The Vermont Golf Association Scholarship Fund

Helping Student Athletes in Vermont Realize Their Dreams
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Help Vermont Student-Golfers Further Their Education

The Vermont Golf Association Scholarship Fund helps outstanding students with a connection to golf obtain a college education.

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10 Deserving Students Are Awarded a Scholarship Each Year

To date, 496 Vermont young men and women have received scholarship assistance totaling more than $1,450,000

Our Scholars
We need your support to make it happen

The VGASF needs your help to grow our reach and continue to help more determined students in Vermont obtain a college education.

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Donation to the VGASF from the Rizio-Wood Memorial Tournament Fund

The VGA Scholarship Fund has received a generous donation from the Rizio-Wood Memorial Tournament Fund.  This fund was established over 17 years ago in dedication to Joe Rizio, who was a trustee of the VGASF for many years, and Richard Wood, a golf professional at the Golf Club of the Equinox. These men were close friends and both Vermonters who were well known throughout the state.  They passed away, far too young, before their devotions in life could be fulfilled. An annual tournament played by friends of the two men and sponsored by many Northshire businesses and individuals provided the funds to award scholarships in their names. “The purpose of the Rizio-Wood Memorial scholarships was to further the education of community members in the fields of golf and/or agronomy in the spirit of support that both Joe Rizio and Richard Wood embodied.”  The Directors of the Fund decided to make this donation to the VGASF to assist in our endeavors to support the education and commitment of Vermont youth. The Trustees of the VGA Scholarship Fund want to thank The Rizio-Wood Memorial Fund Directors, Philip Bourn, Joan Rizio, Dave Bardin, Ricky McNulty, Steve Grzyb, and Mer Wood, for their generous donation on behalf of the current and future recipients of VGA scholarships.

About The Vermont Golf Association Scholarship Fund

We believe the game of golf helps young students become great leaders as well as great people.  Vermont has an abundance of bright and determined high school students in need of financial aid to help realize their dreams of a college education.

The VGASF’s mission is to give back to this incredible game by helping those students further their education.  Since our inception 1964, we have awarded 496 scholarships to young men and women totaling more than $1,450,000. 

The VGASF Family has lost two of it's past Trustees to COVID-19

The VGASF family is deeply saddened that we have lost two of our past trustees to Covid 19.  Dave Pfannenstein and Bernie Juskiewicz were devoted members of the Vermont Golf community and especially instrumental to the scholarship fund.  Their leadership and drive to help grow the game and help our students will always be treasured.  Please read about these two great gentleman below and their impact on the game of golf in Vermont.

In Memoriam Donations

Dave Pfannenstein

It is with a heavy heart the Vermont Golf Association has to share with the Vermont golfing community it has lost one of its own with the passing of Dave Pfannenstein on Sunday, April 6th.
Dave served as Executive Director of the VGA from 2011 through 2018. His contribution and impact to golf in Vermont and New England and beyond cannot be understated. His untiring commitment and zest in providing a professional approach to the game benefitted all who had the privilege of knowing and working with Dave.
Dave brought our association and its mission to a new level while serving as our Executive Director. He set the standard for the future and we will forever be indebted to him for the time he spent with us. Surely many of you hold fond memories of your interactions with Dave.
Dave moved to Florida in 2019 to continue his quest of enjoying life and continuing to give back to the game he loved.
Dave is survived by his wife Shari. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shari and Dave’s family.

Bernie Juskiewicz

It is with great sadness the Vermont Golf Association has to share the news of the passing of Bernie Juskiewicz a member of our golfing community.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the VGA for several years and served as President in 2014.
A strong supporter of Junior Golf in Vermont, Bernie served as a trustee of the VGA Scholarship Fund for many years. He brought passion to ensuring we recognized the future leaders of our state and country through awarding scholarships to young Vermont graduating seniors.

Bernie served as representative of the Town of Cambridge in the Vermont Legislature 2013-2018. He was instrumental in helping set up a Golf Day in April of each year to promote and educate his fellow representatives about the impact golf has on the State of Vermont .

He also served the Town of Cambridge as a member of the school board, select board, and town finance committee.

Our thoughts go out to his wife Susan, his three children and four grandchildren.

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