Over $25,000 was raised for the next generation of Christendom student-athletes at the thirteenth annual Thomas S. Vander Woude Golf Tournament, with well over a hundred golfers and over forty sponsors participating in the event.
Approximately 165 golfers, made up of alumni, friends, and benefactors of Christendom, gathered at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club on Monday, October 10, for the tournament. Together, they fundraised and celebrated the accomplishments of Christendom’s athletes, with current and numerous former scholarship recipients attending the event.
Following the afternoon of golf, with the Daniel brothers, Phil, Josh, Jake, and Joe winning the tournament, Athletic Director Patrick Quest announced this year’s Thomas S. Vander Woude Athletic Scholarship winners: Megan Lovar and Josh Pabst. Both student-athletes excelled at sports in high school, with Lovar already succeeding in women’s soccer at the college. Pabst, a skilled basketball player, is currently preparing for the start of the men’s basketball season this winter. Along with Lovar and Pabst, the other current student recipients of the Athletic Scholarship were recognized as well: seniors Claire Mense and Joe Ellefson, juniors Lili Speier and John Paul Vander Woude, and sophomores Regina Bonvissuto, Miranda Keller, and John Kennedy.
The Thomas S. Vander Woude Golf Tournament was created to raise funds for student-athletes like Lovar and Pabst, enabling them to better afford Christendom’s liberal arts education while also honoring the legacy of Thomas S. Vander Woude. A former athletic director at the school, and father to many Christendom alumni, Vander Woude died saving the life of his youngest son on September 8, 2008. He was dedicated to the character development and personal formation of young people, especially in the areas of both intercollegiate and intramural athletics.
For more information on how to contribute to the Thomas S. Vander Woude Athletic Scholarship fund and endowment, please contact athletic director Patrick Quest at patrick.quest@christendom.edu.