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2019 Scholarship Winners
The Wisconsin PGA Junior Foundation is proud to announce the 2019 scholarship winners. Thirty four individuals were awarded scholarships totaling $35,000. We congratulate all the applicants for their great accomplishments.
Tony Coleman Scholarship $1,250 (One boy recipient)
Derek Vaillancourt of Fort Atkinson was awarded the Tony Coleman Memorial Scholarship for $1,250. Tony was the PGA General Manager and COO for Bishops Bay Country Club from 1994-2013. He led the facility from its development into the first rate operation it remains today. Tony was a 36 year member of the PGA. Tony’s passion for golf was most evident when working with a junior golfer wishing to excel in the game. This scholarship was made possible by the generous support of the Coleman family, friends, Bishops Bay CC members and the membership of the Wisconsin PGA.
College Scholarships
Chloe Crusan - $1,000
Lorenza Martinez - $1,000
Alex Brandt - $1,000
Michael Spengler - $1,000
Kailey Godfrey - $500
Sarah Busey - $500
Nathan Kroll - $500
Terry Noel Scholarship ($1,250)
Annie Balduzzi of Onalaska was awarded the Terry Noel Memorial Scholarship for $1,250. Terry was a tribute to golf, but more importantly a tribute to respect and love of mankind and the ability to spread happiness with his kindness and constant smile. Terry was first and foremost a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend to all he met. Terry was also a proud Army veteran from the Vietnam era, serving most of his time in Germany and at The Presidio in San Francisco, CA. Finally, Terry was an avid, passionate golfer who spread his goodwill on the course and off.
High School Senior Scholarships
Aubrie Torhorst - $1,000
Bree Borgen - $1,000
Sophia Dooman - $1,000
Alexandra DeGroot - $1,000
Grace Westerman - $1,000
Max Kachelek - $750
Bonnie Jin - $750
Evan Thomas - $750
James Johnson - $500
Connor Kolb - $500
Joe Guerrera - $500
Matthew Raab - $500
Steven Sanicki - $500
Daniel Sanicki - $500
Emma Egbert - $500
Zachary Bernhardt - $500
Lillian Sheppard - $500
Austin Thyes - $500
Kid to Kid Scholarship ($1,250)
Max Schmidtke of Sheboygan was awarded the Kid to Kid Scholarship for $1,250. This scholarship will be awarded based on three qualities: showing a solid history of giving back to the community, integrity and sportsmanship. This scholarship funds were raised by the generous donations of golfers throughout the state. Marty Swab, WPGA Junior Foundation member raised the money by collecting donations at area golf courses and out in the community. A great candidate for this scholarship would show a history of giving back, always having a good attitude towards other people and should be a graceful winner or loser. The last two criteria will be decided by the tournament staff so you will have to show yourself out on the golf course.
Thornberry Creek LPGA Scholarship ($2,250)
Reagan Beyer of Oshkosh was awarded the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic Scholarship for $2,250. The WPGA Junior Foundation has teamed up with the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic to offer this scholarship. Thornberry Creek has brought a new LPGA tour event to Wisconsin. The winner of this scholarship will be invited to receive their award during the final round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. The event will be played at Thornberry Creek on July 4-7.
Kevin Dunn Memorial Scholarship ($1,250)
Vincent Omernik of Custer was awarded the Kevin Dunn Memorial Scholarship for $1,250. Family and friends were the most important parts of Kevin’s life and he shared his passion for golf with them wholeheartedly. In his youth, his summers were mostly spent at area golf courses. He caddied at Westmoor C.C. and honed his golf skills through tournaments such as the Junior Masters at Johnson Park and as a member of the Waukesha South High School golf team. While many of his childhood friends continued to be close golf buddies, he also forged new friendships as both a player in state tournaments and club events at Muskego Lakes C.C., and also as a junior golf spectator. He was an active member of an online golf forum and participant in the 2011 Morgan Cup which extended his circle of golf comrades throughout the U.S. and abroad. Golf was a major piece of his family life – he taught his wife Mary and daughter Grace the game he loved. They enjoyed many hours playing and practicing together that will always be cherished. He often said the most joy he ever experienced from golf was spectating at his daughter’s junior, high school and college events. He was particularly proud that he had attended all but a handful of Grace's many tournaments.
American Family Insurance Scholarship - $3,000 (One boy and One girl recipient)
The WPGA Junior Foundation has teamed up with the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation to offer these two scholarships. American Family Insurance has brought a new PGA Champions Tour event to Wisconsin. The event was played at University Ridge on June 21-23. As part of the event the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation is making charitable donations to groups around the state and the WPGA Junior Foundation was chosen to receive some of these funds.
Girls Winner – Markie Ash of Waupaca - $3,000
Boys Winner – Nathan Koch of Franksville - $3,000
Balance and Believe Scholarship - $2,000 (Two recipients)
The Balance & Believe Foundation, based in Madison, WI, was formed in 2014 by Derek Schnarr to help promote junior golf, teach life lessons, and focus on community service. These three pillars of the Foundation come together in the Foundation's mission statement - Promoting junior golf, while providing a platform for kids to give back to the community. Over the past four years the Foundation has used this event, previously called the Michael Luedtke Memorial Golf Outing, to raise the necessary funds to support the multitude of programs in the Madison area they are involved with. The programs range from the Food Pantry and Resource Center at Falk Elementary School, to the Snack Pack program at Olson Elementary School, B&B36 program, Longest Day of Golf, and the B&B Community, Michael Luedtke, and Dick Wilson Memorial Scholarships.
Girls Winner – Lillian Knetter of Madison - $2,000
Boys Winner – Jack Anderson of Brookfield - $2,000
The purpose of the WPGA Junior Foundation scholarship program is to assist graduating high school and college students in financing their college education. There are 2 separate scholarship forms. One is for graduating high school seniors and the other is for current college students. Please choose the appropriate one. In 2024, the WPGA Junior Foundation awarded 33 scholarships totaling $85,000. We anticipate awarding even more in 2025. All applications will be taken online. Please make sure you have your transcripts and letters of recommendations forms available to attach to your application online. High School Applicants - Click Here to apply online College Applicants - Click Here to apply online Deadline for both scholarship applications is April 23, 2025. #LendAHand Scholarship #LendAHand was created with the goal of helping those in need to get back on the golf course and playing in events throughout the state. We recognize the many financial hardships families continue to endure and we want to give back! Thanks to the help of our donors, we are able to offer accepted applicants up to $200 towards tournament registration fees. Apply here
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