So much deeper than a college scholarship
“Being introduced to the amazing group of people involved with the JAGA Scholarships has been an amazing blessing. The financial aspect was extremely impactful in helping me through school, and I look forward to involving myself with JAGA in the near future when I return to Jacksonville. Giving back to this organization that has given so much to me is an absolute priority. Thank you so much.
“Being selected as a JAGA Scholarship recipient has impacted and changed my life in such a positive manner that extends so much deeper than just a college scholarship. I hope that the JAGA Scholarship program continues to grow and impacts more and more people in the same way I was fortunate to experience.”
Scotty Kennon
Wake Forest 2025 & Professional Golfer • 2021 JAGA Scholar
Tori Mouton
North Carolina A&T 2026 • 2022 JAGA Scholar
A Vital Role in My Journey
“My past three years in college have been a journey like no other. Much like the game of golf, my experience has been filled with highs and lows that have shaped me both on and off the course. During the fall semester of my junior year, I achieved my first collegiate tournament win, and our team has earned three victories over the past two semesters. My teammates and family have been incredible support systems throughout this journey, pushing me to grow as both a student and an athlete.
“Balancing the demands of being a Biology major and a collegiate golfer has not been easy, but it fuels my motivation to pursue my dream of becoming an Anesthesiologist Assistant. Despite the challenges, I have maintained a 3.8 GPA while also working at a nearby country club.
“My success would not be possible without my father, Gregory Mouton. He is my biggest supporter and has made countless sacrifices to see me play, even taking time off work to attend my tournaments. When my grandmother passed away this past January, my dad was my source of strength—helping me navigate that difficult time emotionally and mentally. One moment I’ll never forget is when he surprised me by bringing my aunt to a tournament; that gesture reminded me just how loved and supported I am.
“The JAGA scholarship has also played a vital role in my journey. Balancing school, golf, and work while preparing for the GRE has been challenging, and the financial support from JAGA has helped relieve some of that pressure. The funds have gone toward academic and testing expenses that bring me closer to earning my master’s in Anesthesia. I am deeply grateful for JAGA’s generosity and continued support—it has truly made a difference in helping me pursue both my academic and athletic goals.
Elliott Wright
University of Central Florida 2024 • 2020 JAGA Scholar
hopefully this committee continues to help college kids like me
“My college experience has been one to remember. I recall being an 18 year old kid driving down to Boca Raton Florida with my eyes set on walking onto the FAU golf team. This had been a lifelong dream of mine and that was to play college golf at the Division 1 level. I had a lot of support when trying to accomplish my goal on walking onto this team. Unfortunately, this dream of mine didn’t come true and I ended up being passed on by the head golf coach (who was not a nice guy). I ended up transferring to the University of Central Florida in the beautiful Orlando area my freshman spring. This had been a university that my brother had already graduated from and one that I was very familiar with. Beginning my sophomore fall Covid-19 became a thing and the whole country was locked down. By this time I had the opportunity to be presented with the JAGA Scholarship and this was a big help to me and my family. I come from a middle class family and one that I’m very thankful to be a part of. My father Larry, mother Edye, and brothers Myles and Atticus Wright. The financial assistance this scholarship provided me was a huge help for me and my family. College in this country isn’t cheap along with all the other expenses that come with being in college. Having this opportunity to be a recipient has been an honor for me and my family, and one that we cannot thank the committee enough. Later the next year my father Larry was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and this took a toll on me and my family. If you guys don’t know my father, he is one of a kind. I know that a lot of people may say that about their parents, but this one is actually true. My father will light up any room that he walks into and always puts smiles on peoples faces. As he would say “I’m just a good southern boy”. Even with all of this going on I still had to pursue my college education as it was very important to me and my family. Without this scholarship, who knows if I would have been able to complete my college education at UCF due to the obvious expenses cancer brings to each family that deals with it.
