Congaree Foundation partners with Coastal Carolina University to establish the Congaree Foundation Scholarship for the University’s PGA Golf Management Program
One scholarship will be annually awarded to a full-time, first-year undergraduate student in CCU’s PGA Golf Management program
Conway, S.C., Oct. 26, 2021 — Congaree Foundation, whose mission is to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe through the game of golf, today announced in partnership with Coastal Carolina University (CCU) the creation of the Congaree Foundation Scholarship for the University’s PGA Golf Management program.
Beginning with the 2022-23 academic year, the Congaree Foundation Scholarship will be awarded annually to one incoming undergraduate student at CCU. Eligible students will be entering the University as full-time, first-year students in the PGA Golf Management program, will have participated in Congaree Foundation programming, and must be South Carolina residents.
“Congaree Foundation is the heart of Congaree Golf Club and drives its philanthropic mission to positively impact the lives of young people in South Carolina and across the globe who share a passion for golf,” said Bruce Davidson, director of golf at Congaree. “We are excited to partner with Coastal Carolina University to offer the Congaree Foundation Scholarship and provide financial resources that will enable ambitious students to pursue their dreams of working in the golf industry.”
The PGA Golf Management program at CCU, established in 1999, prepares students for a successful career in the golf industry by combining academic studies and a professional golf-training curriculum. Completion of the program allows graduates to pursue careers as club or teaching professionals, golf association administrators, representatives of golf equipment manufacturers or trade publications, and many more exciting opportunities in the ever-growing golf industry.
“The Congaree Foundation Scholarship represents a great opportunity for students entering Coastal Carolina’s PGM program,” said CCU President Michael T. Benson. “We are very thankful for the Congaree Foundation’s support of the University. Together, we share a commitment to enhancing the educational opportunities for South Carolina residents.”
The scholarship will cover the recipient’s tuition and fees and can be received throughout the student’s four-year, full-time enrollment in the University’s PGA Golf Management program. Congaree Foundation will provide a list of qualified candidates to CCU each spring, from which the school will select the final scholarship recipient for the upcoming fall semester.
“We are excited and looking forward to having a young woman or man from the Congaree Foundation as part of our Coastal Carolina University and our PGA Golf Management program family,” said Will Mann, director of CCU’s PGA Golf Management program.
Coastal Carolina alumnus Mike Pruitt, who is a member of the Coastal Educational Foundation board of directors and a proponent of the Congaree Foundation Scholarship program, said: “I’ve had the good fortune of helping more than 30 students from CCU’s PGM program get internships at Grandfather Golf and Country Club in North Carolina during the past 18 years. The quality of the young people who have come through has been outstanding. It’s my hope to grow the game of golf with Congaree and Coastal forever more.”
Since its establishment in 2017, Congaree Foundation funding and programming have provided substantial benefits to South Carolina organizations such as the Lowcountry Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry, including a $167,000 grant to establish the Congaree Career Launch program for underserved youth. Its flagship collegiate preparatory program, the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, has produced more than 102 graduates from 16 countries, 95% whom have attended college and 37 age-eligible students out of 60 who have graduated high school and gone on to play collegiate golf.
For more information about Congaree Foundation, please visit https://congareefoundation.org. To learn more about CCU’s PGA Golf Management program, please visit https://www.coastal.edu/business/pga.
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About Congaree Foundation
The Congaree Foundation provides resources for educational and vocational opportunities to help shape the lives of underserved and ambitious youths who share a passion for golf. Its signature program is the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, an immersive collegiate preparatory curriculum tailored toward high school students in the U.S. and internationally. Participants come to Congaree each summer and work with educators, guidance counselors and golf instructors to advance their preparation for the college admissions process and prepare them for success in life. In the Lowcountry, Congaree Foundation operates a number of programs and partnerships with valuable community organizations including Lowcountry Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of Jasper County. The Foundation also works to increase access to the game of golf for area students through youth golf instruction programs and Sergeant Jasper Golf Club.
About Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University offers baccalaureate degrees through more than 95 majors. Among CCU’s graduate-level programs are 27 master’s degrees, two educational specialist degrees, and two doctoral programs: the Ph.D. in marine science: coastal and marine systems science, and the Ph.D. in education. CCU boasts a growing array of internship, research, and international opportunities for students, as well as numerous online programs through Coastal Online. More than 10,000 students from across the country and the world interact with a world-class faculty, and enjoy a nationally competitive NCAA Division I athletic program, an inspiring cultural calendar, and a tradition of community interaction that is fueled by more than 180 student clubs and organizations.
Media Inquiries:
Bates Grainger / 160over90 on behalf of Congaree Foundation
bgrainger@160over90.com
Martha Hunn
Associate Vice President and Chief Communication Officer
Coastal Carolina University
mhunn@coastal.edu
