Each year, The MGA Foundation employs over 200 students at 85 metropolitan area clubs as part of its innovative GOLFWORKS student intern program. The program provides paid internships to carefully selected participants who are given the opportunity to gain valuable work experience as well as explore a career in the golf industry.

Among this year’s interns are five students being sponsored by HIP Health Plan of New York, one of the metropolitan area’s leading health insurance companies. HIP’s sponsorship is a natural extension of the company’s long tradition of supporting the community it serves as well as helping to improve the lives of minority and underprivileged New Yorkers.

The interns that HIP is sponsoring are Patricia Leung, Diamond Rivera, Delilah Vasquez, Daramius Wright and Kevin Marks. They hail from four of New York City’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. As a group, their geographic diversity is emblematic of HIP’s historic commitment and service to all of New York City.

The HIP interns were selected on the basis of their ability to represent the attitude and overall qualities that GOLFWORKS seeks in a candidate. Each of these five young men and women shows a desire to excel in whatever their chosen field will be. In addition, they recognize that the life skills that golf teaches will help them succeed in whatever career path they choose. 

Queens native Patricia Leung, who works at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx, is a prime example of a young woman who has used the game to prepare for her future. “I have learned networking skills and how to become a more outgoing and sociable person. I believe that I have (also) learned to like and trust myself more through GOLFWORKS.” A member both of her high school’s girls’ varsity golf and tennis teams and the National Honor Society, Patricia looks forward, upon finishing her internship, to being a high school senior and applying to college.

Diamond Rivera, also employed at Mosholu Golf Course, initially entered the program to learn a new sport and have the opportunity to obtain a caddie scholarship from the Westchester Golf Association. Diamond quickly discovered he would learn a great deal more. “Now that I have started my job, I have met new people and made great connections. I have also learned new skills as well as responsibility. I know what to do without being told.” 

As in Diamond’s case, Daramius Wright also entered the program to learn how to play golf, but found himself interested in more than just playing the game. Daramius is employed at the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., where he assists the caddie master and golf pro, and works in the bag room. The soon-to-be high school sophomore is active in a variety of sports including football, basketball and baseball. “I (have) learned a lot about what goes on at a country club and (how) people here work very hard at providing good service, which is appreciated by all the members.”

Delilah Vasquez, from the Bronx, works in the dining room at Winged Foot Golf Club. Delilah is making the most of her internship, acquiring a variety of valuable skills. “Through GOLFWORKS I have developed better communication skills. This year I hope to learn more that will help me to better cope with my first year of college.” Delilah will begin her freshman year at Iona College this fall, where she plans to pursue a degree in psychology.

Kevin Marks, of Brooklyn, works at Dyker Beach Golf Course, where he assists with grounds maintenance. Kevin applied to GOLFWORKS to better understand the basics of golf and to provide himself with a new challenge. He enjoys learning the fundamentals of the game and the “science” behind golf course maintenance. A member of the track team and literary club in high school, he has also found time to tutor students at the Trey Whitfield School. Kevin will begin his freshman year at Hunter College in Manhattan this fall, where he plans to study biology.  

Support from organizations like HIP enables interns like these to gain valuable work experience, learn new skills, build self-confidence and gain exposure to a world otherwise unfamiliar to them. Each student completes 300 hours of work in a season and can return to the club for two years of the program, after which many join the club’s staff. The MGA Foundation is proud of the accomplishments of its interns and looks forward to continuing its rewarding relationship with HIP.

GOLFWORKS changes lives.

 

 

For more information on GOLFWORKS and the MGA Foundation please contact Jeanne McCooey, jmcooey@mgagolf.org.

 

Recognizing the limitless opportunities the GOLFWORKS program provides hundreds of high school age students throughout the Met Area, HIP provided five deserving interns with this unique experience.