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. 

Congratulations to the 2024 Scoville-Meno TCGA Scholarship recipients, Drew Karedes, Joseph Dell, and Lucas Hunter!

Thank you to the Scoville-Meno Family of Dealerships for their generosity and support of Junior Golf in the Triple Cities!

Below is a photo of two of our recipients receiving their scholarship certificates, and a bit more about all three recipients.

Drew Karedes

Drew is a 2024 graduate of Union Endicott High School, graduating with honors and an advanced regents diploma. A five year member of the UE Golf team, he attributes Coach Matt Morley and his teammates for pushing him to be his best, on the course and in life. He contributed to the Tigers 2022 and 2023 STAC Championships and the 2023 Section IV Championship. Drew also qualified for the NYS tournament the last two seasons. He was awarded the Hurst Mitten Award for outstanding leadership and character.

Drew will be attending James Madison University in the fall and will study business and marketing. He would like to thank the Scoville-Meno family of Dealerships and the TCGA for the opportunity to receive this scholarship, which will be very useful as he prepares for his freshman year at JMU.

Joseph Dell

Joseph began playing golf at a young age, and has continued playing the game ever since. He has been a member of the Maine-Endwell golf team for the past 6 years. During his senior year, he helped lead the Maine-Endwell team to a sectional title while also placing second overall. Joseph maintained an honor roll status throughout highschool while also participating in swimming during the winter, and lacrosse during the spring. 

Joseph has played in many TCGA events over the past few years and plans to compete in more this summer. He plans to attend The University Of Scranton in the fall where he will be continuing his golf career and studying business, and is very thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship.

Lucas Hunter

Lucas Hunter, a recent graduate of Trumansburg High School, is set to embark on an exciting journey at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, where he will pursue his dream of becoming a professional pilot. Throughout his high school years, Lucas was an active and engaged student, participating in the soccer and golf teams. His passion for aviation started in seventh grade when he found the First Tech Challenge robotics team, Mechanical Meltdown, in Watkins Glen. This is where he began to build and control robots. In the following years, he worked on building and flying drones and eventually found his ticket to the skies. In September last year, he began taking private pilot lessons through the East Hill Flying Club.

In addition to his academic and extracurricular pursuits, Lucas has a deep love for golf, a sport he has enjoyed since childhood, thanks to his grandparents, who introduced him to the game at a young age. This early exposure to golf honed his skills and instilled in him a sense of discipline and patience that he carries into all aspects of his life. Lucas is thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship. As Lucas prepares to take to the skies, he looks forward to combining his technical knowledge, athletic discipline, and lifelong passions to achieve his goals and inspire others.

Congratulations to the 2023 Scoville-Meno TCGA Scholarship recipients, Jake Karedes and Joseph Underwood!

Thank you to the Scoville-Meno Family of Dealerships for their generosity and support of Junior Golf in the Triple Cities!

Below is a bit more about this year’s recipients, Jake and Joseph.

Jake Karedes

Jake began playing golf at a young age and joined the UE Golf team in 8th grade. From the start, Coach Matt Morley and his teammates assisted him in improving his game. In his junior year at UE, Jake received the Hurst Mitten Award and helped contribute to the Tigers 2022 STAC Championship Victory. In 2023, Jake’s senior year, he helped the Tigers win both the Section IV Championship and the STAC Championship. At the conclusion of the season, Jake also had the honor to receive the Nick Dinunzio Award.

In the fall, Jake will join the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Upon arrival, he will work towards a degree in accounting or finance with the plan to pursue a business career and potentially create a business of his own. Jake would like to thank the Scoville-Meno family of Dealerships and the TCGA for the opportunity to receive this generous scholarship, which will be useful as he prepares for his freshman year at Syracuse.

Joseph Underwood

Joseph is a 18 year old graduate of Maine Endwell High School in Endwell, New York. He was an honor roll student and was awarded the student athlete award the past two years. Joseph graduated with an advanced regents diploma this June and qualified for the bronze academic award.

He has been a member of the Maine Endwell Varsity High School golf team since the ninth grade and has played as a starter the past two years at Endwell Greens Golf Course. Joseph was a frequent medalist at matches and was selected for the STAC all division team and the STAC Elite team and qualified for the NY state matches in 2022 and 2023.

During the winter months, Joseph swam freestyle and butterfly on the ME State Championship Varsity Swim team, and this spring he competed in singles and doubles on the ME varsity tennis team. Joseph is currently looking at colleges and shadowing local professionals to gain insight into career opportunities.

Joseph is NYS certified in water safety, life saving first aid, and CPR and is currently working at the Highland Park pool this summer. He plans to do some traveling this summer with his family prior to going to college, and trying to play golf as much as he can.

Congratulations to the 2022 Scoville-Meno TCGA Scholarship recipients, Michael Bucko, Dominic L’Amoreaux, and Cal Machalek!

It is worth noting that we had several outstanding candidates apply for the 2022 Scoville-Meno TCGA Scholarship awards. 

Thank you to the Scoville-Meno Family of Dealerships for their generosity and support of Junior Golf in the Triple Cities!

Below is a bit more about this year’s recipients, Michael, Dominic, and Cal.

Michael Bucko

Michael began playing golf at 3 years old and has continued playing ever since his late father first introduced him to golf, as well as basketball and baseball. While he has always enjoyed playing all 3 sports, Michael feels he has always had the strongest connection to golf. Growing up playing golf with his sister and dad has contributed to his love for the sport while also giving him a connection to his father. Without his stepfather Dave taking him out to play and practice every day, Michael feels he wouldn’t be the player he is today. Michael was on the Seton varsity golf team from 7th grade on. During his time on the team, he was the low medalist for the Section IV Championship 3 times, and the STAC Championship once. He also received the Section 4 Sportsmanship Award his Senior year. Michael will be continuing his education and golf career at St. Bonaventure University. He says that without his family’s support and his personal dedication to golf, he wouldn’t be where he is today.  Michael is thankful for this scholarship and feels that golf has helped to shape him into the person he is today by teaching him focus, discipline, patience, structure, and perseverance. Congratulations Michael Bucko!

Dominic L’Amoreaux

Dominic will be attending Bloomsburg University beginning in the Fall of 2022 and plans to major in Finance. He was a 5-year starter on his High School team and won three Scoville-Meno TCGA Junior tournaments throughout his junior TCGA tenure. Dominic was also the Section 4 Player of Year in basketball and was selected to the basketball All-State Class A 3rd team in 2022. Dominic will continue playing basketball and golf during his time at Bloomsburg University and is thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship. Congratulations Dominic L’Amoreaux!

Cal Machalek

Cal played on the Varsity Union-Endicott Golf Team for 6 years. During his Senior year at U-E, he received the Nick Dinunzio award, and made the All-Conference team.  Cal will be attending St. John Fisher University in the Fall of 2022 and is continuing his golf career playing on the university’s men’s golf team. Cal would like to thank the Scoville-Meno family of Dealerships and others who have supported him for this opportunity. Cal is honored to receive the scholarship, and notes that it will help a great deal in the upcoming year as he begins college. Congratulations Cal Machalek!