Congratulations to the 2025 Scoville-Meno TCGA Scholarship recipients, Michael Hotalen, Justin Alvord, and Sam Ligas! Thank you to the Scoville-Meno Family of Dealerships for their generosity and support of Junior Golf in the Triple Cities! Below are photos and a bit more about all three recipients.

Michael Hotalen

Michael Hotalen is a 2025 graduate of Vestal High School and has been a member of the Vestal Golf team since his freshman year. Michael is thankful to all of his coaches, especially head coach Nick Barney, and all of his teammates and family for always supporting and pushing him throughout the years. On the golf course, Michael has been a part of a very successful program at Vestal Golf. On the individual side, Michael was a Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) Fall All-Star in the West/Metro conference in 2023, and was named All-Division in 2024. In addition, Michael qualified in the 2023 and 2024 seasons for the Section 4 NYSPHSAA Qualifier tournament.

Next year, Michael will begin attending Eastern University, and will be studying Mathematics on a track towards a Masters degree in Engineering. In addition, Michael will be furthering his golf career at Eastern, and is looking forward to the opportunity to further both his education and golf career. Michael is thankful to both the Scoville-Meno family of Dealerships and the TCGA for this opportunity to receive this scholarship.

Justin Alvord

Justin is a 2025 graduate of Vestal High School, who has been a part of the Vestal Golf team for 6 years.  Justin has been a part of 2 winning Nick Dinunzio teams, and has medaled at the Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) Championship 3 of the 4 years he has played in the event. Justin was an All-Division player his freshman and sophomore years, and was an All-Conference player his junior and senior years at Vestal. 

Justin will be attending Oswego State University in the coming Fall, and will be studying Accounting on a 5 year MBA track. Justin would like to thank the Scoville-Meno family of Dealerships and the TCGA for the opportunity to receive this scholarship.

Sam Ligas

Sam’s golf career began at a young age, and golf has played a large role in his life. Sam played on Binghamton’s varsity golf team for 6 years. Some of Sam’s favorite achievements during his time playing varsity golf for Binghamton include winning the Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) championship in the Fall of 2024, and being medalist in a NYSPHSAA State Championship Section 4 Qualifier.

Sam has been greatly inspired by his dad, who he says has always pushed him to be his best. Sam will be continuing his education at SUNY Oswego in the Fall of 2025, where he will also continue his golf career. Sam plans to study health promotion and wellness management, with a goal of becoming a physical therapist one day.

Sam is very appreciative to receive this scholarship, and wants to thank the Scoville-Meno Family of Dealerships for this opportunity, as he says it will greatly help him throughout his college journey.