Three awarded $24,000 scholarships
HOOVER – The Alabama Golf Association recently announced its 2024 AGA Scholarship recipients, awarding three graduating seniors with $24,000 each toward their higher education goals. Each candidate is selected based on academic merit, community involvement and a demonstrated interest in golf. This year’s recipients are Chloe Ruble, Blake Gayles, and Katelyn Foster.
Ruble will be a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a degree in business marketing and playing for UAB’s women’s golf team. Ruble, who prepped at Lindsay Lane, recently completed her high school golf career at the state tournament. Among her accomplishments this year on the golf course was shooting a women’s course record and AHSAA record 59 at Canebrake Club, her home course, in Athens.
“The Alabama Golf Association has been a part of my life for the past 4 years, and I am extremely honored to even be considered to represent them in college,” said Ruble. “With this scholarship, I will be allowed to focus wholly on my academics and athletics, and work to perform to the best of my ability each day. I can only hope to honor their name by continuing the legend of female golfers in the state of Alabama.”
Gayles is an incoming first year at Samford University. While attending, Gayles will be playing for the men’s golf team and pursuing a degree in finance.
“Alabama Golf has played a huge part in who I have become and I’m so honored to be the 2024 scholarship recipient. Receiving the scholarship means a lot to me and I am excited to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of the AGA throughout my college golf career,” Gayles said.
Foster will be attending the University of South Alabama, studying biomedical sciences and will be playing on USA’a women’s golf team. In addition, Foster plans to attend physician assistant school at the University of South Alabama after completing her biomedical sciences degree.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me because it shows that the AGA believes in my future on and off the golf course. The AGA has had a big part in making me a better player over the past few years, so I am extremely grateful to have this support from them,” said Foster.
Since 2022, the AGA Women’s Scholarship, now called the AGA College Scholarship, is open to both male and female applicants. Started in 1993 by the Women’s Alabama Golf Association and later transitioned to oversight by the Alabama Golf Association with the merger in 2010, the program has provided over $410,000 in scholarships to young golfers. Since 1993, the program has supported students across Alabama in their pursuit of post-secondary degrees.
The purpose of the AGA College Scholarship fund is to provide financial assistance to young golfers to support their successes in higher education. Selected students will receive $3,000 per semester for eight consecutive semesters toward their academic aspirations.
The program is funded through golf tournaments, fundraisers, and individual and club donations. Visit the Alabama Golf Foundation page to learn more about how you can donate today and support golfers in higher education.
The AGA Scholarship fund currently supports seven students, in addition to this year’s recipients.
Visit the AGA College Scholarship page for more information about the funding goals, recipients and upcoming opportunities.
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Featured image of Blake Gayles courtesy of the Alabama Golf Association
