Jerrell Parrish 2020-2021 PGA WORKS Golf Management University Scholarship Recipient

BY AAGD STAFF

May 25, 2020 —PGA REACH has awarded scholarships to 10 students through the PGA WORKS Golf Management University Scholarship Program for the 2020-2021 academic school year. These $8,000 scholarships are designed to improve the recruitment and retention of talented and motivated students from diverse backgrounds, who are pursuing PGA Membership through PGA Golf Management University Programs nationwide.  Among the recipients is Jerrell Parrish a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2023.

Jerrell, 28, was born in Washington, DC and raised in Prince Georges County, Maryland a suburb outside of DC. He learned how to play golf at the age of 12. Within a year he began competing in the Golf Channel’s Drive, Chip, and Putt competition, winning 1st place in several events. He went on to compete and win 1st place in local junior events such as the Glenn Dale Golf Club Junior Championship; the Jimmy Garvin’s Langston Legacy Golf Tournament, USA vs Bahamas; and the Elite Players Tournament.  Jerrell credits notable PGA professionals who have contributed to his growth and development through one-on-one instruction and/or counsel including Calvin Peete, Pepper Peete, Fred Funk, Lee Elder, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, and James Black. Jerrell has also worked with well-known golf professionals in Maryland such as Troy Beck, Wayne DeFrancisco, Rodney Lathern, and David Marshall. Jerrell also received training at the David Leadbetter Academy in Florida. 

As a junior golfer, Jerrell competed in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT), and the Bill Dickey tournaments where he competed against some of the top junior golfers in the nation. Jerrell became good friends with PGA Tour player Harold Varner after competing in the Bill Dickey tournament which annually features the top minority golfers in the country. Jerrell made history as the first African American Junior golfer to be selected to compete in the IJGT Junior Euro Cup event to represent the USA vs Canada and Scotland in Scotland.

Having recently completed his freshman year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a GPA: 3.73, Jerrell is focused on earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality Management (May 2023) with a concentration in PGA Golf Management.  He serves 16-hours monthly with the United States Air Force Nellis AFB, Nevada, since August 2018.  He is CompTIA Project+ Certified and Certified in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA).

Jerrell gives back to his community in many ways, he volunteers for the Butch Harmon School of Golf, the PGA Jr League and Habitat for Humanity.  He serves as Sergeant of Arms for UNLV Hospitality Toastmasters, is a member of Eta Sigma Delta Hospitality Honors Society, and a member of Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success.

ABOUT PGA WORKS

The PGA WORKS initiative is designed to evolve the demographic composition of the golf industry’s workforce and the PGA of America’s Membership. Scholarship recipients will pursue full-time undergraduate studies at one of the 18 accredited PGA Golf Management Universities during the 2020-2021 academic year, with an ultimate goal of obtaining PGA Membership.

“PGA REACH is proud to award these outstanding students with a PGA WORKS Golf Management University Scholarship, as they pursue their dream of earning PGA Membership and a college degree,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “We congratulate them for their academic success, and we’re delighted that they represent an exciting future for the game and our industry.”
Scholarship recipients were selected on the basis of: Academic record; demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities; honors and work experience; a statement of goals and aspirations; unusual personal or family circumstances; an outside appraisal; demonstrated active participation in the game of golf; and playing ability.

2020-2021 PGA WORKS Golf Management University
Scholarship Program Recipients

Brianna Fleming
Monaca, Pa.
Coastal Carolina University
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2022

Leah Im
Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2023

 
Brayden Kelley
Fruita, Colo.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2024


Grace McKinnon
Methuen, Mass.
Florida Gulf Coast University
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2024

Jerrell Parrish
Hyattsville, Md.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2023

Breanna Reynolds
Parker, S.D.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2023

Margaret Williams
Gambier, Ohio
Methodist University
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2024

Rachel Wohn
Savannah, Ga.
Clemson University
PGA Golf Management University Program Class of 2022

To ensure success and perpetuity of the program, as well as objectivity in the selection process, PGA REACH retained Scholarship America as a third-party administrator. Scholarship America is the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance, and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals.