Phoenix, AZ – Golf It Forward® is pleased to announce that in conjunction with the LPGA Foundation, 25 young ladies have each earned a $5,000 Marilynn Smith College Scholarship for 2026. This brings the total number of young women who have received a Marilynn Smith Scholarship to 325. Funds this year were provided by Golf It Forward, the LPGA Foundation, Daphne’s Headcovers, Dinan & Company, LLC, Pete & Jan Goebel, Thomas Quinlan, the Sandra Gal Foundation, Tori Totlis and the Waitkus Family.
The Marilynn Smith Scholarship program was established in 1999 by Ms. Smith. As a college student, she was denied financial assistance because she was a girl. Determined to make a difference, Marilynn, along with the LPGA Foundation, established her scholarship program. Thus far, nearly $1,625,000 has been awarded.
Each year, candidates from the United States and Canada must complete a questionnaire, watch The Founders film and write an essay about the film, ensuring that the story of the women who created the longest running women’s sports organization is not forgotten. Fifty finalists participated in an interview with members of the Golf It Forward Scholarship Committee, and from these, 25 were selected. This year’s class of ‘Marilynn’s Pearls’, as the recipients are known, comes from 17 different states, with three girls each from Illinois and Minnesota, followed by Indiana, Pennsylvania and South Carolina with two apiece.
These young women have a background which includes golf, community service and scholastic success with a passion for the world around them. “They (the 13 Founders of the LPGA) weren’t just focused on their own careers, they were focused on creating a legacy for future generations to be able to play the game that they love,” stated 2026 Marilynn Smith Pearl Anna Firko. “This reminds me that success isn’t just about winning, but about how you help others along the way.”
The recipients will follow many varied pathways during their college careers, including business, golf enterprise management, education, computer science, engineering, English language learners, exercise physiology, finance, journalism, law, medicine and sports management. Some hope for a career as a professional golfer or golf professional, perhaps one day working with the LPGA or PGA.
“The Founders’ perseverance reminds me that real change begins with believing in yourself and refusing to let doubt or other people’s expectations limit what you can achieve. Their example motivates me to pursue my goals with confidence and determination,” said 2026 Marilynn Smith Pearl Joanna Bushnell Crist.
2026 Marilynn Smith Scholarship Recipients are:
Olivia Bailey – Rochester, IN
Courtney Beerheide – Arlington Heights, IL
Madelyn Bennett – Rockford, IL
Joanna Bushnell Crist – Indio, CA
Julia Conroy – Greenville, SC
Anna Firko – Wilmington, DE
Karma Hasselberger – Tomah, WI
Elizabeth Haughery – Vestavia Hills, AL
Isabel Helgemoe – Scottsdale, AZ
Ava Henshaw – Rogers, AR
Mia Hiebner – Henderson, NE
Carmen Jirele – Owatonna, MN
Ava Kaplan – Mount Pleasant, SC
Payten Leet – Bradford, PA
Maddisyn Leluga – Hutto, TX
Sage McCullough – El Dorado Springs, MO
Lauren Miller – Dayton, OH
Kallie Phon – Covington, WA
Sylvia Seiffert – Corcoran, MN
Maria Serrano – Miami, FL
Abby Shires – Evansville, IN
Emily Stauffer – Lititz, PA
Alyssa Swedzinski – Dawson, MN
Sydney Verdugo – La Habra Heights, CA
Miah Wanserski – Downers Grove, IL
To learn more about the PEARLS or to donate to the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Program, visit www.golfitforward.org.
ABOUT GOLF IT FORWARD®
GOLF IT FORWARD (GIF) is the public face of the Marilynn Smith and Founders’ Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation embodies the ingenuity, drive and passion of 13 women who had the foresight to see that there was a future for women in golf and golf in the future of women. For more information on GIF, please go to www.GolfItForward.org
PRESS CONTACT Debbie Waitkus – Chair, 13Founders@golfitforward.org
