I am worth the dreams I aspire to achieve because they are not only mine. I hope to help open doors for others through the sport I love - golf. As a young woman pursuing a graduate degree in the University of Central Florida DeVos Sport Business Management Program, getting my MBA and Master's in Sport Business Management, my dream is to make golf more inclusive, diverse, and accessible. I believe in the power of sport to transform lives, and I am committed to using my education, leadership, and lived experience as a student-athlete to help other young women, especially those from underrepresented communities, find their voice in a space where they have historically been excluded. Growing up playing golf, I often found myself one of the only girls at the course. That reality didn’t make me feel intimidated, rather, it did the opposite: it inspired me. I’ve worked hard to earn every opportunity and success I’ve had in this game, but I know that talent and work ethic aren’t always enough when access isn’t equitable. That’s why I’m passionate about creating pathways for more girls to not only play, but lead and thrive in golf and any other industry. Through my internship with FairWays to Leadership, a nonprofit program that uses golf to develop leadership in college students from diverse backgrounds (namely women and people of color), I have gained invaluable experience mentoring students, organizing service projects, and helping to grow a community grounded in inclusion. I’ve supported tournaments and youth events, remembering that representation matters. It can change a child’s future to see someone who looks like them succeeding in a space they never thought they could enter - I know this because that was me. I’m pursuing my graduate degree to gain the tools I need to lead and build lasting change in sport. I want to contribute to golf programs that offer mentorship, academic support, and leadership development, especially for young women. I want them to grow up knowing they don’t need to apologize for their ambition, their strength, or their dreams. I know I am worth the dreams I aspire to because I seek to show up for others every day, with courage, intention, and a willingness to serve my community. I’ve learned that being a woman in spaces where you’re underrepresented is not a weakness, it’s a gift. I carry that responsibility proudly, knowing that every step I take forward in my graduate program and beyond creates space for someone else. This scholarship would help to alleviate financial strain and allow me to continue on my educational path with confidence, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be considered. Dr. Marilyn Porter’s mission to support women in unapologetically pursuing their growth resonates deeply with me, and I am committed to honoring her mission through my work and dreams. Thank you for considering my application and for seeing the worth in women’s voices, visions, and leadership.

As a graduate student in the University of Central Florida’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program, I am pursuing a career focused on expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the sports industry, more particularly in the game of golf. This scholarship from Online Master's Colleges would help me continue my education and deepen my impact in an industry that is due for meaningful change. Golf has played a central role in my life. I played competitive golf throughout my childhood, culminating in my time as a collegiate golfer at the University of Oregon. Through that experience, I developed a strong belief in the sport’s power to open doors, personally, professionally, and socially. As a woman in golf, I’ve also seen firsthand how exclusive and inaccessible the game can be, especially for young people from underrepresented backgrounds. I want to help create programs and pathways that make golf more welcoming, diverse, and reflective of the world we live in. This work has started with the nonprofit organization FairWays to Leadership, which focuses on providing lessons and leadership development opportunities for people from nontraditional backgrounds in golf, namely women and people of color. I believe that their mission of making golf more inclusive can be applied at a larger scale, and that is what I hope to do upon graduation from graduate school. The DeVos Program has been instrumental in preparing me for this work. With its unique focus on ethical leadership, social responsibility, and community impact, as well as learning in the classroom, I’ve been able to strengthen my business and leadership skills as well as be an active member in my community. I’ve had opportunities to collaborate with various sports-based organizations, from FairWays to Leadership to the Orlando Magic, and study how sport can be a powerful vehicle for equity and opportunity when structured intentionally. My career goal is to work in golf, whether that be rooted in event operations, community outreach, player development, or perhaps youth programming. I want to build programs that make golf accessible to all players, especially to those who haven’t traditionally seen themselves represented in the sport. I hope to not only grow the game but also help shape the next generation of leaders by giving them access to a game that has changed my life and taught me invaluable skills like integrity, determination, problem-solving, and teamwork, skills that transfer to all areas of life. Like many graduate students, I face the ongoing challenge of financing my education while staying fully committed to my studies and professional growth. This scholarship would help lessen financial strain and allow me to continue pursuing my education, which will directly inform the work I hope to do in the golf industry. To me, the Online Master's Colleges Scholarship represents more than just financial support, it’s an investment in someone who seeks to shape the next generation of inclusive leaders, not just in golf but across all industries. I am honored to be part of a graduate program that aligns with those values and grateful for the opportunity to carry that mission forward through sport. Thank you for considering my application.

