Each year the Four!Kids Foundation along with the BC Cup Foundation and the New Orleans Golf Association put together a selection committee to evaluate scholarship applications to recognize deserving young golfers who are members of the Four!Kids Foundation Junior Golf Tour.
The annual scholarships are presented on a need basis also considering academics, community service and the love of the game of golf. The scholarships are awarded to the golfers for their college of choice.
  
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Burson, a two-year member of the SHS Tigers golf team, will attend Mississippi State University, entered in the Golf Management Program.
'I was surprised to receive the scholarship. It's more than just a golf scholarship. It is based on a number of things like sportsmanship, grades and community involvement. Based on that, it means more to me because it isn't just what you achieved on the golf course,' Burson said.
Burson, who enjoys English classes, graduated with a 3.93 weighted grade point average. While at Slidell High, he participated in the Juniors In Service program. He also served as a camp counselor after Hurricane Katrina.
Burson, who has fashioned a hole-in-one in his career, said he fired a 31 last summer at Pinewood Country Club in Slidell, which he is extremely proud of.
'My dad (Mike) and I went out late one afternoon. We could only play nine holes because it was so late. Everything was working for me,' Burson said.
When asked what kind of competition his dad gave him that day, he replied, 'I think he shot about 45.'
'I enjoy playing with my dad. He introduced the game to me. He has always supported me attending my tournaments,' Burson added.
Tim Hogan, the director of golf at Money Hill Golf and Country Club in Abita Springs, a board member of the BC Cup Foundation, said the foundation enjoyed its most successful year to date with the ongoing support of its sponsors to recognize deserving young golfers.
'For the past two years, the foundation has awarded two $5,000 scholarships,' Hogan said. 'This year we were able to present four scholarships, which totaled $15,000. I attribute our success to members taking on a great cause. There are lots of people on the Northshore and Southshore making contributions to give back to junior golf in the form of scholarships,' Hogan added.
Hogan credited PGA tour veteran Kelly Gibson, who serves as the honorary chairman of the BC Cup Foundation, with providing helpful advice on how to help raise contributions for a wonderful cause.
'It was touching to see how excited the scholarship recipients were when they were acknowledged. You could visibly see the tears on some parent's faces during the presentation,' Hogan said.
Hogan said seeing the golfers receive scholarships and other awards was a wonderful thing for he and his wife, Shari and their daughter Emily.
'It was a very special event for our family along with our good friend Jimmy Headrick, helping keep the memory of our sons (Barry and Colin) alive. Jimmy and I were junior golfers in our day, and we are involved with something that we love, perpetuating the memory of our sons,' Hogan added.
Another local golfer, Mandeville High junior Evans Haile, was the recipient of the James R. Moffett Scholarship ($1,500). The scholarship is named after the Chairman and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan, which became a title sponsor. Under Moffett's direction, the Foundation gave $3 million to youth-oriented programs in the Southwest Louisiana area.
'I feel honored to be selected for this scholarship,' Haile said. 'I really enjoyed playing on the summer tour. The fact that the individuals who run the tour selected me shows that they have noticed me on the tour and that's a really good thing.'
Haile, who won last month's BC Cup Junior Golf Championship with a six under par 66. He also won the Fore!Kids Junior Tour Players Championship 16- to 17-year-old category at TPC Louisiana last month with a 74. He is also an excellent student in the gifted program at MHS. He finished his sophomore year with a 3.6 grade point average. He likes math and science. Depending on what happens with his golf game, he is interested in doing something in the medical field possibly getting involved with bio medical engineering.
Brad White, Director of Operations for the Fore!Kids Foundation, the producers of the annual Zurich Classic at the TPC of Louisiana, said this year's banquet was a big success.
'We had our largest attendance ever for a banquet. Our Summer Junior Tour participation has increased by about 50 golfers, giving us a total of 177 athletes that compete.
The Fore!Kids Foundation sponsors 10 golf tournaments for boys and girls ages 9-22.
'As a PGA member and a former junior golfer, this is a true love of mine. To watch these young golfers establish friendships and put their best effort forward makes it all worthwhile,' White said.
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the BC Cup Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status organization, can do so by contacting Money Hill Golf and Country Club (985) 892-8250, extension 1.
Five sponsorship levels are available: Par-$100, Birdie-$250, Eagle-$500, Double Eagle-$1,000 and Hole in One-$2,500. Other charitable contributions, regardless of amount, are also greatly appreciated.
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