NAU Alumni golf tourney set for Nov. 10
Charity has raised over $400,000
Over $400,000 has been raised over the years from the Northern Arizona University Alumni Golf Classic, assisting local students in attending both Yuma and Flagstaff campuses.
The golf tournament, which will be marking its 20th anniversary this year, has played a large role in helping support Yuma students in furthering their education, said Harry Hengl, chairman of the NAU Foundation.
“I never imagined that it would last this long,” Hengl said when asked about the history of the annual tournament.
“When Tom Kelly approached me about putting together a golf tournament to earn money for scholarships for Yuma students... I jumped at the chance. Together we worked out the details and now, 20 years later, we are still going strong.”
Hengl said the event, on Nov. 10 this year, is made possible with the help of donors such as Pioneer Title Agency, AEA Federal Credit Union, Harold and Marion Elliott, the Caballeros de Yuma, and the corporate sponsors and golfers. The funds from last year alone allowed for 20 students to receive $1,000 scholarships, one of which was given in memory of Mayra Hernandez Gaona, a graduate of NAU from San Luis, Ariz.
“Most people have no idea how important these scholarships are for our Yuma students,” said Dr. Russell Prust, project director and education chairman at NAU-Yuma.
“The scholarships can help support students during the student teaching semester when they must teach full time and cannot work. Our master's level grant with certification does not even cover the tuition cost of student teaching, so this makes it twice as difficult financially.”
Hengl said of the scholarships they've awarded over the years, a large majority of the recipients have returned to Yuma to begin their careers, benefitting the local community.
The tournament is at the Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course and is a four-person, two-drive scramble with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
“This is an equal opportunity golf tournament and players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate,” said Hengl. “Team skins and mulligans will be available for purchase. Four-person teams are encouraged but if you do not have a team you may register as a single and teams will be formed. Registration options range from Corporate Scholarship Sponsors and Family Sponsorships, which include a scholarship given (in) the donor's name or family member's name, to Deluxe Player and Player Registrations. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, gift bag, lunch and dinner at the Alumni Dinner held on Friday night.”
An Alumni Fish Fry is Nov. 9 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Putter Inn at Desert Hills. The dinner is open to all alumni and guests and all golfers. The price of the dinner is $12 for non-golfers. Dinner for golfers is included in the price of tournament registration.
“Since this is our 20th anniversary I would like to see the community come out and support our efforts to raise money for scholarships,” said Hengl. “It would be great to fill the tournament and get a few hundred folks out to dinner on Friday evening. I promise that you will not be asked for money at the fish fry. It is just an opportunity to come out with friends for a good time and meet some of the administrators of Northern Arizona University.”
This year's major sponsor is Pioneer Title Agency; the Fisher Automotive Group in Yuma will award a 2013 Hyundai Sonata to the winner of the Hole-in-One Contest. Prizes will also be awarded to other contest winners and top finishers.
For more information, please contact Hengl at 343-2400 or 580-2470. All entries must be received no later than Wednesday, Nov. 7.
Visit www.nau.edu/yuma to download an entry form and for pricing information.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.
Scholarship recipients --- The group of students who were awarded with $1,000 scholarships from last year's 2011 Annual Northern Arizona University Alumni Golf Classic. (Pictured from left to right) First row: Megan Springer and Ines Delgadillo. Second row: Margarita Villasenor and Beatrice Martinez. Third Row: Yonia Burr and Carolina Lara. Fourth row: Maria Ezzre and Viviana Gardner. Fifth row: Larry Gould, executive director of NAU-Yuma; Harry Hengl, chairman of the NAU Foundation; Andres Preciado; Daniela Andrade; Adela Monteon; Angelica Carlos; Sahbreena Munoz; Ginny Bowen; Candy Millan; and Teresa Treynor.
New scholarship --- Maria Ezzre is the first student to be awarded the Myra Hernandez Gaona Memorial Scholarship. The money for the $1,000.00 scholarship was provided by the 2011 Annual Northern Arizona University Alumni Golf Classic. She is pictured here with Dr. Patricia Peterson of Northern Arizona University.
Pioneer title --- Rick Mires of Pioneer Title Agency hands Harry Hengl, chairman of the Northern Arizona Foundation, a check in the amount of $5,000. Pioneer Title Agency is the major sponsor of the 20th Annual Northern Arizona Alumni Golf Classic to be Nov. 10 at Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course. All proceeds will go for scholarships for Yuma-area students to attend Northern Arizona University either in Yuma or Flagstaff.