My name is Baylee Hammericksen, and I am a former collegiate golfer and current MBA candidate with a deep passion for using the game of golf as a tool for leadership, access, and lifelong growth. Golf has been a defining part of my life, not just as a sport I played but as a pathway to opportunity, connection, and purpose. Through my experiences as a student-athlete and my involvement with the non-profit organization FairWays to Leadership, I’ve come to understand the powerful role golf can play in shaping strong leaders and inclusive communities. I began playing golf competitively at ten years old and continued into college at the University of Oregon, where I balanced my academic responsibilities as a Clark Honors College and Political Science Honors student with being a student-athlete on a highly ranked team. Golf has taught me resilience, integrity, accountability, and teamwork, qualities I carry into every aspect of my life. But I’ve also seen how the game can open doors for others and bring people together across differences, which inspired my work with FairWays to Leadership. FairWays to Leadership is a nonprofit organization that uses golf to teach leadership development and professional skills to students from underrepresented backgrounds, namely women and people of color. I first joined as a participant in the program, eager to grow professionally through the game I love. Since then, I’ve taken on roles as the Event Operations and then Alumni Relations Intern, organizing the lesson programs across the United States and helping build community among FairWays alumni to ensure that the impact of the program continues long after the last lesson. It has been incredibly rewarding to give back to an organization that has helped others find belonging and purpose through golf. My future career goals are rooted in expanding access to the game and making golf more diverse and inclusive. Whether I work in community development, tournament operations, or perhaps youth programming, I hope to play a part in ensuring that more people from all backgrounds have the chance to experience what this sport has to offer and serve my community the way that Samuel D. Hartley has. The story of Mr. Hartley deeply resonates with me. His service in the U.S. Air Force, commitment to his community, and decades-long love for golf reflect the values I strive to uphold: integrity, consistency, leadership, and giving back. I believe I am a strong candidate for the Samuel D. Hartley Memorial Scholarship because I am committed to honoring golf’s traditions while also building a more inclusive future for the game. This scholarship would support me as I continue my education in the University of Central Florida DeVos Sport Business Management Program, getting my MBA and Master's in Sport Business Management, and lead with the same sense of purpose that Mr. Hartley exemplified. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply and for the chance to carry forward his legacy both on and off the course. Thank you for your consideration.

Sport has a unique universal appeal, a power that connects people of all ages, genders, races, and religions. For me, golf has been a way to connect with my family. My dad taught me to play and was my coach throughout my competitive career, while my younger sister and I always played in tournaments together. We spent countless hours on the golf course, competing and enjoying each other's company. Golf has always been more than a sport to me; it’s a passion that has shaped my identity and driven my commitment to advocating for women in the game. As a junior golfer in a small Oregon town, my sister and I were often the only girls practicing at our local course. Golf can feel like a male-dominated world, and I frequently encountered skepticism about my abilities. I received comments like I was “too pretty” to be good at golf or that I should prefer being at home or with a boyfriend rather than competing. Despite my tournament success, I faced doubts about my ability to compete with boys. These comments inspired me to work even harder, leading to numerous tournament wins and national competition experiences. From these challenges, I emerged stronger, more determined, and with a deeper appreciation for the game. Playing golf at the University of Oregon while pursuing my undergraduate degree further enriched my journey. Representing my university and home state was a dream come true, but it came with its own challenges. Balancing rigorous academics with the demands of PAC-12 DI collegiate golf tested my time management skills and mental fortitude. As a student-athlete, I felt pressure to perform on the course and in the classroom, not only for myself but also for my team and school. Yet, these pressures taught me invaluable lessons about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. Being surrounded by strong, supportive women who love the game just as much as I do was transformational and deepened my love for the sport. It also underscored the importance of advocating for women in sports, so other girls can experience the same joys. During my time at Oregon, I took on a leadership role in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). This position allowed me to advocate for fellow female athletes, especially in a sport where representation is still disproportionately small. I worked on initiatives aimed at increasing support for women in athletics, reinforcing my belief that female golfers deserve the same recognition, resources, and encouragement as their male counterparts. One of my most rewarding experiences came from my internship with Fairways to Leadership as an event operations intern. This non-profit organization promotes inclusivity and leadership development among women and minorities in golf. The internship not only allowed me to apply my skills but also served as a platform to advocate for women in the sport. I witnessed firsthand the impact of mentorship and community, inspiring me to continue championing female golfers. My journey as a golfer has been one of joy, growth, advocacy, and empowerment. The challenges I’ve faced have shaped my commitment to supporting women in golf, and I believe it’s vital to create a more inclusive environment for all. I cherish the connections I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned through golf, and I am dedicated to fostering a future where female golfers can thrive on and off the course.