Maryland State Golf Association Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Maryland State Golf Association

The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) Scholarship was established with the primary aim of providing financial aid for educational purposes. This aid is targeted towards individuals who are employed by MSGA member clubs/courses, their children, and students who have completed their junior year of high school and have a genuine connection to golf.

Eligibility Criteria: The scholarship program is accessible to individuals who have been employed and/or their children at MSGA member clubs/courses for at least two years. It is also open to students who have finished their junior year of high school and have a legitimate golf connection. The evaluation of scholarship applicants will be based on uniform objective standards, using the same application form and evaluation system for all applicants. All applicants must meet the minimum admission standards of an educational institution (college, university, junior college, or vocational school) and are expected to attend such an institution. Eligible applicants will be considered without discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.

Scholarship Amount: The MSGA Scholarship Committee & Board of Directors will determine the number of recipients and the scholarship amount awarded to each recipient.

The following information applies to all the scholarship opportunities listed above:

Scholarship Committee

The independent Scholarship Selection Committee, appointed by the MSGA, will evaluate scholarship applications and select the scholarship finalists. If a relative of a member of the Scholarship Selection Committee applies for the scholarship, that member must recuse themselves from the Scholarship Selection Committee for that year. The remaining members of the Scholarship Selection Committee will then select a replacement committee member by majority vote.

The Scholarship Selection Committee is responsible for verifying the eligibility of each applicant.

Selection Criteria and Procedures

The Scholarship Selection Committee will select the scholarship recipients based solely on objective standards related to the purposes of the scholarships.

Applicants must submit a completed application form, which must also be completed by the applicant’s school principal, if applicable. The evaluation of applicants will be based on objective standards such as past academic performance, performance on tests designed to measure ability and aptitude for higher education, the candidate’s class rank, and financial need. Recommendations from instructors or other persons unrelated to the candidate, extra-curricular activities, and leadership contributions should also be considered. The school principal will submit the completed applications (other than the Candidate’s Statement, which will be submitted by the applicant) directly to the Scholarship Selection Committee in care of the MSGA.

The applications will be scored on a point system with 100 points being the highest score. The Scholarship Selection Committee will then determine the number of scholarships to be awarded based on financial data provided by the MSGA. The scholarships will be awarded to the applicants in the order determined by their ranking in the overall applicant pool. More specific evaluation guidelines to be followed by the members of the Scholarship Selection Committee are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

The MSGA will determine the total amount of funds available for scholarships on an annual basis and will notify the Scholarship Selection Committee of the total available amount prior to the Scholarship Selection Committee’s deliberations. The Scholarship Selection Committee will determine the dollar amount to be awarded to each recipient.

The Scholarship Selection Committee will forward its selections to the MSGA solely to verify the selection criteria. The MSGA may not increase the number of scholarships to be awarded, but in their discretion, may decrease the number to be awarded.

Awards and Announcements

The MSGA will award scholarships in the order and in the amount recommended by the Scholarship Selection Committee, although the MSGA has the discretion to decrease the number of scholarships to be awarded. The MSGA will publicly announce the scholarship recipients at the year-end annual banquet. The MSGA will be clearly identified as the grantor of the awards. Each scholarship recipient will be notified of his or her award through a letter from the MSGA.

Scholarship Opportunities

• Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation Scholarship: A $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a female student who has completed her junior year of high school and has a genuine connection to golf.
• David King Scholarship: A $2,500 scholarship is awarded to an individual employed by MSGA member clubs/courses and/or their children, and to students having completed junior year of high school with a genuine connection to golf.
• Country Club of Maryland Scholarship: A $2,500 scholarship is awarded to an individual employed by MSGA member clubs/courses and/or their children, and to students having completed junior year of high school with a genuine connection to golf.
• Hinkey-Benson Family STEM Scholarship: A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to students who have completed their junior year of high school with a genuine connection to the golf industry in Maryland. Applicants must be from the state of Maryland and scholarships will be awarded to students who are majoring in or intend to major in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, with a preference towards computer science and engineering students. Additional consideration will be given to students who would contribute to the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the STEM fields and demonstrate financial need.
• Andy Tignanelli Memorial Scholarship: Two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female student who are employed by MSGA member clubs/courses and/or their children, and to students having completed his or her junior year of high school with a genuine connection to golf. The Andy Tignanelli Memorial Scholarship is designated for the purpose of providing scholarship assistance to students with a genuine connection to the golf industry in Maryland.
• MSGA Scholarships: The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) Scholarship was established for exclusively charitable and educational purposes, including to award educational scholarships to individuals employed by MSGA member clubs/courses and/or their children, and to students having completed junior year of high school with a genuine connection to golf. The number of scholarship recipients and the amount of each scholarship will be determined by the Scholarship Committee & MSGA Board of Directors.