2012, was part of the
second place finishing team at the state finals in 2013, and has been medalist
several times in local events. Christian
is also very involved in Boy Scouts and is an accomplished jazz pianist. He plans to attend Indiana University next
fall in the Kelley School of Business studying finance or commercial real
estate.
Lynn
Shonk Memorial Scholarship Recipent
One
recipient receives the Lynn Shonk Memorial Scholarship, which was
established in 2009 after the unfortunate passing of Lynn Shonk. Lynn was a great champion of the Indiana Golf
Foundation and its programs. This
scholarship was established through the generosity of her husband Bill,
children Scott and Sally, and the many family and friends who made gifts in
Lynn’s memory.
Emily Song
Emily
Song was captain of her varsity golf team all four years of high school. She contributed to two second places finishes
at the state finals and eleven invitational victories in 2013, a school
record. Emily also competed in academic
competitions, including the Indiana Academic Super Bowl English, Mathematics
Competitions, Knowledge Masters, Chemistry Olympiad Club, and Tests of
Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science.
Emily also finds time to volunteer in her community at the public library,
the local math center, as a school tutor, and at a local homeless shelter. Emily plans to attend Columbia University this
fall and study biomedical engineering.
David
E. Simon Scholarships
The David E. Simon Scholarship was created by David E. Simon to assist high school seniors who have been employed at an
Indiana golf facility to pursue high education goals. Applicants must have been employed in some
capacity at an Indiana golf facility and must have a grade point average of 3.0
or higher on a 4.0 grading scale or a 9.0 or higher on a 12.0 grading scale.
Kyle Haas
Kyle
Haas has worked at Oak Meadow Country Club for the past three years, cleaning
golf carts, maintaining the driving range, and communicating with members on a
daily basis. Kyle has been described as
intelligent, focused, organized, and a tremendous team player, all important
skills in the workforce. Kyle has also
competed on his high school’s varsity swim team for the past four years and
still finds time to participate in several school clubs and volunteer
activities. Kyle is a member of Student
Council, National Honor Society, and Academic Math Bowl to name a few. He also volunteers at Youth Resources Teen
Power and Advisory Council and helps coach a swim team. Kyle plans to study engineering this fall.
Ryan Haas
Ryan
Haas says he learned better communication skills and developed more confidence through
his time spent working at Oak Meadow Country Club. His days consisted of working behind the desk
and assisting members, running a cash register, maintaining the driving range, and
washing carts. Ryan has also been a part
of the varsity swim team for the past three years as well as student
government. He is also a member of
National Honor Society, the Supermileage Team, and helps out with the Greater
Evansville Aquatic Team. Ryan plans to
study either physical therapy or biomedical engineering this fall.
Benjamin Hammon
Benjamin
Hammon worked as a caddy at the Country Club of Indianapolis for two summers
and currently works at Heartland Crossing Golf Links performing golf cart
maintenance, practice facility maintenance, and golf shop cleaning. Benjamin has participated on his high school’s
varsity golf team for the past three years, is a member of several school clubs,
and still finds time to volunteer at local golf events. He also served as an editor/anchor for his
school’s broadcasting program. Benjamin
plans to study business this fall.
Taryn Trusty
Taryn
Trusty has worked at Sand Creek Country Club for the past two years. There she serves as an outside player
services attendant and cleans carts, cleans and stores clubs, and greets and
transports players. Taryn has been described
as very courteous and hardworking. She has
been a part of her high school’s varsity golf team for the past four years, a
member of the debate team, and a member of Business Professionals of
America. Taryn also volunteers at Jacob’s
Ladder and Free the Girls. Taryn plans
to study mechanical engineering this fall.
Jackson Wright
Jackson
Wright has worked at Fox Prairie Golf Course for the past two years, overseeing
the cart boys and helping run the pro shop and snack bar when needed. Jackson says that he has developed his
communication skills through working at Fox Prairie and his dream job is to
manage a golf course. He has been a
member of his high school’s varsity golf team for the past four years, a member
of Sparrow program, and a member of Athletic Leadership Conference. He also attended the Hoosier Crossroads
Conference Student-Athlete Leadership Retreat last August. Jackson will attend the University of Indianapolis
this fall and study either business or accounting.