The Julia Dodds Junior Girls award was established in 1992 to honor an outstanding graduating high school senior. The award is in honor of Mrs. Dodds, who was the first 50-year member of the Illinois Women’s Golf Association.
The 2010 Julia H. Dodds Junior Girl’s Award Winner is an outstanding student athlete.
Her name is Ember Schuldt from Sterling High School. Ember graduated 2nd in her high school class. Her chemistry teacher wrote “Ember can always be counted on to put forth a maximum effort. She has a strong work ethic and is always willing to help her peers when needed. Beyond academics Ember is viewed by her peers as a leader and role model. She is oned of the most outstanding athletes in our school’s history.”
Ember’s golf coach stated “One of the most important qualities I have seen in Ember is her ability to stay focused and relaxed during competition and her exceptional knowledge of the game, her swing, and course management.”
Besides golf she was in the marching band, pep band, science club, key club, Junior Class Treasurer, and played on an outstanding basketball team all four years. In golf, she was captain for 4 years, undefeated in dual and triangular meets, placed 1st at Rock Falls Invite-Rockford Guilford invite, NCIC Conference Tournament and Regional. Ember was 3rd in the State Tournament. She won the IWGA Junior tournament in 2008.
She has been a member of IWGA, AJGA, and the Mid America Junior Golf America. In her free time, she works and Rock River Country Club and Emerald Hill Golf Learning Center mowing greens.
Quoting Ember – “I have played golf since age 7. Golf has afforded me the opportunities of playing on amazing courses, meeting and developing lifelong friendships with girls from all over the world, meeting golf greats such as Annika Sorenstam and to play as a student-athlete for the University of Illinois next year.
HOW TO APPLY
The $2,000.00 award will be directed to the award winners college to assist with her educational expenses. If NCAA rules prohibit the direction of this award to the player’s expenses, the award will be re-directed to her high school golf team.
Meg Gilley, 2008 Julia Dodds Junior Award Winner
To be considered for the award, the player must have played in the IWGA State Junior Tournament. Criteria for selection include: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, Sportsmanship, and . . . Love for the game of Golf.
Girls interested in being nominated should send information which includes academic status and activity participation. Also two letters of recommendation are required; one from the high school golf coach and one from the principal or a high school teacher. Nominations can come from anyone who may have knowledge of qualified girls. Application deadline is April 1.
This information should be sent to:
Marlene Miller
351 Birkdale Road
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
847/234-2154
email: mememiller@aol.com
Julia Dodds Award winners:
2010 Ember Schuldt, Sterling
2009 Melanie Walsh, Mt Prospect
2008 Meg Gilley, Flossmoor
2007 Elizabeth Fernandez, Champaign
2005 Nancy Featherstone, Franklin
2004 Christine Zoerlein, St. Charles
2003 Chelsea Bach, Rockton
2002 Jackie Bailey, Decatur
2001 Katherine Carson, Lake Bluff
2000 Beth Hermes, Dixon
1999 Elizabeth Burden, Lake Bluff
1998 Laura Myerscough, Charleston
1997 Laura Patrick, Rochester
1996 Jill Gomric, Belleville
1995 Trina Cashburn, Quincy
1994 Erin Stukart, East Moline
1993 Rachel Henry, Waukegan
1992 Shannon McDonald, Kenilworth