6th Annual Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament Raises $10K for STEM Scholarships
Sold out sponsorships provided hospitality for enthusiastic golfers on the greens at Baytree National Golf Links on Friday, May 19th for Women In Defense Space Coast’s 6th Annual Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament. The event raises funds for STEM scholarships that will be awarded to Space Coast students on June 15th.
The event was organized by WIDSC volunteers with 15 people giving their time to work throughout the day to keep the golfers happy and hydrated, and the action moving smoothly. A total of $10K was raised from sponsorships, entry fees, mulligan packages, and raffles.
“We are very pleased with the turnout and level of support the community showed to our golf tournament this year,” stated WIDSC Chapter President Inga Young of 8-koi, “Our volunteer board works hard all year long to develop and deliver value-added programming to our membership. Raising money to award STEM scholarships is very meaningful and just one way our organization can contribute to creating a more diverse and stable workforce on the Space Coast.”
The tournament’s first place team was Robbie Blubaugh, Reid Hart, Ryan Holloway, and Jacob Vetter. The second-place team was Mark Klenck, Steve Lindsley, Danny Renfro, and Bob White. The last place fun prize went to Craig Berry, Wayne Grimes, and Bob Pine.
Advanced Management Group, Kegman, and SCIS provided Gold Sponsorships, and Unified Solutions was the Silver Sponsor. The Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar was sponsored by WhiteBird Law, Lunch was sponsored by Cole Engineering, and Leonardo DRS was the Coffee Sponsor. Tee Box Sponsors were 8-koi, Acuity International, Alluvionic, AVET Appeals, Cloud 9 Real Estate Group, Coldwell Banker Paradise, Frazier Engineering, Hedrick Brothers Construction, and Professional Specialty Insurance LLC. Longest Drive Sponsors were Poseidon and UES. Geiger YourLogo.com and Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida sponsored Closest to the Pin. Other event support was provided by Allegra, Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach, Gillespie Services, Intracoastal Brewing Company, Moon Golf, Rockledge Country Club, Target, and WaWa.
The 2023 STEM Scholarship Awards Ceremony for students on June 15th will be held at the Courtyard Cocoa Beach. Krista Dawson, PMP, Executive Director of Engineering Services for Axient, will be the featured speaker, and guests will be invited to bid on a selection of silent auction items to kick off the 2024 scholarship fund. See more information and register to attend.
Next year’s tourney will be held on Friday, May 10th, 2024.
WIDSC Featured on WFIT’s ‘Coastal Connection’
On March 27th, WFIT aired an interview with host Terri Wright and WIDSC Communications Director Gail Hart on the Coastal Connection program.
Produced by WFIT’s General Manager, Terri Wright, Coastal Connection serves as a spotlight on the community. Each 5- min edition of Coastal Connection showcases a special event and/or not-for-profit organization in Brevard County, Florida. Read more at WFIT.org.
Terri and Gail talked about the mission of Women In Defense Space Coast and about the upcoming Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament on May 19th that will raise money for STEM scholarships. WIDSC supports the advancement and recognition of women in national security by providing networking, education, and career development opportunities.
Since 2013, WIDSC has given over $75,000 in scholarships to female Space Coast students who are pursuing STEM studies with an interest in national defense and security careers. The 2023 scholarship awards will be presented on June 15th in Cocoa Beach. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 23rd.
Registration for the golf event is open to the first 100. Players can join the game for $85 to include lunch and cart. There will be prizes and contests on the greens. Event sponsorships are available.
To hear the full WFIT Coastal Connection interview, visit https://www.wfit.org/podcast/coastal-connection/2023-03-27/women-in-defense-space-coast-offers-scholarship-to-women-in-stem-and-hosts-a-fundraiser-golf-tournament.
Women In Defense Space Coast 5th Annual Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament a Great Success Raising $12K for STEM Scholarships
One hundred golfers hit the greens at Baytree National Golf Links on Friday, May 20th for the sold-out 5th Annual Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament to raise funds for STEM scholarships. Space Coast Intelligent Solutions (SCIS) was the Title Sponsor.
The Women in Defense Space Coast Chapter (WIDSC) organized the event with seventeen volunteers working throughout the day to keep the golfers happy and the action moving smoothly. Over $12,000 was raised in sponsorships, entry fees, mulligan packages, and raffles.
Golfers line up for a chance to win at Baytree National Golf Links
“We are very pleased with the turnout and level of support the community showed to our golf tournament this year,” stated WIDSC Chapter President Inga Young of 8-koi. “Our volunteer board works hard all year long to develop and deliver value-added programming to our membership. Raising money to award STEM scholarships is very meaningful and just one way our organization can contribute to creating a more diverse and stable workforce on the Space Coast.”
The tournament’s first place team was Cody Haner, Jacob Vetter, Robbie Blubaugh, and Reid Hart. The second-place team was Donna Corum, Janet Peternel, Thomas Peternel and Jeff Toth. The third-place team was Bryan Calenda, Mike Calenda, Tony Calenda, and Ed Lindsay. The winners of the Longest Drive contest were Lisa Shoemaker and Roger Hornsby, and Janet Peternel and Fran Kester were the winners of the Closest to the Pin contest.
New for this year was a Helicopter Golf Ball Drop sponsored by Wings of Grace Ministries LLC, which brought in a total of $3,582 in sales with a $1,194 cash prize going to the lucky winner who had their ball come closest to the target hole.
Thank you to Wings of Grace for donating the flight for our Ball Drop
Gold Sponsors were 8-koi, Jacobs Engineering’s jCARES, Kegman, and Siemens. Merrill Lynch Rockledge was Silver Sponsor and Gillespie Services was Lunch Sponsor. Tee Box Sponsors were Alluvionic, Bill & Sheila Gaylor Insurance, CitruSolution Brevard, Cloud 9 Real Estate Group, Coldwell Banker Paradise, Frazier Engineering, HR Alignment Group, Lexus of Melbourne, Miller Electric Company, and Professional Specialty Insurance LLC. Proforma Arrow Solutions was Longest Drive Sponsor and Carr, Riggs & Ingram was Closest to the Pin Sponsor. Other event support was provided by AVET Veteran Appeals, Charlie & Jake’s BBQ, Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach, and Dixon Golf.
Thank you to our Sponsors from Kegman
A total of $15,000 in STEM scholarships will be awarded to Brevard County students on June 21st at the Courtyard Cocoa Beach. The evening event will also recognize winners of WIDSC’s STEM Education Innovator Awards for individuals and organizations who go above-and-beyond in supporting science, technology, engineering, and math education on the Space Coast. See more details and register online at https://widsc.org/.
If you would like more information about WIDSC programs and fundraising for STEM scholarships, please contact Susan Glasgow at 321-614-5930 or sponsorships@scwid.org.
NEW Golf Ball Drop – Support STEM and WIN!
Up to 1,000 golf balls will be dropped at the 5th Annual Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament on May 20, 2022. The numbered ball found closest to the center, or at the bottom of a hole-in-one, will win 1/3 of the pot! All remaining proceeds (less nominal expenses) from the event will support STEM Scholarships. The Helicopter Ball Drop and Winning Ride for second place are donated by Wings of Grace Ministries, Inc. View rules.