My name is Ariana Blagrove, and I am a student-athlete at California State University, Chico, where I am majoring in Health Services Administration and minoring in Business Administration. As the first African American female golfer in Chico State history, I am proud to represent both my university and my community. 1. Outside of golf and academics, how do you invest your time? Outside of golf and academics, I invest my time in volunteering and working in roles that allow me to help others. I currently volunteer at a home health and hospice clinic in Chico, California, where I assist with administrative tasks and gain valuable exposure in the healthcare field. This experience has helped me gain a deeper understanding of patient care and has strengthened my interest in healthcare administration. I also volunteer with the Under Armour Junior Golf Tour, helping organize and support junior golf tournaments for young athletes. As an African American woman, I understand the importance of representation in a sport where there are not many women of color. I enjoy being involved in junior golf because it allows younger players to see that golf is a sport for everyone, regardless of background. Additionally, I work as a concierge at Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop, where I assist customers by scheduling lessons and club fittings, answering questions, and providing excellent customer service. I enjoy helping people have a positive experience with golf and find it rewarding to see how the game can bring enjoyment to others. 2. What are you currently studying in college or planning to study in college, and why? I am currently studying Health Services Administration with a minor in Business Administration at California State University, Chico. I chose this field because I have always been interested in the healthcare field and how important strong leadership and organization can be in patient outcomes. Through my coursework and volunteer experiences, I have learned how important healthcare administrators are in ensuring that hospitals and clinics operate effectively and efficiently while providing quality care. After completing my bachelor's degree, I plan to pursue a master's degree in Project Management at Sacramento State University in Fall 2027. My long-term goal is to become an administrative manager in the pediatric department. I am particularly passionate about pediatrics because children are one of the most vulnerable patient populations and often rely on healthcare providers to advocate for their needs. I want to help create an environment in the hospital where children receive high-quality care and families feel supported during what can often be stressful and emotional experiences. 3. How do you currently give back or plan to give back during college and beyond? Giving back to my community has always been important to me. Over the past 5 years, I have volunteered over 250 hours to many meaningful organizations. During college, I plan to continue volunteering with junior golf programs and healthcare organizations that provide services to individuals and families in need. Through my volunteer work with the Under Armour Junior Golf Tour and working as a Junior coach at Haggin Oaks, I enjoy helping create opportunities for young golfers to develop their skills and passin for the game. Beyond college, I hope to give back through my career in healthcare administration. By working in hospitals and healthcare organizations, I want to contribute to improving patient experiences. I believe that helping others through leadership is one of the most meaningful ways to make a positive impact. 4. The HCGS supports collegiate golfers through financial assistance and intentional mentorship. How would receiving this scholarship meaningfully impact your collegiate experience—academically, athletically, and personally? Receiving this scholarship would have a very meaningful impact on my college experience, both financially and personally. Throughout my academic journey, I have worked hard to overcome a learning disability that affected my reading comprehension. As a student-athlete, maintaining a 3.5 GPA while balancing academics, collegiate athletics, work, and volunteer commitments has required discipline and strong time-management skills. Although I have faced many challenges, I have remained committed to improving my study habits, seeking academic support, and working towards my goals. This scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of college, allowing me to focus more on my education, athletic development, and professional growth. It would also serve as recognition of the hard work and perseverance I have demonstrated through the years. Beyond the financial support, the mentorship opportunities provided through HCGS would help me continue developing as a student, golfer, and future healthcare professional. 5. Describe a moment of adversity or uncertainty on or off the course. How did you respond and what did that experience teach you about yourself? One of the greatest challenges I have faced was growing up as an African American female golfer in Louisiana, where there were very few golfers who looked like me. Throughout my junior golf career, I was often one of the only Black players, and sometimes the only Black female, competing in tournaments. There were times when I felt out of place and questioned whether I truly belonged in a sport where diversity is limited. Not seeing many people who shared my background in golf made it difficult at times to imagine myself playing at the collegiate level or pursuing golf beyond high school. I could not picture myself competing in college golf because I rarely saw athletes who looked like me taking that path. However, instead of allowing those experiences to discourage me, I used them as motivation to work harder and continue pursuing my goals. I focused on improving my game and building my confidence. Being one of the few African American female golfers taught me to embrace what makes me different and to take pride in representing an underrepresented community. As the first female Black golfer at California State University, Chico, it inspired to become a positive role model for younger golfers and help create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for future generations of golfers.

