The 2024 Class of RDGA Foundation Scholarship Award Winners
With the completion of another school year for local High School students, The RDGA Foundation is pleased to announce its 2024 class of Foundation Scholarship Award winners – with each candidate receiving $2,500 towards tuition and expenses for their year ahead at their college of choice.
In addition to the annual Foundation Scholarship winners, the RDGA Foundation is also pleased to award two special scholarships: the annual scholarship award honoring the late Jack Fox, a past President and long-time volunteer for the RDGA. This RDGA Foundation Jack Fox Memorial Scholarship awards $5,000 to the one most-qualified applicant of the year’s applicants.
And – new this year – the RDGA Foundation is honored to announce the creation of a new annual scholarship award: the RDGA Foundation Maria Eichas Memorial Scholarship, awarding $2,500 to the candidate that best represents the values exemplified by the award’s namesake. Maria Eichas came from a golfing family that is well-known in the Rochester area – her grandparents were the original owners of Buttonwood Golf Course in Spencerport and several of her relatives have played in RDGA events through the years. Although killed, tragically, in a car accident, Maria is remembered for her leadership ability in local high school sports and received several awards for her role as a team captain, leader and teammate.
Here, then, we present this year’s RDGA Foundation Scholarship Award recipients:
Connor Kiel
2024 RDGA Foundation Jack Fox Memorial Scholarship Recipient
John Michael “Jack” Fox passed a few years ago and he is missed every day. Jack is a past President of the Rochester District Golf Association and, for over twenty years, always supported the Rochester golf community, and Rochester community as a whole, in any way he could. Many generations of RDGA Tournament golfers will remember Jack as the personable first tee starter at countless RDGA events. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Jack was truly a “Gentleman of Golf” – a distinction for which he was honored at the 2019 RDGA District Championship at Penfield Country Club by Michael Sorce.
The RDGA Foundation Jack Fox Memorial Scholarship is a $10,000 award for a high school senior who embodies the characteristics of Jack Fox that made the Rochester community a better place. Jack Fox blessed the lives of everyone who knew him and we are honored to announce this scholarship in his name. We are very proud of this year’s recipient and feel as though Jack would be as well.
Jack Fox would have been very pleased to know that Connor Kiel was this year’s recipient of the Scholarship that bears his name. Connor always greets everyone he meets with a smile and is always very polite and respectful – qualities that Jack always appreciated.
A recent graduate of Fairport High School, Connor is committed to play at Siena (majoring in Finance) and has many goals to accomplish both on and off the course. Two of his biggest accomplishments to date include winning the 2022 RDGA Boys Junior Championship – and being a part of the 2023 Williamson Cup-winning team representing the RDGA.
Some may recognize the family name – Kiel – and for good reason: Connor’s father, Mike, is the long-time PGA Head Professional at Midvale Country Club, and winner of the 1996 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial. Like his father, Connor values the lessons, friendships, and memories the game of golf has to offer and is a perfect fit for our Jack Fox Memorial Scholarship.
Emily Ferguson
2024 RDGA Foundation Maria Eichas Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Emily Ferguson has been an active participant in the RDGA Junior Programs for most of her junior golf career. In the fall of 2022, she finished runner-up to Julia Zigrossi in the Girls Section V High School Championship.
In 2023, Emily won the RDGA Girls’ Junior Player of the Year Award for the first time. Emily finished 25 points ahead of Harper Dittman, who won the RDGA Girls Junior Championship title in July. Ferguson also finished third in the RDGA Girls Junior Championship in 2023.
By the end of the season, Ferguson had compiled 325 points to lead the way in the Girls’ Junior player of the Year category – with Dittman finishing with 300.
A recent graduate of the Aquinas Institute of Rochester, Emily is now enrolled as a freshman at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa., where she is majoring in Finance. She is the perfect representative to receive the new RDGA Foundation Maria Eichas Memorial Scholarship.
Colin Bagley
2024 RDGA Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Colin Bagley is another avid junior golfer and member of the RDGA Junior Membership. A graduate of Livonia High School, Colin is now attending Florida Gulf Coast University to continue his love of golf and bring his expertise to earn a PGA Certification in FGCU’s Professional Golf Management program. He loves teaching and wants to continue teaching at the professional level.
Marisa Eichas
2024 RDGA Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Coming from an entire family of golfing fanatics, it was only natural that Marisa Eichas followed suit and became a golfer herself – or, maybe it was self-defense, as it was the best way to spend the most time together with the rest of her family.
Either way, Marisa has become an avid golfer in her own right, having advanced through the ranks of the RDGA Junior Golf program and enjoying the benefits of the RDGA Junior Golf Membership.
A recent graduate of Our Lady Of Mercy High School, Marisa is now attending St. John Fisher University, where she is studying Political Science. As a student at Fisher, Marisa Received the Fisher Service Scholar Award as a result of all of her volunteering and leadership roles.
Andrew Murray
2024 RDGA Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Andrew Murray is another recognizable name when it comes to Junior Golf in Rochester. Andrew graduated from Brighton High School and is headed to play golf at St. Bonaventure University while also studying Business.
In addition to advancing through the RDGA Junior Golf Program as a junior – and playing in several RDGA Junior tournaments through the years, Andrew has also played in several regular RDGA tournaments already, including the RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial.
Tyler Stark
2024 RDGA Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Tyler Stark shares the distinct honor – along with 2024 RDGA Foundation Jack Fox Scholarship winner Connor Kiel – as being one fourth of the 2023 Williamson Cup-winning team that represented the RDGA, becoming part of only the third team of all-star juniors from the RDGA to win the Williamson Cup title in the more than 60-year history of the prestigious competition.
In addition to the Williamson Cup, Tyler has been an ever-present mainstay in RDGA Junior Golf tournaments, as well as Section V Boys High School competitions. Tyler has a great love for the game of golf and helping other juniors improve their games. His dedication to the game led to him volunteering for the last 3 summers to help kids improve their games.
A recent graduate of Hilton High School, Tyler is now attending Le Moyne College, where he will be majoring in Business and playing golf and making more friends on the school team.