Announcement

OPGMC announces 2024 scholarship recipients

Thursday, July 18, 2024

(July 18, 2024) The Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council this week announced $15,000 in scholarships given to a dozen local high school students.

Scholarships were in part funded by the 40th annual Ocean Pines-Taylor Bank Golf Scramble, held at the Ocean Pines Golf Club on Wednesday, July 17. The annual tournament supports junior golf clinics and an annual tournament for junior golfers, and funds scholarships for local high school seniors who have shown an interest in golf.

During the last decade, the Golf Members’ Council has raised almost $88,000 for local scholarships.

2024 scholarship recipients are:

Koda Bauer, Worcester Preparatory School, Awarded $1,500
Koda Bauer played varsity golf at Worcester Prep for four years. In addition to golf, Bauer played piano throughout high school, performing in numerous concerts and recitals. Bauer maintained an A-grade point average at WPS, earning him membership in both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He also received the AP Scholar with Distinction as well as rural student recognition from the College Board. Bauer will attend the University of Maryland in College Park. He plans to major in political science with the aspiration of becoming a lawyer. He also plans on joining the college golf club team.

Adam Hafez, Worcester Preparatory School, Awarded $600
Adam Hafez participated in golf, lacrosse, and tennis during his time at Worcester Prep. Hafez is both a National Honor Society member as well as a Spanish Honor Society member. While maintaining A’s throughout high school, Hafez was a member of the school newspaper as well as the photography club. Hafez’s interest in golf began four years ago through visits to local goal courses. He hopes to continue to participate in local golf competitions and recreational play. Since 2022, Hafez has worked as a track attendant at Baja Amusements. Adam will attend Salisbury University in the fall with hopes to major in marketing or business management.

Vanessa Hall, Worcester Preparatory School, Awarded $2,800
Vanessa Hall participated in golf at Worcester Prep, where she lettered all four years. Hall served as team captain during her senior year and received the honor of All Conference Player once and earned many coach and conference awards. She also joined the golf Under Armor Junior Tour and qualified for nationals twice. Hall was a member of the WPS Robotics Team, Environmental Club, Volunteer Club, as well as the Mock Trial team. Graduating in the top 10% of her class, Hall received recognition such as the AP Scholar with Distinction, the College Board National and Rural Small Town Award, and was named a Ben Carson scholar. Hall also was a member of the Ocean City Volunteer Firefighter Company Cadet Program. She will attend Stanford University in the fall, where she plans to pursue a coterminal bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering with a minor in business. Hall also plans to join Stanford’s golf club team.

Simran Jain, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $1,000
Simran Jain played on the freshman and junior golf teams during her time at SDHS. Throughout high school, Jain participated in Mock Trial, the Science Olympiads, and on Academic Team. Jain will graduate in the top 5% of her class. She was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Minds in Motion Scholar, and as a National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award by the College Board. Jain also served on as a member of numerous societies including the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Key Club, National English Honor Society. Though accepted to her top three colleges, Jain had not decided on a college as of April. She plans to major in management and environmental science. Jain’s long-term goals include earning a master’s degree and owning her own offshore wind energy company.

Daniel Karcheuski, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $1,300
Daniel Karchesuki began playing golf in 6th grade and has pursued it recreationally ever since. Throughout high school, Karchesuki participated on the swim team both for the high school and for Ocean Pines and was involved on the Academic Team, Math Team, and Concert Band. His senior year, Karchesuki was elected class treasurer by his classmates. Karchesuki earned recognition for his academic merit in the top 10% of his class as an AP Scholar with Distinction, College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition Scholar, and National Merit Commended Scholar. He was a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, and served as the president of the Math Honor Society. Karchesuki may be familiar to Ocean Pines residents from his summer jobs as an assistant coach for the Ocean Pines Swim Team, a lifeguard for Ocean Pines Aquatics, or as a server at the Pines Public House & Eatery. Karchesuki will attend the University of Maryland - College Park, where he will major in government and politics. Karchesuki plans to go to law school and hopes after working as a licensed attorney to be appointed a judgeship.

Anthony “AJ” Kolb, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $500
AJ Kolb played on the varsity golf his first three years at SDHS and even went to states two out of three of those years. In addition to golf, Kolb played varsity baseball, varsity football, and varsity track at various times throughout high school. Kolb received recognition as a Minds in Motion Scholar for maintaining good grades while on all his varsity sports teams. Kolb was a member of the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society. While balancing club baseball teams as well as varsity high school sports, Kolb maintained a 4.0 GPA and will graduate in the top 10% of his class. Kolb committed to Towson University to play baseball, where he will pursue a degree in mathematics and business.

