From left: Dr. Rob Rennaker, Dr. Bruce Gnade, Linda Gnade, Dr. Hobson Wildenthal, Sun Kim and Dr. Moon Kim participated in the 21st Annual UT Dallas Golf Tournament and Scholarship Fundraiser.
The 21st Annual UT Dallas Golf Tournament and Scholarship Fundraiser attracted the largest turnout in the event’s history. Almost 200 participants recently played on two golf courses at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson.
In the past two years, the tournament has raised more than $100,000 for student scholarships and programs, including the Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship, Patti Henry Pinch Scholarship for Undergraduate Research and Academic Bridge Program. These programs provide supplemental financial support to assist undergraduates with research and travel expenses, allow graduate students to attend and make presentations at national conferences, and help ease the transition from high school to college by providing on-campus housing, advising, mentoring and tutoring to first-generation college students.
“I wouldn’t be at UT Dallas if it were not for the Academic Bridge Program,” said Darrel Dunn, a 2014 Arts and Technology graduate from Dallas who was the commencement speaker for the School of Arts and Humanities’ ceremony. “Having the credits coming into college, as well as having the financial help, mentoring and counseling that they provide to you in the program, has really helped me grow as a person.”
Spring graduate Darrel Dunn credited the Academic Bridge Program, which receives funds from the golf tournament, for helping him grow as a person.
Thanks to the generosity of businesses, institutions and individuals from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the tournament has generated more than $250,000 over the past four years.
“It has been very rewarding to see this event grow year after year and to know we are impacting students’ lives,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for administration. “In addition to our returning supporters, we had several new sponsors and donors get involved this year, as well as many new volunteers. It is very encouraging and exciting to see so many people committed to such a worthy cause.”
This year’s Platinum Sponsors were Chartwells, Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors and Jacobs Engineering Group. More than 30 volunteers helped to plan and organize the event.
“We appreciate all of our volunteers and supporters, and hope to make next year’s tournament an even bigger success,” Jamison said.