Olayemi Ojeokun, a graduate student at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS., has earned the prestigious Larry Powell Scholarship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The scholarship, established in 2022, is named after Larry Powell, a dedicated 49-year GCSAA member and golf course superintendent at Clearview Golf Course in Canton, Ohio. Ojeokun will be formally acknowledged at the 2024 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show during the GCSAA Foundation Donors and Grassroots Ambassadors Reception on Jan. 31 in Phoenix, AZ.
The Larry Powell Scholarship focuses on individuals from underserved populations who are GCSAA members or aspiring to become members. It gives preference to needs-based applicants, taking into account their leadership skills and community engagement.
The scholarship’s namesake, Larry Powell, hails from a groundbreaking legacy in golf. His father, Bill Powell, was an entrepreneur and the first African American to design, construct, and own a golf course—Clearview Golf Club in Canton—in 1948. Both Bill and Larry were historic figures as the first African American father-son members in GCSAA history. The Powell Family, including Larry’s sister Renee, the second African American player in LPGA history, received the GCSAA’s Old Tom Morris Award in 2019.
Expressing her excitement, Ojeokun, a one-year GCSAA member, stated, “I am so excited to be the recipient of the Larry Powell Scholarship. It holds immense significance to me as it signifies the belief and investment in my potential as an African and as a woman in turf. I hope someday there will be more black women in the turf and golf industry.”
The scholarship is crucial for Ojeokun’s financial support at Kansas State and serves as a catalyst for her commitment to the golf industry. Her passion lies in golf course management, and she aspires to contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of golf courses and the turfgrasses used on them.
Ojeokun, who obtained her bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Osun State University in Nigeria in June 2021, is currently a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in horticulture science at Kansas State, with an expected completion date in December 2024.
In Nigeria, she served as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, held various positions at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, and worked as a golf course intern at IITA from September to December 2022. Ojeokun also completed an internship as a coordinator at The Waste Museum in Moniya, Nigeria, from May 2021 to January 2023, and became a founding board member of the Pan African Research Group (PARG). She continues to be actively involved in PARG as a scientific researcher, deputy head of department, and lead publicist in the Food and Agricultural Technology Unit.
Apart from her academic pursuits and PARG involvement, Ojeokun engages in community service through volunteering and various extracurricular activities at Kansas State. These experiences have fueled her passion for acquiring knowledge and understanding to effect positive change in the golf course management industry and beyond.
“I have been to over 20 high schools, enlightening students on ways to become eco-ambassadors and how to manage the environment sustainably,” Ojeokun shared with gcmonline.com. “This has promoted unity, love, and communication among students and teachers. It also encourages students to be involved in agricultural activities.”
Ojeokun draws inspiration from Jack Fry, Ph.D., professor and turfgrass Extension specialist at Kansas State University, who received GCSAA’s 2022 Outstanding Contribution Award. Fry’s dedication to teaching and mentoring has motivated Ojeokun to embrace new challenges, improve her work diligently, and push the boundaries of what is considered impossible in the field of turfgrass science.
In expressing her gratitude, Ojeokun said, “A big thank-you to Mr. Larry Powell, GCSAA, and the Larry Powell Scholarship sponsors and donors. And lastly, a special thank-you to my advisor, Dr. Jack Fry, for always pushing me to do many great things in the golf industry.”
