The 39th annual Education Open Golf Tournament, which was sponsored by Brookdale Community College Foundation, raised over $63,000 in scholarships.
According to a press release from Brookdale Community College, tournament, which was held on Sept. 26 at Eagles Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale, featured more than 25 groups of golfers and numerous area sponsors.
The money from the outing will go to the foundation’s “Building Minds, Building Futures” scholarship fund.
“We could not be more grateful to the nearly 200 players, sponsors and volunteers who helped make this tournament a success,” Timothy Zeiss, executive director of the Brookdale Foundation and Alumni Affairs said. “Their generosity will help the Brookdale Foundation provide hundreds of scholarships this year to deserving local students who are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families.”
The “Building Minds, Building Futures” scholarship fund has provided more than $5 million in scholarships to more than 7,000 local students over the past 17 years, according to the press release.
The recipient this year was Christine Little, who received disaster relief funding to continue studying as her family rebuilds their superstorm Sandy-damaged home in Highlands, according to the release.
According to the press release, Little is a biology major and aspiring entomologist who carries a 3.95 GPA.
“I had received a NASA STEM fellowship that paid for my last two semesters, which was awesome, but this semester I was concerned,” Little said. “I reached out to the Brookdale Foundation, submitted an application and within a week, I got a phone call saying my entire tuition and my books would be paid for. I even got extra money for living expenses. It’s absolutely amazing, what all of you have made possible for me. Without your help, I would not have been able to follow my dream. Thank you all, so much.”
