Scholarship Committee

Since 1996 the Houston Golf Association has awarded more than $460,000 in academic scholarships. These scholarships are awarded based on academics and need. A committee, made up of Houston Golf Association volunteers, screens the applicants. In 2010 a record 120 applied for HGA grants-in-aid. Thanks to additional fundraising efforts the number of recipi8ents tripled. Six scholarships were awarded, an increase of four over previous years.

Fred Newton chairs the Scholarship Committee. The following members volunteer their time to the committee:

• Scholarship Selection sub-committee: Chair: Dennis Nelson.  Members:  Jim Berry, Chris Normyle
  
  
• Golf Tournament & Silent Auction sub-committee: Chair: Ken Stockton. Members: Meg Leachman, Pat Weston
  
  
• Masters Raffle: Co-chairs: Fred Newton & Pat Weston
  
  
• (120+) Funding sub-committee:  Chair: Fred Newton. Members: Mike Dorman
  

Funding comes from activities supported by the Houston Golf Association, including support from our title sponsor Shell Oil Company. Beginning in 2010 up to two "technical studies" scholarships were awarded for students who plan to major in geosciences or engineering. Up to three general discipline scholarships can be awarded. One academic scholarship was awarded to an applicant who played in a junior golf program, including but not limited to the HGA program. This scholarship was named in honor of the late Randy Arnaud, an HGA member who donated his time and talent to helping youngsters in The First Tee and Junior Golf programs.

The history of HGA's scholarship program goes back into the 1950s and 1960s when some of the net proceeds of its PGA TOUR events were set aside for youngsters who competed in junior golf. More than 50 scholarships were awarded before the charitable mission of HGA changed to supporting other youth-development programs in 1974.