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A Letter from the Director...
Finals are over, commencement ceremonies completed, and students are off to their work experiences…summer is here! But before we move on to prepare for the 2018-2019 year, we want to take time to celebrate what was a great 2017-2018 academic year!
I guess you could categorize this past year as the year of staff changes for the PGA Golf Management program and the University Golf Course. Program Assistant, Daniel Soehren, PGA, accepted a position at a club in Virginia. This move allowed for he and his wife to be closer to family and for him to pursue career aspirations. We are grateful for Daniel’s service to our students and alumni and wish he and Kelly all the best. We welcome back fellow alumnus, Zach Tate, PGA, who has returned to serve as the Assistant Director. Zach brings an unequaled passion and enthusiasm for the game of golf, Mississippi State, and the students. Since his return, he has hit the ground “running” and not looked back. We also had recent alumnus, Luke Millhouse, PGA, join the team as the Program Assistant. Likewise, Luke has made a seamless transition to the position and has done great things in just his first semester. The final piece to the team is the hiring of our new Head Professional at the University Golf Course. You may have seen the announcement we made regarding Mike Hammond, PGA, returning home after 3 years of service to the University Golf Course. We will miss Mike, but are happy he is closer to home and for the wonderful career opportunity he has at his new facility. Our new Head Professional is none other than Adam Scott, PGA Certified Professional. Adam is returning to Starkville following his tenure as Director of the UCCS PGA Golf Management program. He and his wife, Erika, will be back in Starkville and in place June 1. We are excited to have Adam back and the entire team in place.
As we look back over the year, the MSU PGA Golf Management program also had a great year! The students continue to perform well
in many areas and contribute in a number of ways to the University, Starkville, and PGA communities. Some of their efforts include: fundraising for the Folds of Honor and PGA Disaster relief efforts (weather disasters in Houston, Florida, California); Relay for Life; Pros for Clothes; Section events; cumulative GPA of 3.02; PAT passing percentage of 55% (fall 2017); Heritage Cup victory vs. Sam Houston State; 100% job placement; creation of new student awards; most successful family weekend in its near 20-year history; success on PGA exams; and on and on… We are very proud of the work they are doing in the classroom, on the golf course, and in the community!
You will read more in this publication, but I do want to note the creation of our student honors for the PGA Golf Management program. The honors center around excellence in a number of areas and are accompanied with the names of some notable alumni. The highest honor, The Dr. S. Roland Jones Student of the Year, bestows special recognition on a Mississippi State PGA Golf Management student who has performed outstanding services as an overall PGA Golf Management student during their collegiate career. Candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the program and the game of golf. Individuals honored with the Roland Jones Student of the Year award will be held as a model Mississippi State University PGA Golf Management student. The inaugural recipient of the Roland Jones Student of the Year was a graduating senior (Dec. 2017) from GA: Sally Morgan.
Other awards recognizing student excellence include: The Joe Assell Leadship Award, The Ryan Coyle Academic Award, and The Rod Perry Player of the Semester.
In November, Hayden Lewis, a graduating senior from Texas, was selected to attend the PGA Annual Meeting as the Mississippi State student representative.