“So from me and my family we would like to thank the JAGA committee and the organization for all the support that you guys have shown my family and I throughout my college education, and hopefully this committee continues to help college kids like me and support kids chasing their dreams.
“I’m set to graduate this December in the fall term and look forward to pursuing my passion in politics in either Chicago, or Los Angeles. Thank you so much for the support.”
It was JAGA's continued investment in me
“Before I begin, I would like to thank Joseph Grippi, Ken Hicks, Skip Lunsford, Wayne St. Clair, and the rest of JAGA for their contribution and investment in my academic endeavors and involvement with the game of golf over the last four years. I’ve witnessed tremendous personal and professional growth during my time at Florida State, and it would not have been possible without JAGA helping students such as myself succeed and kick off their career.
“I am proud to say I’ve had a successful undergraduate tenure at Florida State, achieving Dean’s or President’s list recognition every semester at school. The scholarship allowed me to take advantage of extra credit hour opportunities which I invested in an ‘exploratory’ major my first year of school, helping me narrow down my postgrad plans to an eventual double major in Finance and Communications. Throughout this time, I was able to remain connected with golf, continuing my work at Jacksonville Golf and Country Club for two more years and getting on the course myself as much as possible. This passion for the game fueled what would be my first career steps, securing an externship with ESPN and landing myself in the final round of interviews for the PGA Tour’s competitive internship program.
“I have since changed course in my career plans, but am grateful for the professional development I witnessed in my time pursuing a career in the golf industry. It was JAGA’s continued investment in me that provided the financial cushion I needed to pursue an unpaid internship in commercial real estate. Taking an unpaid position as a college student was a risky move, but one that paid off as it helped me discover my passion for the field and gave me invaluable professional experience. Now, I plan to move to South Florida after graduation and pursue an analyst position with a capital markets team in the broader commercial real estate industry.
“I am very proud to have represented the JAGA organization these last four years. The scholarship program was a catalyst for the growth I experienced during my time at FSU, and am excited for the future of the association as they continue to invest in students that share our love for the game of golf.”
Alex Caliel
Florida State University 2024 • 2020 JAGA Scholar
Proud to be a Part of JAGA
“Thank you so much for your unwavering support and appreciation! I am so proud to be a part of JAGA and grateful to be under your scholarship.
“I would also like to extend my gratitude to you for getting me connected with Northwestern Mutual. This opportunity is amazing.”
Shanya Arasu
Flagler 2027 • 2023 JAGA Scholar
Always Grateful for your Help
“I am writing this letter to express my heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable assistance during my scholarship process. Your support and guidance were instrumental in my success, and I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me. You took the time to listen to my concerns and offered me advice that helped me navigate through the process with ease. Your keen eye for detail and constructive feedback on my application helped me highlight my strengths and achievements.
“Your encouragement and motivation throughout the process kept me focused and determined to put in my best efforts. Thanks to your unwavering support, I was able to secure the scholarship I had been hoping for. Once again, thank you so much for your kind support, guidance, and encouragement during this process.
“I will always be grateful for your help, and I hope to be able to pay it forward someday. I will commit hard work and dedication to honor my goal and to represent JAGA in the proudest way possible.”
Will Anderson
Florida State 2027 • 2023 JAGA Scholar
I'm grateful for all that JAGA has done for me.
“Through the support of JAGA, I am not only able to pursue my career goals, but also participate in all that UF has to offer.”
Gavin Salamone
University of Florida 2028 • 2024 JAGA Scholar
Aliyah Sta Ana
Florida State University 2029 • 2025 JAGA Scholar
Their Belief in My Potential
“The JAGA Scholarship Program has played a large role in my success at Florida State University. JAGA’s financial support has allowed me to focus on my education without the constant stress of financial strain.
“With JAGA’s support, I have been accepted as a freshman into the FSU Accelerated Nursing Program for Summer 2026. I have been able to take on leadership roles, including serving as Treasurer of the Student Nurses’ Association and Social Media Director for the Lifestyle Medicine Group. Additionally, I was able to gain hands-on clinical experience through my current volunteer work at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, as well as upcoming volunteer involvement with FSU Sports Nutrition, supporting the FSU golf team.
