Youth on Course - the non-profit organization renowned for providing affordable golf access - awards $245,000 in scholarships distributed among 19 high school graduates, continuing its commitment to providing youth with access to high-quality higher education.
Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2008, Youth on Course has awarded 222 students with scholarships totaling more than $1.4 million in financial support. The current Youth on Course scholarship retention rate is ninety-eight percent, with 53 students already graduated.
"The ability to provide life-changing opportunities to young people is at the core of what we do," said Youth on Course Executive Director Adam Heieck. "Presenting these scholars with access to college through our scholarships ties together everything we, along with our partners, set out to do."
Many of the 2018 recipients will attend the country's most prestigious universities including Stanford University, UC Davis, UC Irvine and Pomona College. The average GPA of this year's winners is 3.99 (out of 4.0). Additionally, thirty percent of this year's beneficiaries will be first-generation college students.
To be considered for an award, scholarship candidates must be members of Youth on Course, enrolled as a full-time senior in a high school, carry a GPA of 3.0 or above and have been accepted to a four-year college or university. All recipients undergo an application process that includes one-on-one interviews with Youth on Course staff and board members.
Born in Northern California, Youth on Course subsidizes greens fees to remove cost as a barrier to entry for potential lifetime golfers. The organization now operates in 25 states and regions and has subsidized more than half a million rounds of golf since inception.
2018 Youth on Course Scholarship Recipients (in alphabetical order)
Aaron Allen (Ellenwood, Ga.), Johnson C Smith University
Major: Computer Engineering
Alex Bui (San Jose, Calif.), UC Davis
Major: Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
Cayla Clark (Chandler, Ariz.), Dixie State University
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Antone Cruz (Elk Grove, Calif.), Stanford University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Sydney Haughian (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Dominican University of California
Major: Liberal Studies/Multi-Subject Teaching Credential
Hayley Jang (Cupertino, Calif.), Berklee College of Music
Major: Music Therapy
Roxanna Javier-Perez (Salinas, Calif.), California State University, Sacramento
Major: Child Development
Brayden Johnk (Granite Bay, Calif.), Colorado School of Mines
Major: Environmental Engineering
Jaisey Joseph (Daly City, Calif.), UC Davis
Major: Managerial Economics
Chanha Kim (Salinas, Calif.), Pomona College
Major: Undecided
Carter Lee (Tillamook, Ore.), Missouri State University
Major: Physics
Audra Miller (El Paso, Tex.), University of Texas at Dallas
Major: Cognitive Science
Anthony Monisteri (San Mateo, Calif.), San Diego State University
Major: Pre-Business Administration: Entrepreneurship
Julia Ni (Dublin, Calif.), UC Santa Cruz
Major: Computer Science
Stephen Pham (San Jose, Calif.), UC Irvine
Major: Economics & Sociology
Elizabeth Scholtes (Alameda, Calif.), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Major: Business Administration
Avery Scoville (Provo, Utah), Brigham Young University
Major: Nursing
Harrod Tang (Oakland, Calif.), UC Davis
Major: Civil Engineering
Raymond Yao (Alameda, Calif.), Stanford University
Major: Computer Science
Congrats to the 2018 Youth on Course scholars!