The 18 JAGA Scholarship Trust recipients for 2023 are:
Name | Club Affiliation | High School | College | Hometown |
Tom Anderson | Sawgrass CC | Ponte Vedra | Florida State University | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
Will Anderson | Sawgrass CC | Ponte Vedra | Florida State University | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
Shanya Arasu | Palencia GC | Nease | Flagler College | St Augustine, FL |
Chase Carroll | Deerwood CC | Middleburg | University of North Florida | Middleburg, FL |
Jacob Davis | First Tee | Home School | Florida Gulf Coast | Jacksonville, FL |
Olivia Drake | Hyde Park GC | West Nassau | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
Matthew French | NAS JAX GC | Bishop Snyder | Flagler College | St Augustine, FL |
Casey Jones | Jacksonville G & CC | Providence | California Polytechnic University | Jacksonville, FL |
Juel Kimball | Deercreek CC | Bishop Kenny | Georgia Southern University | Jacksonville, FL |
Samantha Kroog | Jacksonville G&CC | Ponte Vedra | Florida State University | Jacksonville, FL |
Andrew Morgan | San Jose CC | Bolles | Undecided | Jacksonville, FL |
Amelia Peters | Deerwood CC | Bishop Kenny | Florida State University | Jacksonville, FL |
Kira Powell | Marsh Creek CC | Brookville | Flagler College | Brookville, PA |
Adrianna Selles | Marsh Landing CC | Frank W. Cox | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. | Virginia Beach, VA |
Cody Tucker | Atlantic Beach GC | Bishop Kenny | University of South Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
Maya Walker | Timuquana CC | Fleming Island | University of Central Florida | Middleburg, FL |
Michael Wenk | Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra | Stetson University | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
Graham Worley | Timuquana CC | Bolles | University of Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
Since the JAGA Scholarship Trust was formed in 1974, JAGA has awarded approximately $2 million to approximately 400 deserving young students. The Trust is JAGA’s 501 (c)(3) Not for Profit organization that manages the scholarship program.
“The JAGA scholarship program continues to get stronger every year and branch out in new ways,” said Scholarship Trust chairman Wayne St. Clair. “In recent years, this stability has allowed us to expand the number of college-bound students we are able to support, which is very gratifying. Currently, JAGA is providing grants to 46 who we are confident will become key contributors to the Jacksonville area community or wherever else they may wind up. We are greatly impressed and encouraged by the candidates who come before us for interviews. Many thanks to first-year Scholarship Chairman Joe Grippi for doing such a terrific job managing the scholarship process and banquet arrangements.”
The featured speaker was Rear Admiral Marty Evans (Retired, U.S. Navy). One of America’s most respected leaders, Evans served nearly 30 years in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of rear admiral, one of the few females to do so. Among her many Naval career accolades, Evans became the first woman to command a U.S. Naval Station when she assumed command of Naval Station Treasure Island in San Francisco. She was the highest-ranking woman in the Navy. After retiring from the Navy in 1998, the Springfield, Ill. native led two of the nation’s preeminent non-profit organizations, the Girl Scouts of America and the American Red Cross. In subsequent roles, she was a director of Lehman Brothers and was named to the LPGA’s board of directors and served as Acting Commissioner for nine months in 2009. Evans is married to Jerry Evans, a retired captain in the U.S. Navy. They live in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Current trustees of the Trust are Wayne St. Clair (Chairman/Jacksonville G&CC), Michael McKenny (Vice Chairman/Timuquana CC), Allen Witham (Treasurer/Hidden Hills GC), Joe Grippi (Scholarship Committee chair/Deerwood CC), John Tancredi (Marsh Landing CC) and Susan Waite (Moore-Myers Children’s Fund).
Applicants for scholarships must be sons, daughters or grandchildren of a member of a JAGA member club or an employee of a member club who resides in JAGA’s Northeast Florida region. Applicants are screened and sponsored by JAGA Directors.
JAGA scholarship recipients have gone on to successful careers as golf course superintendents, golf club managers, PGA TOUR players, PGA golf professionals and other careers both inside and outside the golf industry. Funds to support the Scholarship Trust are generated by JAGA member clubs and corporate/individual contributors to the scholarship fund.
Entities and individuals who are interested in making contributions to the Scholarship Trust may do so by contacting Wayne St. Clair (gwstclair@bellsouth.net) or any JAGA director from a JAGA member club or visiting the JAGA website (www.jaxareagolf.org). JAGA welcomes all contributions and wants donors to know that Trustees of the fund are volunteers, as are all 100+ JAGA directors, and all monies go directly to the Trust.