Indiana Golf Foundation Scholarship
The Indiana
Golf Foundation Scholarship was created to encourage and promote attaining
higher education for high school seniors who actively participate in the game
of golf.
Applicants must
have a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or 9.0/12.0 and be nominated by
their high school golf coach or PGA Golf professional to be eligible. Awards are based on academic achievement,
extra-curricular activities, an essay, and financial need. The 2009 winners will receive $2,500 towards college
education expenses.
Russell E. Showers
Russell
Showers from Kokomo is the son of Ralph and Kimberly Showers. He graduated third in his class from Western
High School and was a four-sport letter winner in golf, cross country, swimming
and soccer. He was the senior class
president and a member of National Honor Society.
Showers was
most influenced in golf by his two older sisters Lauren and Lynnsey. “They influenced me to be dedicated on and
off the course and were always willing to help me practice every day.”
He will attend Butler University in the fall and major in Pharmacy.
Kylee Kathryn Wierks
Kylee
Wierks is a graduate of Northrop High School in Fort Wayne and the daughter of
Kenton and Dena Wierks. While maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.4,
Kylee participated in golf and tennis and captained both of those teams her
sophomore, junior and senior years. She
was named to the Academic All State Team in golf her senior year. In addition to athletics, she participated in
Student Government, orchestra, National Honor Society, and the Fort Wayne
Community Schools’ Student Advisory Board.
Wierks learned many life lessons from playing the game of golf. “I have learned patience, courteousness, and
self-control through my many experiences with golf, and I have been able to utilize
these life lessons to help others.”
She will
study Telecommunications at Indiana University beginning in the fall.
Danny Hyatt Fischesser
Danny
Fischesser is from Connersville and is the son of Doug and Becky
Fischesser. At Connersville High School,
Danny maintained a 4.5 GPA and participated in Student Council, National Honor
Society, and radio and TV programs. He
lettered all four years in both golf and basketball and played on the IGF
Masters Tour for three years.
One of the
lessons Fischesser has learned from playing the game of golf is optimism. “Golf can be a very frustrating game at
times, but it has taught me the power of staying positive. No matter how bad things get, if you can stay
positive the situation will always eventually get better.”
He will
attend IUPUI in the fall and major in Computer Information Systems.
Lynn B. Shonk Memorial
Scholarship
The Lynn B.
Shonk Memorial Scholarship was established after the unfortunate passing of
Lynn Shonk in 2009. Lynn was a great
champion of the Indiana Golf Foundation and its programs. Through the generosity of her husband Bill,
daughter Sally and son Scott, and the many family and friends who made gifts in
Lynn’s memory, the Foundation is honored to award this annual scholarship
beginning this year.
Applicants must
have a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or 9.0/12.0 and be nominated by
their high school golf coach or PGA Golf professional. The award is based on academic achievement,
extra-curricular activities, essay, and financial need. The 2009 winner will receive $2,500 towards college
education expenses.
Breanna Lynn Patz
Breanna
Patz from Plainfield is the first recipient of the Lynn B. Shonk Memorial
Scholarship. She is the daughter of Dave
and Kathy Patz. While attending Avon
High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society all four
years. She played both golf and
basketball all four years and was Academic All State in both sports her senior
year. Patz is also the first student
athlete at Avon to win the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in golf.
The most
influential person in Patz’s golf career is her father. “Throughout my entire career he has been the
best coach I have had, teaching me the actual game and the lessons and values
it carries.”
She will study Business this fall at Xavier University.
David E. Simon
Scholarship
The David
E. Simon Scholarship was created to encourage and promote attaining higher
education for high school seniors who have previously been employed at an
Indiana golf facility in any capacity.
This endowed scholarship is possible through a generous gift from David
and Jacqueline Simon.
Applicants must
have a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or 9.0/12.0 and be nominated by
their high school golf coach or PGA Golf professional. Awards are based on financial need, academic
achievement, extra-curricular activities, and an essay. The 2009 winners will receive $5,000 towards college
education expenses.
Erin Claire Smith
Erin Smith
from Peru is the daughter of Todd and Claire Smith. She attended Peru High School and was
involved in a myriad of activities including Student Government, cheerleading,
National Honor Society, Science Olympiad and Academic Super Bowl. She worked at Rock Hollow Golf Club in the
golf shop and as an intern where she conducted market research and developed
marketing materials for the golf course.
Smith feels
fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in the golf business. “Besides enjoying the work, I have learned
phone etiquette, customer service, computer skills, and handling customers’
needs. I am looking forward to using
these skills in my business career after attending college.”
She will
enroll at Indiana University this fall and study Business.
Thomas Joseph Harner
Tom Harner
of French Lick is the son of Dave and Lisa Harner. At Springs Valley High School he carried a
4.0 GPA while being a four-year letter winner in golf. He also participated in cross country,
National Honor Society, and served as class president both his junior and
senior years. Tom was employed at French
Lick Resort as a cart attendant, golf shop clerk and caddy.
Harner has
learned a great deal from working at a golf facility. “In my job as a cart attendant and caddy, I
learned how to communicate with others.
When I was younger, I was extremely shy.
Now I am very talkative and can strike up a conversation with anyone.”
He will be
studying Pre-Med at Indiana University this fall.
Samuel Graham Cobb
Sam Cobb
from Bedford is the son of Edward and Kelly Cobb, and stepson to JoAnna Cobb. He graduated first in his class at Bedford
North Lawrence High School and was a member of the golf team all four years,
qualifying for the state high school golf tournament in 2007. He was active in Student Government, Key
Club, Beta Club, and National Honor Society.
Cobb worked on the cart staff at Otis Park Golf Course.
The life and
work of Ben Hogan inspires him to become the best he can be. “His greatest
influence on my life was his tireless work ethic. He grew up in poverty in the worst times this
country has ever seen, but through sheer determination he became one of the
greatest to ever play the game.”
Cobb will
enroll at the University of Evansville this fall and study Mechanical
Engineering.
Eric David Lasik
Eric Lisak from
Valparaiso is the son of David and Barbara Lisak. He played on the golf team all four years at
Valparaiso High School and was a member of National Honor Society. Lisak served on the Student Athletic Advisory
Committee, participated in Indiana Math League, and played the piano for 13
years. He worked with the outside staff
at The Course at Aberdeen.
One of the
skills Eric developed through playing golf is communication. “Growing up playing golf with people who were
older than me taught me how to communicate effectively with adults in a
respectful manner.”
Eric will
be studying Business Management and Pre-Law at Purdue University in the fall.