GCSAA Scholars Competition

Scholarship Sponsored by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Overview
- Applications open in late February and must be submitted by May 1 of the application year. Please follow the instructions exactly.

Who is eligible
- Undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited two-year or longer program related to golf or turfgrass/golf course management.
- Applicants must have completed at least the first year of study (minimum 24 credit hours or equivalent) in a golf course management–related program.
- Students who will graduate in spring 2026 (seniors graduating that term) are not eligible.
- Applicants must be GCSAA student members.
- Children of GCSAA Foundation Board of Trustees members, GCSAA Board of Directors members, and GCSAA staff are ineligible.

Award amounts and selection
- Scholarships range from $500 to $6,000.
- The top prize, the Mendenall Award, is $6,000 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the GCSAA Conference & Trade Show.
- Typically, 10–15 Scholars receive awards of $1,500–$2,500, and up to 10 Merit Winners receive $500 each.
- Selection is based on academic achievement, work experience, extracurricular involvement, and demonstrated potential to become a leader in golf course management.
- Applicants who are citizens of countries other than the United States may be considered for the Ambassador Award, a scholarship for outstanding international students. To be eligible for the Ambassador Award, applicants must: document non-U.S. citizenship, meet the general GCSAA scholarship requirements, be enrolled at a U.S. university, and rank among the top candidates in the GCSAA Scholars Competition.

Notification and payment
- Applicants will be informed of award decisions by Aug. 1.
- Scholarship checks will be issued payable to the recipient and their educational institution.

Required application materials
- Transcripts from all high schools, colleges, or other post-secondary institutions attended, including grades from the most recently completed semester. Official transcripts are not required.
- Advisor’s Report: completed by your academic advisor or department head at your current school. Options: the applicant may upload the Advisor’s Report as a PDF within the online application, or the advisor can email the completed form directly to Kera Matchett.
- Superintendent’s Report: completed by a golf course superintendent for whom you have worked. The form should be provided in a sealed envelope and mailed with your application, or the superintendent may email it directly to Kera Matchett. Alternatively, the applicant may upload the Superintendent’s Report as a PDF in the application form.
- Essay responses: complete within the application or upload separately. Answer the following prompts:
1. What has motivated you to become a golf course superintendent?
2. What preparation have you undertaken to reach this goal?
3. What are your expectations for a career as a golf course superintendent?

Submission details
- All parts of the application must be completed and submitted by May 1. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
- If a reference is sending a report by email, they should send it to Kera Matchett.

How to apply / login
- The application is available to both GCSAA members and non-members, but you must log in to apply. Use the same credentials you use for gcsaa.org. If you do not have an account, create one online before beginning your application.

Questions
- For reports sent by email or for other submission questions, contact Kera Matchett as instructed in the application materials.