GolfNow and GolfPass joined Youth on Course today to announce two sponsored golf scholarships, further bolstering the companies’ recently formed partnership with YOC to help grow the game of golf. The two award recipients join a cohort of 18 other 2021 Youth on Course annual scholarship winners from a competitive pool of member applicants.
The GolfNow and GolfPass Scholars each will receive a $20,000 award, which will be administered as $5,000 payments for every year they are enrolled at their intended university.
GolfNow Scholar
Michelle Kashia Yang (Woodbury, Minn.), University of Wisconsin-Madison
Intended Major: Marketing and Finance
Woodbury, Minn.-native Michelle Kang has earned recognition as the 2021 Youth on Course GolfNow Scholar. Her outstanding high school achievements include being named an AP Scholar with Distinction, four years of service as Student Council President, serving as Concertmaster on her school orchestra, and honored as Player of the Year and Top All Conference for the Woodbury High School Girls Golf Team. Kang will continue her studies and golf career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
GolfPass Scholar
Viveka Kurup (Redwood Shores, Calif.), Bucknell University
Intended Major: Computer Science
2021 Youth on Course GolfPass Scholar Viveka Kurup of Redwood Shores, Calif., will join the women’s golf team at Bucknell University this fall. As a decorated high school player, Kurup served as Captain of the Carlmont High School Girls Golf Team for four years and won the school’s Hall of Fame award during her sophomore and junior years. She recorded wins across several Northern California Junior Tours and served as a staff writer for her school newspaper, receiving a Best of SNO Journalism award for her work.
“We are more than honored to provide financial support to these two outstanding high school students, so they can continue their education and help achieve their future goals,” said Jerramy Hainline, GolfNow senior vice president and general manager. “Providing our services to help ease the financial burden for the next generation of golfers is extremely important and something our organization prides itself on.”
“College students graduate with an average debt of nearly $30,000 and we believe cost should not be a barrier to pursuing higher education, just like it shouldn’t be a barrier to playing golf.” says Michael Lowe, vice president of programs for Youth on Course. “We are so proud of Viveka and Michelle for their accomplishments in the classroom, on the golf course, and in their communities and thanks to the generous support of our partners at GolfNow and GolfPass, these outstanding students can continue their education in college and are on a path to graduate without the financial burden so many struggle with.”
The continued support from GolfNow and GolfPass contributes to Youth on Course’s mission to provide youth with access to life-changing opportunities on and off the course. GolfNow and GolfPass are committed to providing added resources that facilitate accessibility to golf for young people through initiatives, such as the GolfNow “Round Up” campaign, launched in December 2020, which helps raise funds to support subsidies for rounds of golf; complimentary GolfPass video subscriptions for YOC members; and, now, through the scholarship expansion. This collaboration continues to take major steps toward ensuring the vitality of golf as a recreational alternative for kids, as well as using technology to create more affordable and equal access to the sport for youth in all socio-economic circumstances.
