Presidential Scholarship Recipients Announced
The Golf Coaches Association of America is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Presidential Scholarship. Emily Bermel, Nicholas Frenz, Samantha Grost, and Moriah Heppler were chosen by the scholarship selection committee. Each of the candidates was selected based upon their achievement in the classroom and outstanding involvement on campus and in the community.
Emily Bermel is the daughter of Jamie Bermel, Head Coach at the University of Kansas (KU). A member of the KU softball team, Emily is majoring in Journalism and double minoring in Sports Management and Business. Emily has served as a member of KU’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee which is dedicated to giving athletes a platform to discuss campus issues and find ways to get involved in their communities.
“I just first wanted to say that I am extremely grateful and humbled that I was chosen as the recipient for this award,” commented Bermel. “I am grateful to everyone who helped make this scholarship an option and to everyone who considered my application. I feel honored to represent the GCAA and my dad in this positive way. This Presidential Scholarship is so rewarding and helpful to my family and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Nicholas Frenz will be a junior at the University of Iowa after spending the last two years running track and cross country at the North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) where his father, Chris Frenz, is the head golf coach. Nicholas is pursuing a degree in history and hopes to get his teaching license to become a high school teacher and coach. He currently coaches a baseball team for high school freshmen and he was also a student ambassador for NIACC.
“I am very honored and humbled to have received the scholarship. It puts much less of a financial burden on my family and I as I chase my hopes and dreams,” said Frenz.
Samantha Grost is the daughter of Gregg Grost, CEO of the GCAA and former Head Coach at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Lamar University. Samantha is a junior at OU studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a plan to get a master’s degree in Speech Pathology. She spends time every week volunteering at the Children’s Hospital at the OU Medical Center where she is a patient pal in the Oncology Unit.
“To be considered for a scholarship tied to my dad’s profession means so much to me and to receive it makes it that much better,” Grost said. “For everyone involved in the selection process; thank you! Through this scholarship, I will be able to continue making my dreams a reality!”
Moriah Heppler is the daughter of Bruce Heppler, head coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She will be attending Dixie State University in the fall. After one year at Dixie State however, she will be leaving to serve on a church mission trip for eighteen months before returning to school to pursue a degree in Music Therapy.
“I am satisfied that my hard work has finally paid off, and I feel both humbled and honored to receive this scholarship,” Heppler said.