Question 1: One extracurricular activity I have been deeply involved in outside of golf is Girl Scouts, where I have participated for about 14 years. Throughout this time, my troop and I focused on making a difference through community services. I earned my Bronze, Silver, and Gold (the highest recognition in Girl Scouts) awards, each award representing a major commitment to leadership and service. For my Girl Scouts Gold Award project, I planned and implemented a library book drive for Brock Elementary School in Slidell, Louisiana. I collected and delivered over 800 books, sorted by genre and grade, to Brock Elementary School. I enjoyed doing this project because it allowed me to give back to the community and provided a positive influence on the young scouts. This project demanded significant leadership, time and dedication, as well as the ability to guide and inspire others in making a positive impact on the community. I haven't been able yet to participate in Girl Scouts activities during college due to the demands of being a student athlete. However, I fully intend to reconnect with and support the Girl Scouts community in the future, whether that's through volunteering or mentoring younger scouts. Girl Scouts has shaped so much of who I am and I am excited to give back to the program that gave me so much. Question 2: I am currently studying Health Service Administration with a minor in Business Administration at California State University, Chico. I chose this path because I am passionate about improving the healthcare systems and making a positive impact on how care is delivered and experienced by patients. The Business Administration minor is important to my major in healthcare. Understanding key business principles, such as finance, management, and marketing are essential to running healthcare facilities efficiently and effectively. Having this minor would enable me to approach healthcare challenges with a strategic and business-minded approach. My overall goal is to earn my masters in Health Service Administration and eventually work in hospital administration or healthcare policy. By having business and healthcare knowledge, I aim to contribute to creating meaningful system-wide improvements that will overall enhance patients outcome and access to care. Question 3: Giving back to my community is something I value, I plan to continue finding activities that give back to the community during both college and after graduation. So far, I've participated in a service activity where I help cut down overgrown trees in a local park to make the space safer and more enjoyable for the public. In 2024, there was a devastating park fire in Chico, California, not far from my university. The fire caused significant damage and destroyed over 700 structures. More than 4,000 evacuated from this terrible fire. Witnessing the community outbreak has deepened my commitment to public service in the community. As I continue my studies in Health Service Administration, I plan to support public health education and disaster preparedness in my community. My goal post graduation is to work in health service administration or policy, which could help enhance emergency response in healthcare by ensuring communities are more equipped to handle crises such as this. Question 4: Giving back to my community is something I value. I completed over 250 hours of community and volunteer service in the past 5 years helping kids, the homeless, the elderly and the environment. I plan to continue finding activities that give back to the community during both college and after graduation. So far, I've participated in a service activity where I help cut down overgrown trees in a local park to make the space safer and more enjoyable for the public. In 2024, there was a devastating park fire in Chico, California, not far from my university. The fire caused significant damage and destroyed over 700 structures. More than 4,000 evacuated from this terrible fire. Witnessing the community outbreak has deepened my commitment to public service in the community. As I continue my studies in Health Service Administration, I plan to support public health education and disaster preparedness in my community. My goal post graduation is to work in health service administration or policy, which could help enhance emergency response in healthcare by ensuring communities are more equipped to handle crises such as this. As a former member and Junior Golf Coach of The First Tee Greater New Orleans I am eager to continue giving back by sharing my journey and experiences to support and inspire the next generation of golfers. Question 5: Receiving the Hulede collegiate Golf Scholarship would be a huge honor and have a meaningful impact on my experience as a student- athlete. As the first Black golfer at California State University, Chico, this opportunity represents much more than recognition, it is the potential to empower and inspire culturally diverse athletes from underrepresented communities. Golf has been seen as a sport dominated by certain groups, not because others lack talent but because of the limited access and exposure. This scholarship commitment to increasing representation in golf is something I deeply connect with. It would allow me to continue growing in a sport I love while building leadership skills and meaningful connections on and off the course. The mentorship part of the scholarship is very exciting to me! As someone pursuing a career in healthcare administration, having access to mentors who understand both the athletic and professional journey is incredibly valuable. This mentorship support will help guide me as I navigate college and prepare for my career where I hope to make a positive impact in my community. Being part of this community where golf, education and service is valued will motivate me to excel and give back. I would be deeply honored to receive this scholarship and genuinely thankful for the opportunity to grow through the mentorship it provides. It means a great deal to me to represent my community and give back in impactful, meaningful ways.