Eleven individuals - seven returnees and four first-time awardees - have been selected to receive CDGA Foundation Scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year as part of the burgeoning CDGA Foundation Scholarship & Grant Program. It is anticipated that the program will award nearly $100,000 in total aid this year.

Each student was selected based on a combination of academic and extracurricular merit by a committee of CDGA Directors. Awards are being dispersed via four different scholarships - the CDGA | UVS Swing Club Veteran Scholarship, the CDGA | IWGA Julia Dodds Scholarship, the CDGA | JPGA Walter & Nettie George Speedy Scholarship and the CDGA | Brent Wadsworth Scholarship. Each selected individual will receive $5,000 for the 2026-27 school year.

The CDGA Foundation Scholarship & Grant Program also includes the CDGA | Folds of Honor Scholarship and the CDGA | IWGA Grant Program. Recipients of these awards will be announced at a later date.

The CDGA Foundation Scholarship & Grant Program is made possible due to the generosity of annual donors as well as legacy gifts contributed by caring individuals and volunteer organizations that have entrusted their legacy of service through the game to the Chicago District Golf Association. The CDGA will match all donations made to CDGA Foundation Scholarship Funds dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000, through the end of its fiscal year on Nov. 30. A complete list of scholarship funds, including links to donate, is available at: CDGA.org/Scholarships.

The 2026-27 recipients are:

CDGA | UVS Swing Club Scholarship: Awarded to the dependents of a veteran or dependents of a deceased or disabled veteran living or hospitalized in Illinois or the Chicago District (Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan and Southern Wisconsin)

• Zachary Altenhoff (Shorewood • University of St. Francis)
• Olivia Faivre (Rochelle • McHenry Community College)
• Alexandra Ford (North Chicago • University of Houston)*
• Gabrielle Markham Elliott (Bolingbrook • Joliet Junior College)

CDGA | IWGA Julia Dodds Scholarship: Assists girls who are pursuing an undergraduate college degree and have a passion for golf. Aside from being an Illinois resident, the criteria for selection for the scholarship include Character, Scholarship, Leadership and Sportsmanship

• Morgan Grant (Chillicothe • Eastern Illinois University)
• Sophia Joeng (Buffalo Grove • University of California, Berkeley)*
• Natalie Meler (Hoffman Estates • Lake Forest College)

CDGA | JPGA Walter & Nettie George Speedy Scholarship: A partnership between the CDGA and the Jackson Park Golf Association (JPGA) to honor Walter and Nettie George Speedy’s contributions to Black golf in the early 20th century

• Zaria Douglas (Flossmoor • Marquette University)
• Aaron Young (Olympia Fields • North Carolina A&T State University)*

CDGA | Brent Wadsworth Scholarship: A partnership between the CDGA and the Wadsworth family to honor Brent Wadsworth’s lasting contributions to the game of golf and his dedication to supporting future generations

• Dominic DeRosa (Plainfield • University of Nebraska-Lincoln)*
• Isabelle Earl (Aurora • Hillsdale College)

* - designates first-time recipient