The Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation Scholarships are $10,000 scholarships awarded to two high school seniors living in Northern Ohio to further their education. Since 2020, the Northern Ohio PGA has awarded almost $100,000 in scholarships to juniors at higher education institutions.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of community service, academics, outstanding character and demonstrated financial need. Individuals who are permanent residents of Northern Ohio, past or current members of a golf organization (PGA Jr. League, Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour, Ohio Girls Golf Foundation, etc.), hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and plan to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited college or university in the United States, are eligible to apply.
This is the fourth year that the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation is going to award two local students with a $10,000 scholarship to assist with their college education. The students selected to receive the $10,000 scholarship will receive it in $2,500 increments annually over the course of four years. In order to receive funding each year, additional paperwork including a copy of the student’s transcript must be submitted to the NOPGA Section Foundation to ensure the students are performing at an acceptable level.
In 2021, the NOPGA Section Foundation awarded the inaugural scholarships to Ben Ellis and Rachel DiDonato. In 2022, the scholarships were awarded for the second year to Sophia Rosa and Daniel Donegan. Ellis and DiDonato are in their junior years at Siena Heights University and Northern Kentucky University respectively, while Rosa and Donegan are in their sophomore years at Walsh University and Notre Dame University respectively. In 2023, Fletcher Clark and Halle Ellis were awarded scholarships; Clark is currently a freshman at Ohio State University while Ellis is attending Miami University (FL). Last year, Ryan Yoder and Molly McGreal were named the 2024 scholarship recipients and are attending Malone University and Mercyhurst University respectively.
The purpose of the NOPGA Section Foundation Scholarship is to encourage and promote the attainment of higher education goals among Northern Ohio students.
Eligible applicants must be high school seniors who are currently:
- A permanent resident of Northern Ohio
- A past or current member of a golf organization (NOPGA Junior Tour, Drive Chip & Putt, PGA Junior League, High School Golf Team, Ohio Girls Golf Foundation, etc.)
- Hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale)
- Plan to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited college or university in the United States
Along with the application, the applicant must submit the following information:
- A copy of his/her most recent transcript
- A personal statement
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Financial Information (Student Aid Report)
- Application Deadline: February 14, 2026
- Scholarship Finalists will be notified by April 15, 2026
- Scholarship Interview on Date TBD
- Scholarship Recipients notified by June 1, 2026
- Scholarship Recipients honored at Kenny Novak Scholarship Day on Date TBD
Ava Furiga
Avon, Ohio
Furiga, a 2025 graduate of Avon High School, finished with a 4.423 GPA and graduated in the top 5% of her class. A three-year varsity golfer and team captain her senior year, she was active in Ohio Girls Golf Foundation events and works at The Renaissance. Ava held leadership roles in Key Club, SADD Club, and Leo Club, and was recognized as a National Honor Society member, SWC Scholar Athlete, and AP Scholar with Honors. She was also named her school’s Phi Beta Kappa honoree. Ava will attend The Ohio State University this fall to pursue a degree in Biology as she prepares for a career in medicine.
“I am so honored to be receiving the NOPGA Foundation Scholarship. Golf has taught me patience and focus, skills that I will carry with me into my future career in medicine. I’m especially proud of myself for continuing to strive for excellence, even after the loss of my mom. That experience changed me, but it also strengthened my drive to succeed and make her proud. I’m incredibly grateful to the committee for this opportunity and for supporting students like me who are working to turn adversity into purpose.”
– Ava Furiga
Vinh Lai
Lakewood, Ohio
Lai, a 2025 graduate of St. Edward High School, earned a 4.65 GPA while completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. A four-year varsity golfer and two-year varsity soccer player—captaining both teams—he also actively participated in the NOPGA Junior Tour and First Tee. He was involved in numerous clubs and held leadership positions in the Asian American Pacific Islander Club and the school newspaper. A member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, Vinh will attend The Ohio State University this fall to study Aerospace Engineering.
“Receiving the NOPGA Foundation Scholarship is much more than just a check—it’s a source of inspiration. Inspiration for what I will accomplish as an engineer in college and for those following in my footsteps. This scholarship demonstrates that you don’t necessarily have to be the ‘best’ at something, but rather the most hardworking. NOPGA has given me much more than being able to hit a golf ball—it has given me lifelong relationships, valuable life skills, and steadfast determination. In the years ahead, I hope to inspire others through the same values that NOPGA and the game of golf have given me.”
– Vinh Lai
For more information on the 2026 Scholarships or Scholarship Day, email Danielle Monas at dmonas@pgahq.com or call the Section Office at (216) 765-1214!
2025 Grant Requests
Grant Application Deadline is July 15, 2025 – The funds for grants will not be delivered until December 2026.
Jotform – With the Jotform platform, you cannot “Save and Continue,” so we recommend that you type your answers in a separate word document, and copy and paste answers into the Jotform.
Looking for Equipment for your Grant Program? You can reserve SNAG Equipment in advance for your program by calling the Section Office at (216) 765-1214!
1. In 2024, the average grant size given to a program or organization with a PGA or LPGA Professional was $5,000.00.
2. If you are applying for $1989.78 for SNAG Equipment, and were to be approved for the SNAG Equipment, you would be funded for the exact amount of the SNAG Equipment ($1989.78), and would be asked to submit receipts after your purchase for the foundation to reimburse.
3. The grant application must include a detailed budget and explanation of how the grant funds are to be used.
4. Grants will be limited to (1) per facility. Additional grant requests will be considered if there is funding available and if the additional request is for a different program targeting a different demographic or program goals.
5. We focus on providing grants to programs in need, and programs that align with our mission statement of helping junior golf, education, scholarships, and local charities.
6. Grant recipients will be asked to provide a follow-up report in the form of a Grant Summary Report outlining the results of the program and showing how the money was spent.
7. The deadline to submit a Grant Summary Report in 2025 is October 31, 2025. This is required to receive funding for the grant.
July 15th: Grant Application Closes
August 15th: Grant Applicants Notified with Approval/Denial of Grant Request
October 31st: Grant Summary Report due for all Grants
Click here to fill out 2025 grant application!
The Grant Summary Report will be filled out by the organization/individual that requested grant funding at the end of the program. The deadline for the 2024 Grant Summary Report is October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
If the grant funding is approved, funding will not come until after the Grant Summary Report has been filled out. Your program will NOT receive funding for the grant if the Grant Summary Report is not filled out prior to October 31st. It must include all required information.