Georgia GCSA bestows 12 scholarships

The Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association (Georgia GCSA) awarded 12 students with its 2019 Legacy Scholarship.

The scholarship offers educational aid to children and grandchildren of Georgia GCSA members. The awards are funded by the Georgia GCSA and sponsored by Jerry Pate Co. One or more of the applicant’s parents or grandparents must have been a Georgia GCSA member for five or more consecutive years and must be a currently active Georgia GCSA member in one of the following classifications: A, B, C, Retired A, Retired B or AA Life. Students must be enrolled full time at an accredited institution for the next academic year.

Walt Morris, stepson of Tim Busek, The Manor Golf & Country Club; Spen Oliver, son of Spencer Oliver, Dunwoody Country Club; and Ashely Wilder, daughter of Gary Wilder, ClubCorp; were the top three scholars this year.

Oliver, a graduating high school senior will attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall majoring in agricultural education. Morris will be in his second year at Mississippi State majoring in aerospace engineering/astronautics. Wilder is a rising junior at the University of Georgia majoring in human development and family sciences.

This year’s full list of recipients is as follows:

• Jacob Busek, son of Tim Busek, The Manor Golf & Country Club;
• Amber Cavender, daughter of David Cavender, Cobblestone Park Golf Course;
• Bailey Cavender, daughter of David Cavender, Cobblestone Park Golf Course;
• Lukas Freeman, son of Doug Freeman, Indian Hills Country Club;
• Kayla Hendricks, daughter of Michael Hendricks, Nob North Golf Course;
• Samuel Hunt, son of Bill Hunt, Athens Country Club;
• Hannah Kepple, daughter of Ralph Kepple, CGCS, East Lake Golf Club;
• Megan McCord, granddaughter of Ron Sinnock, Retired;
• Walt Morris, stepson of Tim Busek, The Manor Golf & Country Club;
• Spen Oliver, son of Spencer Oliver, Dunwoody Country Club;
• Ashley Wilder, daughter of Gary Wilder, ClubCorp; and
• Jackson Thebeau, son of Tom Thebeau, Lane Creek Golf Club.

Tommy Hewitt, scholarship committee chairman from Windemere Golf Club in Cumming, led scholarship interviews with help from Jamie Pate of Jerry Pate Co., Joey Brown from Georgia National Golf Club in McDonough, Joe Hollis from Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta and Chuck Underwood, CGCS from Northwood Country Club in Lawrenceville. Brad Tremmier from RiverPines in Alpharetta also assisted with the interviews.

Applications were reviewed independently by the Georgia GCSA scholarship committee. Criteria for selection included academic achievement, extracurricular and community involvement, leadership and outside employment. Students were also required to submit an essay stating how traits they acquired from their Georgia GCSA member relative help them prepare for their next chapter in life.