Evan Oglesby, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $3,000
Evan Oglesby played golf for SDHS all four years and served as team captain both his junior and senior year. Oglesby was named First Team All Bayside Player all four years and won Bayside South Conference Player of the Year in 2022. In his senior year, Oglesby was awarded the Sportsmanship Award. In addition to playing competitive golf and varsity golf at SDHS, Oglesby played varsity lacrosse for three years at SDHS. He also was a member of several honor societies, including National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and the Social Studies Honor Society. Oglesby will graduate in the top 10% of his class and earned the Minds in Motion Scholar award six times for maintaining good grades while excelling in sports. Oglesby volunteered his time with OC Rec as a junior counselor and as a golf instructor. He also sold apparel and ran the scoreboard for SDHS wrestling team. For his commitment to community service, he was awarded the Presidential Service Award two times. Oglesby plans to attend Hood College, where he will major in biology. He plans to continue to play golf at the collegiate level. After college, Oglesby plans to attend medical school and become a dermatologist.

Carson Rayne, Worcester Preparatory School, Awarded $1,300
Carson Rayne played golf for Worcester Prep beginning his freshman year. Throughout high school, Rayne also played on the tennis team and joined the basketball team his senior year. Rayne’s presence on the honor roll earned him membership in the National Honor Society and recognition as an AP Scholar. For the last four years, Rayne also used his passion for agriculture to volunteer his time assessing crop damage for local farmers. Rayne also worked on his family farm and as a dishwasher for Sunset Grille since 2020. Rayne plans to keep his playing at local golf clubs with friends for years to come. Rayne plans on attending the University of Kentucky to earn a degree in agriculture. He hopes to work for John Deere or another agricultural company upon graduation. One day, he plans to return home to work on the family farm, Wayne Acres.

Wesley Simmons, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $800
Wesley Simmons’s passion for golf started in middle school where he played on the golf team for three years. Since then, he has played recreationally with his dad and has been a member of the Ocean City Golf Course for three years. Though he’s never won an award in golf, he says he received the surprise of his life when he once shot a hole in one in the OC golf course! Simmons’s main hobbies include golf, surfing, and working on cars. He’s won several awards at car shows including Clean Cab, Best in Show, and Best Interior. Simmons maintained a 4.0 weighted GPA while working part-time at Smokers BBQ since 2019 and at Paradise Water Sports since 2023. Simmons was a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. Simmons will attend Wor-Wic Community College, where he will major in cyber security. His dream is to work for the National Security Agency.

Hunter Simon, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $900
Hunter Simon played on the junior varsity golf team in high school for three years. Throughout high school, Simon attended the Ocean Pines golf camp and fostered his love for golf in recreational play with friends. Throughout high school, Simon volunteered within the community with the Ocean Pines Basketball League, the Delmarva Bike Week, and at the Worcester County Public Library at the Ocean Pines branch location. Simon plans to earn his associate’s degree at Wor-Wic Community College in sports journalism and broadcasting before transferring to the University of Maryland’s Merrill School of Journalism. Throughout high school, he worked as a student announcer at football games and for Delmarva Shorebirds baseball team in the press box which fostered his early passion for sports journalism.

Foster Smith, Stephen Decatur High School, Awarded $700
Foster Smith played on the SDHS golf team his freshman and sophomore years and continues to play recreationally. Smith also played varsity baseball all four years and managed the wrestling team for one year. While balancing school, a part-time job, and playing baseball for SDHS and the local Delmarva Aces, Smith served an impressive average of over 100 hours of community service annually to our community. He was recognized for his outstanding community service with the Presidential Service Award for three consecutive years. Smith also participated in the Key Club for three years and was a member of the National Honor Society for his senior year. Throughout high school, Smith received three Minds in Motion Scholar awards, one Media Expo win in 2023, and was a WeXL honoree three times. Smith will attend Salisbury University, where he will major in business. He hopes to one day pursue a career where he can help improve affordable housing opportunities for families.

Claire Windrow, Worcester Preparatory School, Awarded $600
Claire Windrow’s love for golf began a year ago. Windrow enjoys spending time at local golf courses on the weekends and plans on pursuing the hobby in the years to come. Throughout her time at WPS, Windrow played both varsity soccer and varsity lacrosse. Her 3.87 GPA awarded her membership in both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society and recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Windrow balanced multiple jobs and volunteer positions alongside with her athletic pursuits. She was also elected student body president her senior year and served as editor-in-chief of the yearbook. After graduation, Windrow will pursue a degree in biology at the University of Georgia. She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

For more information about the committee or how to apply for future scholarships, contact OPGMC Scholarship Committee Chairperson Dave McGregor at [email protected].

Announcement

OPGMC announces 2024 scholarship recipients

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