Southern California PGA Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Recipients

ONTARIO, CA (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — The Southern California PGA Foundation has proudly unveiled its latest cohort of scholarship recipients, as 17 student-athletes will receive over $100,000 in college scholarships, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to empowering and supporting young individuals pursuing their education and enhancing their passion for the game of golf.

The Southern California PGA Foundation’s Grants and Scholarships Program is meant to recognize the hard work, effort, and determination of each recipient in the Southern California community. With a steadfast dedication to fostering educational opportunities and nurturing talent, the foundation has selected a diverse and promising group of student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, a passion for golf, and a drive to make a positive impact on their communities.

The SCPGA Foundation’s sole focus is to assist those in need through a variety of options focused on the game of golf. The life skills associated with the game are unmatched, and the SCPGA Foundation views each activity and event as key contributions to a junior’s overall mental, physical, and social development.

As these scholarship recipients embark on their academic journeys, they do so with the knowledge that they are part of a supportive network that believes in their potential and is invested in their success. The Southern California PGA Foundation’s announcement serves as a reminder that the spirit of golf extends far beyond the fairways and greens, reaching into the lives and aspirations of young individuals poised to make a difference. As the foundation continues to nurture and uplift these scholars, it reinforces its role as a driving force behind the future of golf, ensuring that the sport remains a dynamic and inclusive platform for both competition and personal development.

Below, you will find the scholarship recipients listed along with their hometown and the university they are attending; 

SCPGA Foundation Scholarship – $10,000 to each

Elina Kuang (Murrieta, CA) UC Davis

Ariana Perez (Placentia, CA) UC Irvine 

Liam Hartling (Redlands, CA) UC Riverside 

Shams Jahangir-Arshad (Santa Barbara, CA) University of Oregon 

Tyler Blick (Mission Viejo, CA) UC San Diego

The Friends of Golf Scholarship – $2,500 to each

Chloe Aala (Huntington Beach, CA) UC Irvine 

Austin Smith (Temecula, CA) Brigham Young University

Matthew Wong (Anaheim, CA) UCLA

Maxwell Short (El Cajon, CA) UCLA

Bob McCurry Memorial Scholarship – $1,300 to each

Logan Kim (Altadena, CA) Stanford

Kamdyn Gutierrez (West Covina, CA) University of Dallas

Samantha Song (San Diego, CA) La Salle University

Sophia Luna (Riverside, CA) UC Riverside

GolfFit Scholarship – $3,000

Kai Hirayama (Arcadia, CA) UC Berkeley 

Matthew Robles (Downey, CA) Santa Clara University

Rex Cole Scholarship – $500

Madelyn Zalamea (San Diego, CA) UC Riverside

The JANE Scholarship – $3,500

Dontya Bell (Carson, CA) California State University, Dominguez Hills

Thank you to all of the SCPGA Foundations supporters, including the Bob McCurry Family, GolfFit, the Rex Cole Family, the Friends of Golf, The Jane Anderson Memorial, and to the members of the Mesa Verde Country Club for hosting our scholarship luncheon and for affording us the opportunity to award these scholarships opportunities to the best and brightest student-athletes in Southern California.

For questions about the SCPGA Scholarship program, contact SCPGA Foundation Director Anthony Leone at aleone@pgahq.com.