From lpga.com
Ivana Shah of University of Akron has been awarded the 2021 Dinah Shore Trophy for making an impact on the golf course with her leadership and in the community through charitable endeavors.
Administered by the LPGA Foundation, the Dinah Shore Trophy recognises women’s golf students who excel in academics and sport — playing at least half of the team’s scheduled events, while maintaining a scoring average of 78 or less.
Nominees must also demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and community service.
“It is such an honor to be the recipient of the 2021 Dinah Shore Trophy award,” said Shah, a two-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar.
“Winning this award proves to me that no matter how bad things may seem in life, we can always do more to serve and support those around us.
“I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to play the sport I love, while also receiving an amazing education.”
A native of Mumbai, Shah is a leader in the classroom and on the golf course.
She is the captain of the women’s golf team and a two-year Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member.
Shah boasts a 3.902 GPA and is on track to graduate in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering.
Solid performer
On the course, Shah owns a trio of top-10 performances in her Zips career.
She tied for ninth at the 2019 Colonel Classic as a freshman and then tied for seventh as a sophomore at the 2019 Fall Preview before an outright fifth-place result at the 2021 MAC Championship.
A two-time MAC Golfer of the Week selection, Shah has led the Zips’ lineup in scoring for nine tournaments during her career.
Away from the course and classroom, Shah is the co-founder of Call To Action based in Akron, Ohio, a volunteering organisation that strives to bridge the gap between volunteers and non-profit groups.
For volunteers, they organise opportunities to desired non-governmental organisations and for the non-profits, Call to Action serves as a one-stop resource to deliver volunteers as needed.
They aim to alleviate struggles that non-profit groups face when searching for volunteers. You can follow the organization on Instagram @calltoactionakron.
“I co-founded Call To Action with the mission to help the less fortunate in my community, hoping that I could encourage more students to do the same,” Shah said.
“I would like to thank my parents, coach, team and all those that support me, also the LPGA Foundation and Friends of Golf for this award and donation.”
Joint initiative
The Dinah Shore Trophy Award is a joint effort between the LPGA Foundation, Friends of Golf and ANA Inspiration, one of five major championships on the LPGA Tour schedule and the largest contributor to the Dinah Shore Scholarship Fund.
As part of the Dinah Shore Trophy Award, a $10,000 grant will go to the women’s golf programme at the University of Akron.
Past winners of this prestigious award include current LPGA Tour players Stacy Lewis (University of Arkansas, 2007) and Amy Olson (North Dakota State, 2012).
They also include Symetra Tour members Casey Danielson (Stanford, 2017) and Alice Chen (Furman, 2018), as well as Golf Channel personality and former LPGA Tour player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke, 2008/2009).
The LPGA Foundation announced the Dinah Shore Scholarship Fund in March 1994 in honour of the late Dinah Shore, a Vanderbilt University graduate and an honorary member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame.
The award has contributed more than $200,000 to women’s collegiate golf programmes since its inception.
Also read: Srinivasan, Theegala emerge top US collegiate golfers
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