Scholarship Golf Tournament Hits $1 Million Milestone

06.20.2023

Dr. Larry Redlinger (left), executive director for strategic planning and analysis at UT Dallas, and Dr. Calvin D. Jamison (right), vice president for facilities and economic development, look on as Alec Buonasera lines up a putt.

More than 160 University of Texas at Dallas supporters helped push a student scholarship endowment over the $1 million mark during the 29th annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland, Texas, in April.

“This is a significant milestone for scholarship support of students at UT Dallas, using the game of golf as a catalyst,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for facilities and economic development. “The scholarships have impacted undergraduate, graduate and underrepresented students, with over 80% of the endowment raised over the last several years.”

A small group of faculty and staff organized by Dr. Austin Cunningham, professor emeritus of physics and former dean of graduate studies, created the tournament. The fundraiser, hosted by the Office of Facilities and Economic Development, has since grown into an event in which faculty, staff and students connect with members of the community.

“This is one of the most extraordinary community friend-raisers/fundraisers in the country,” Jamison said.

Money raised from the event supports the following:

• Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship Endowment, which helps UT Dallas graduate students attend national conferences.
• Patti Henry Pinch Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment, which assists UT Dallas undergraduates with research and travel expenses.
• Academic Bridge Program Opportunity Fund, which helps ease the transition from high school to college by providing on-campus housing, advising, mentoring and tutoring to first-generation college students.