Tiger Woods Foundation
The 54 Earl Woods Scholars all together.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Tiger Woods Learning Center welcomed 54 excited Earl Woods Scholars, who traveled from 12 states around the country, some on a plane for the first time, to attend a winter workshop.
The two-day workshop provided the Scholars with incredible networking opportunities; resumé assistance; mock interview sessions; internship, career preparation and a Franklin Covey workshop; and graduate school seminars, all to prepare them for the post-college life.
On Thursday, a distinguished group of local business leaders took part in an industry panel with the Scholars, who asked questions about their career choices and experiences in their respective fields.
In addition, the workshop served as a celebration for the second graduating class of Earl Woods Scholars. Eight of the attending scholars will be graduating this spring from prestigious universities around the country including UCLA, UC Berkeley, University of Idaho and USC.
"Almost all of our Earl Woods Scholars are first-generation college students, so we've found building a community of support, training and mentorship to be vital," Greg McLaughlin, President & CEO, Tiger Woods Foundation said. "These workshops are designed to provide our scholars with a customized, one-on-one experience to help advance their career and personal goals."
"Where I'm from, family means everything," fourth year Earl Woods Scholar Fatou Bekeyi said. "The Foundation and Learning Center staff and all my fellow scholars have become like family to me. This scholarship program has opened so many doors for me and helped me figure out my future."
This winter workshop is just one of the ways the Tiger Woods Foundation goes above and beyond for each of its students. In addition to receiving funds for college, each Earl Woods Scholar is provided with four years of mentoring and specialized internships.
"Looking back over the last four years, the Earl Woods Scholarship program is the best thing that has ever happened to me," Steven Pham, a soon to be UCLA graduate and fourth year Scholar said. "My mentor has provided me with so much guidance and for that I am truely grateful."