The Tyler Junior College Foundation’s 34th annual scholarship golf tournament raised $140,000 in support of scholarships for TJC students.
The announcement was made during the TJC Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Mitch Andrews, TJC vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the TJC Foundation, provided a report to the TJC board.
“As a result of proceeds from last year’s 2020 tournament — or should I say last year’s ‘no tournament’ — scholarships were awarded to 100 TJC students for the current school year,” Andrews said. “Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to host the tournament last year; but fortunately, almost all of our sponsors and players continued their support, so we were able to provide much-needed scholarship funding for our students, especially during the pandemic.”
For the ninth consecutive year, Azalea Orthopedics served as the title sponsor for the tournament, held recently at Hollytree Country Club.
“This year, we did as much as we could during the pre-tournament luncheon and on the course to address concerns of the pandemic,” Andrews said. “For instance, the luncheon, which is usually attended by 225 sponsors and players, was limited to just 80 guests.”
As is tradition, scholarship recipients who benefitted from the previous year’s tournament served as volunteers at the current tournament; and the TJC men’s and women’s golf teams also volunteered their time, raising donations with their “Buy a Drive” efforts at tee boxes throughout the course.
Andrews said, “We are often told by players that this tournament is a one-of-a-kind experience because they are constantly reminded throughout the day of the ​worthy cause they are supporting: through the luncheon, where we typically present scholarship recipients; and throughout the day, as scholars host the tournament in a variety of ways, including the hole-in-one and other prize holes."
Four sophomore students received a Corporate Scholars one-year scholarship worth $2,500. Corporate sponsors, recipients, their hometowns and majors are:
• Brookshire Grocery Company: Jordan Crysup, Rusk, general studies
• Brookshire Grocery Company: Liah Severino, Fort Worth, musical theatre
• Suddenlink Business: Annie Adams, Rusk, pre-nursing
• Suddenlink Business: Sean De La Rosa, Chapel Hill, pre-radiologic technology
Five freshman students each received a Corporate Scholars two-year scholarship worth $5,000. Sponsors, recipients, their hometowns and majors are:
• Express Employment: Travis Pannell, Whitehouse, biology
• Express Employment: Jo Micah Peterson, Rusk, history
• Goldman Sachs: William Morse, Bullard, biology
• Goldman Sachs: Maricela Hurtado, Tyler, pre-nursing
• Office Barn: Ashlynn Patterson, Whitehouse, physiology
“Truly, the success of this tournament is based on the dedicated leadership of our advisory committee,” Andrews said. “Through their continuing hard work, the tournament now serves as our largest resource of annual scholarships for TJC students.”