Contact: Kenneth Billings
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Professional Golfers' Association of America is putting a Mississippi State senior atop its list of national professional golf management majors.
Carey Witten of Starkville is among 11 in the academic curriculum named a 2008 Paul Runyan Collegiate Golf Management Scholar. For having the highest overall grade-point average, he will receive a $2,500 award, while the other 10 get $1,500.
A 41-year-old San Diego, Calif., native, Witten currently is completing his fifth semester in the university's nationally recognized cooperative education program. He graduates from the College of Business and Industry in December with a degree in marketing/professional golf management.
Also an MSU President's Scholar, he is the first from the land-grant institution to be selected for the national recognition.
"As you can imagine, we are extremely proud of Carey and are excited about his selection for the Runyan Scholarship," said PGM program director Jeff Adkerson. "Carey is a fine student, a fine man and, without question, a worthy recipient of the scholarship."
The Runyan award is a memorial to the legendary teaching professional who also was a two-time winner of the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based organization's championship and senior championship competitions. A World Golf Hall of Fame member, he died in 2002.
Each year, the PGA recognizes rising seniors enrolled in its 18 sanctioned programs, all designed to prepare graduates for careers as Class A professionals at country clubs, resorts and public golfing facilities.
MSU's program is the second oldest holding accreditation by the PGA, one of the world's largest working sports organizations.
NEWS EDITORS/DIECTORS: For additional information, contact Mr. Adkerson at 662-325-3161 or jadkerson@cobilan.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.