Inaugural Bill Black Award given to honor founder
(Jacksonville, FL) In 1974 the Jacksonville Area Golf Association established the JAGA Charitable Trust with just a $150.00 contribution from the Association’s general fund. Since then, the Scholarship Fund has grown through contributions from JAGA member clubs, golf tournaments and private donations, and there have been hundreds of scholarships awarded to deserving young people totaling over $1,000,000. Each year, the volunteer organization recognizes college-bound golfers who not only excelled on the course, but more importantly have made contributions to their communities and set an example that honors the game.
Tonight at a dinner at Queens’s Harbor Yacht & Country Club celebrating the recipients, the JAGA Directors made their annual presentation to five well-deserving area student-athletes. Below are those recipients and the colleges they are attending:
Kelly Barrett – Florida Gulf Coast University
Connor Battreall – University of North Florida
Hannah Berman – University of West Florida
Sydney Legeer – University of Alabama
Emily Root – US Naval Academy
This year marked a special moment for the JAGA Scholarship Fund as they introduced the Bill Black Award. Mr. Black was a long-term JAGA Director who believed deeply in creating and fostering a scholarship for area golfers. The award was presented by Jim Howard, Director of Golf at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Mr. Howard commented, “No one volunteered his time to this game like Bill. He loved every part of it, especially working on junior events and supporting the future of golf. He set a personal example for me and stood for what JAGA is all about.”
The inaugural Bill Black Award was presented to Hannah Berman of Ponte Vedra who was sponsored by Sawgrass Country Club. Berman graduated this year from Ponte Vedra High School where she was a two-time captain of the golf time and two-time team MVP, the St. Augustine Record County Golfer of the Year and a three-time Florida Times-Union All First Coast First Team selection. She was recognized nationally with the 2015 USGA/AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award for her community service work and played in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Berman will play her college golf at the University of West Florida where she plans to study International Business.
“It is an honor to be viewed by JAGA as someone who deserves this kind of recognition, and I know I speak on behalf of all of us when I say how grateful we are that they support what we do inside and outside the ropes,” said Ms. Berman. She added, “It is truly humbling to receive this particular award because of what Mr. Black meant to the local golf community. I hope some day people will say the same kind things about me.”
Said Randy Nader, JAGA Director and Berman’s sponsor, “All of these kids have done incredible things on and off the course. Hannah truly exemplified what this game is all about – not just playing well, but giving back to the community and as we saw through her essay not taking anything for granted. We know that she and all of these incredible young people will represent JAGA, Jacksonville and the game with the respect it deserves.”
JAGA Director and Scholarship Fund Chair Ken Hicks commented, “This dinner is as much about the families as it is about the kids. It takes a strong team of people, a lot of sacrifice and good examples to develop such good kids. We are equally proud of the parents in this room.”
JAGA scholarship recipients have gone on to successful careers as golf course superintendents, golf club managers, PGA Tour Players, PGA Golf Professionals and other careers both inside and outside the golf industry. With the continued support and encouragement of our member clubs and contributors to the scholarship fund, JAGA looks forward to continuing the long-standing tradition of providing meaningful scholarship awards to worthy students for their college education.
Contact:
Ken Hicks
JAGA Director
kenrhicks@bellsouth.net
