First Tee Sponsored Scholarship Opportunities
Deacon Palmer
Named after Arnold Palmer’s father Deacon, this annual $2,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years based on academic performance, is given to a maximum of two graduating high school seniors each year. Applicants must have been active participants for at least TWO years. Nominees must have at least a 2.5/4.0 GPA and have demonstrated exceptional merit, citizenship, academic achievement, as well as service and commitment to the mission of First Tee – Pittsburgh. Applications must be submitted by May 5, 2025. Awardees are announced in late May each year and recognized at the annual Tee It Forward dinner in September.
Morty Gurrentz
This annual $5,000 scholarship, funded by Joan and Rodger Gurrentz, is renewable for up to four years based on academic performance, and will be given to one graduating high school senior each year. Applicants must have been active participants for at least TWO years. Nominees must have at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA and have demonstrated exceptional merit, citizenship, academic achievement, as well as service and commitment to the mission of First Tee – Pittsburgh. Applications must be submitted by May 5, 2025. Awardees are announced in early June each year and recognized at the annual Tee It Forward dinner in September.
Bob Ford Leadership Award
The Bob Ford Leadership Award was started by Oakmont Country Club former Head Professional, Bob Ford and First Tee-Pittsburgh. Bob Ford exemplifies the spirit of golf in Western Pennsylvania as a player, teacher, head professional, and director of golf at Oakmont Country Club and head pro at Seminole Country Club in Florida. His leadership distinguishes him as a consummate professional and ambassador of the game. The Bob Ford Leadership Award is given annually to a First Tee -Pittsburgh participant who embodies these qualities on and off the golf course. This scholarship has already been awarded for the 2025-26 college year. First Tee participants will be eligible to apply for this award in the Spring of 2026.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
Girls Golf (LPGA & USGA)
We are proud to announce that we have $135,000 in scholarship money available for eligible high school seniors. This makes it the largest amount available in LPGA Foundation history, thanks to amazing partners like the Chevron Corporation. The LPGA Foundation administers several scholarship programs for young women who enjoy the game of golf and plan to attend college in the fall. Qualifications for all scholarships include strong academic programs, community service and recommendations. The LPGA Foundation’s structure also allows for the establishment of endowed scholarships in honor or in memory of individuals who made a significant difference in the world of golf.
Carl A. Bongiovanni Scholarship
Carl A. Bongiovanni was a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, and continuously involved with his community in a number of capacities. He was the owner and president of Bon Tool Company, located in Gibsonia, PA, from 1994 until his sudden passing on January 26, 2017. The scholarship was made possible by the outpouring of love and donations at the time of his passing and by an annual fund-raising golf outing.
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide students with funding for continuing their education in the building / construction trades at a post-secondary institution. The scholarship is worth $2,000 / year, sent directly to the educational institution, for as long as the student is enrolled in the program (maximum of 3 years). The scholarship will be awarded during the finalist’s institution’s award ceremony or some other relevant event/function. Scholarships have been awarded to 18 recipients since its inception.
Gals on and off the Green Scholarship
The GALS (Growing, Achieving, Learning, Succeeding) Scholarship is for females only, and was established in 2013 by Jackie
Sorrenti, the founder of Gals on the Green, and a former Board Member with the First Tee of Pittsburgh. The scholarship is for up to $2,500 annually and can be renewed. Applications are available online, and must be submitted by August 1, 2025, prior to the student’s senior year of high school.
West Penn Golf Association Scholarship
Founded in 1941, this is open to participants who have worked at a WPGA member club for at least two years. The program typically has 10-12 students receiving aid and is renewable for up to four years if students maintain a cumulative 2.8 GPA or above. Applications from eligible high school seniors must be submitted to the WPGA by late November, and final interviews are done in April.
Western Golf Association & Evans Scholars Foundation
The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is a one-year full tuition and housing scholarship, renewable for four years, but only available to caddies. The Evans Scholars Program provides academic, professional, and social resources that help students maintain a cumulative 3.3 GPA and a 98 percent graduation rate. During the 2023-24 academic year, there were a record 1,130 Evans Scholars currently enrolled at 24 universities, and over 12,040 young men and women have graduated since 1930. Applications are available online beginning August 1 each year, and must be completed by October 31, when the review process begins. All decisions are finalized by April 1. Complete details are available on their website at www.wgaesf.org. Contact Coach Martin King-Smith ([email protected]) for more information.
NOTE – Victoria Slawinski caddied at Oakmont Country Club and became the first participant from First Tee – Pittsburgh to earn an Evans Scholarship in January 2019. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in December 2023.