A record 20 sons and daughters of Carolinas GCSA members will receive financial support for their ongoing education through this year’s Bennett-Maples Scholarships. Board members approved funding for an additional five scholarships this year above and beyond the 15 awards of $1,000 that had been standard until now. Even so, the number of applications still exceeded the number of scholarships made available.
In a recommendation to the board from the scholarship committee, chairman Scott Kennon, CGCS from Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., said: “We are now receiving well over 20 applications each year and, even though we run through our processes using a standard of procedure in order to select our candidates, we are starting to deny some very deserving individuals.”
The association has gone beyond 15 scholarships on occasion. In 2012, a gift from the family of the late Bill Sessums, CGCS, allowed two more students to receive awards. Another gift from the Blue Ridge Turfgrass Association in 2016 allowed an extra scholarship.
The Bennett-Maples Scholarships are named in honor of Grant Bennett and Henson Maples, who founded the Carolinas GCSA in 1954. As part of the application process, applicants are asked to write an essay of 500 to 750 words describing how their parent’s or grandparent’s role as a golf course superintendent influenced them.
“Some of these essays are wonderful and really highlight just how much sons and daughters take away from their superintendent parent,” Kennon said. “They all talk of their parent’s work ethic and dedication but also of their deep love of nature and the environment. Obviously, not every one of these kids is going on to be a golf course superintendent themselves but they all clearly appreciate what being a child of a superintendent has given them.”
Students must be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution of higher learning or, in the case of high school seniors, be accepted at such an institution for the next academic year. Students must also demonstrate a broad base of interests including involvement, volunteer activities and outside employment.
This year’s scholarship winners:
-- Benjamin Bowbliss, son of David Bowbliss, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
-- Amber and Bailey Cavender, daughters of David Cavender, Cobblestone Park Golf Club, Blythewood, S.C.
-- David Conlin, son of Scott Conlin, Headwaters Club, Cashiers, N.C.
-- Ethan Eargle, son of Michael Eargle, Links at Stono Ferry, Hollywood, S.C.
-- Lauren Greene, daughter of David Greene, Legacy Pines Golf Club, Mauldin, S.C.
-- Reid Hooks, son of Craig Hooks, River Ridge Golf Club, Raleigh, N.C.
-- Hannah Kennedy, daughter of Bill Kennedy, CGCS Chechessee Creek Club, Okatie, S.C.
-- Patch Moody, son of Randy Moody, Kiawah Island – River Course, Kiawah Island, S.C.
-- Grace Olmstead, daughter of Roger Olsmtead, Reedy Creek Golf Course, Four Oaks, N.C.
-- Morgan Peterson, daughter of Shannon Peterson, CGCS Mountain Air Country Club, Burnsville, N.C.
-- Sadie Richau, daughter of Steve Richau, Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro, N.C.
-- Sam Rothwell, son of Paul Rothwell, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
-- Sarah Sapochak, daughter of Matthew Sapochak, Hampton Hall Club, Bluffton, S.C.
-- Harrison and Wesley Shaw, sons of Mitchell Shaw, CGCS, Verdict Ridge Golf Club, Denver, N.C.
-- Margaret Warner, daughter of Bob Warner, Retired Life Member, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
-- Cassaundra Wheeler, daughter of Daniel Wheeler, CGCS Roanoke Country Club, Roanoke, Va.
-- Jana Yount, daughter of David Yount, Bermuda Run Country Club, Bermuda Run, N.C.
In a recommendation to the board from the scholarship committee, chairman Scott Kennon, CGCS from Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., said: “We are now receiving well over 20 applications each year and, even though we run through our processes using a standard of procedure in order to select our candidates, we are starting to deny some very deserving individuals.”
The association has gone beyond 15 scholarships on occasion. In 2012, a gift from the family of the late Bill Sessums, CGCS, allowed two more students to receive awards. Another gift from the Blue Ridge Turfgrass Association in 2016 allowed an extra scholarship.
The Bennett-Maples Scholarships are named in honor of Grant Bennett and Henson Maples, who founded the Carolinas GCSA in 1954. As part of the application process, applicants are asked to write an essay of 500 to 750 words describing how their parent’s or grandparent’s role as a golf course superintendent influenced them.
“Some of these essays are wonderful and really highlight just how much sons and daughters take away from their superintendent parent,” Kennon said. “They all talk of their parent’s work ethic and dedication but also of their deep love of nature and the environment. Obviously, not every one of these kids is going on to be a golf course superintendent themselves but they all clearly appreciate what being a child of a superintendent has given them.”
Students must be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution of higher learning or, in the case of high school seniors, be accepted at such an institution for the next academic year. Students must also demonstrate a broad base of interests including involvement, volunteer activities and outside employment.
This year’s scholarship winners:
-- Benjamin Bowbliss, son of David Bowbliss, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
-- Amber and Bailey Cavender, daughters of David Cavender, Cobblestone Park Golf Club, Blythewood, S.C.
-- David Conlin, son of Scott Conlin, Headwaters Club, Cashiers, N.C.
-- Ethan Eargle, son of Michael Eargle, Links at Stono Ferry, Hollywood, S.C.
-- Lauren Greene, daughter of David Greene, Legacy Pines Golf Club, Mauldin, S.C.
-- Reid Hooks, son of Craig Hooks, River Ridge Golf Club, Raleigh, N.C.
-- Hannah Kennedy, daughter of Bill Kennedy, CGCS Chechessee Creek Club, Okatie, S.C.
-- Patch Moody, son of Randy Moody, Kiawah Island – River Course, Kiawah Island, S.C.
-- Grace Olmstead, daughter of Roger Olsmtead, Reedy Creek Golf Course, Four Oaks, N.C.
-- Morgan Peterson, daughter of Shannon Peterson, CGCS Mountain Air Country Club, Burnsville, N.C.
-- Sadie Richau, daughter of Steve Richau, Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro, N.C.
-- Sam Rothwell, son of Paul Rothwell, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
-- Sarah Sapochak, daughter of Matthew Sapochak, Hampton Hall Club, Bluffton, S.C.
-- Harrison and Wesley Shaw, sons of Mitchell Shaw, CGCS, Verdict Ridge Golf Club, Denver, N.C.
-- Margaret Warner, daughter of Bob Warner, Retired Life Member, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
-- Cassaundra Wheeler, daughter of Daniel Wheeler, CGCS Roanoke Country Club, Roanoke, Va.
-- Jana Yount, daughter of David Yount, Bermuda Run Country Club, Bermuda Run, N.C.