“JAGA’s commitment to investing in students goes far beyond financial assistance. Their belief in my potential has motivated me to strive for excellence and to seek out opportunities that strengthen my growth as a future healthcare professional. Because of JAGA, I am able to remain enrolled at Florida State, focus on my academic goals, and take part in leadership and service opportunities.
“I am extremely grateful to JAGA and its donors for their generosity and continued encouragement. Their support has been important in shaping my journey at Florida State, and I hope my story helps demonstrate the lasting impact JAGA scholarships have on student success.”
More than Just a Financial Investment
“My JAGA scholarship is more than just a financial investment in my future. Several JAGA members are also invested in me: Mr. Joe Grippi, Mr. Jack Morehead and Mr. Wayne St Clair have become mentors and resources who I can reach out to when needed.
“I am currently a second-year student at Stetson University in Deland FL, where I am known for my academic achievements, an Eagle Scout, having two part-time jobs and an avid golfer. When applying for Stetson, I was selected as a Presidential Fellow. My first semester I had class with the University President each week. Over the past year I’ve met the Board of Trustees and attended alumni events. I was recently selected as a University Ambassador and look forward to helping high school seniors as they make their college selection.
“I’m majoring in Finance and intend to complete my bachelor’s degree and MBA during my 4 years at Stetson. This past semester I completed the JJ Master Center Professionalism Certificate. This program provides students with experiential learning opportunities resulting in a competitive advantage in the workforce through expert-led seminars, book club meetings, peer networking sessions and a micro internship.
“This spring I look forward to diving more into my academic endeavors including- Estate Planning and Insurance, Foundations of Business Analytics, Multinational Finance and Exploring Environmental Identity. Next summer I will be interning in the Jacksonville area and in my spare time look forward to playing some of my favorite courses.
“The JAGA scholarship is doing so much more than just helping ease my financial burden, it’s allowing me to delve into so many parts of Stetson University and the Deland community. I am proud to be part of the JAGA family!”
Tre Peterson
Stetson 2028 • 2024 JAGA Scholar
A Lasting Impact on My Life
“I was honored to be selected as a recipient of the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) Scholarship during my senior year of high school . In September 2021, I committed to Eastern Florida State College to continue my softball career, and the support from JAGA played a major role in making that opportunity possible. Having that financial assistance allowed me to focus on both my academics and athletics as I transitioned into college.
“During my freshman year at Eastern Florida State College, I balanced being a full-time student, competing on the softball team, and working part-time at Publix. I was fortunate to be named Second Team All-Conference as the only freshman selected, an experience that helped build my confidence and pushed me to continue working hard. In the following year, I remained committed to both school and work while helping my team reach the state tournament, ending the season of a back-to-back-to-back national champion program. That same year, I earned my Associate of Arts degree, which was a meaningful milestone in my academic journey.
“In the summer of 2024, I was grateful for the opportunity to continue my softball career at the Division II level after receiving a scholarship offer from Coach Smith at Newberry College. During the 2024–2025 season, I also worked as a student ambassador in the admissions office and began my bachelors in Forensic Biology. On the field, I was thankful to contribute by leading my team in batting average and slugging percentage and being ranked among the top 10 batters in Division II at one point during the season. I was honored to be selected as the only player from my team to earn Second Team All-Conference recognition.
“Now, during the 2025–2026 academic year, I am finishing the remaining credits for my degree while continuing my role as a student ambassador. Looking ahead, I plan to transfer to Florida State University to pursue a master’s degree in forensic science, with the goal of becoming a DNA analyst for the FBI. JAGA’s support has helped lay the foundation for where I am today, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities the association has provided. Their belief in student-athletes like me has made a lasting impact on my life, both on and off the field.”
Samantha Clark
Newberry 2028 • 2024 JAGA Scholar