Seven Incredible Seniors Recognized with Chevron Dinah Shore and Chevron Changing the Face of Golf Scholarships

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 17, 2025 – Today the LPGA Foundation proudly unveiled the 2026 recipients of the Chevron Scholarship Program, honoring two high school graduates with the Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship and five with the Chevron Changing the Face of Golf Scholarship. These seven students distinguished themselves through academic excellence, bold leadership, and deep community impact, embodying the distinct spirit of each award.

The Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship, established in 1994, the same year the Hollywood personality and original host of The Chevron Championship was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame as an Honorary Member, is being awarded to two female high school seniors who plan to attend college but not play golf at the collegiate level. The Chevron Changing the Face of Golf Scholarship, meanwhile, is being awarded to five female seniors of minority backgrounds committed to a full-time, STEM-focused course of study at an accredited U.S. college or university.

In 2026, Chevron will award seven $2,500 scholarships, renewable annually over four years for a total of $10,000 per recipient. The recipients from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 programs will also receive an additional $2,500 each this year, increasing their combined total award to over $60,000, reflecting Chevron’s continued support for their education.

Chevron Dinah Shore Scholarship Recipients

Caroline Donato – Hilliard Darby High School

Balancing a rigorous academic schedule with leadership on and off the course, Caroline has set a high standard throughout her high school career. First off, she holds a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.3+ weighted). Caroline also achieved Summa Cum Laude honors and excelled at test taking with a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam. The Ohio native has made a name for herself outside of the classroom as well, most notably on the golf course where she was a four-year varsity golfer and senior captain. Caroline has earned multiple All-Conference honors and even led her team to back-to-back invitational victories. Her leadership is distinguished by her service as Vice President of the National Honor Society and her selection in 2023 to the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf eLeader Board of Directors, in which she helped shape the global program. Beyond the course, Caroline is an accomplished cellist and a dedicated community volunteer with over 120 hours served between coaching junior golf and helping out at the NNEMAP food pantry. Driven by a passion for medicine, Caroline has completed extensive clinical shadowing and plans to attend Ohio State University to major in Human Health Sciences with the ultimate goal of becoming a cardiologist.

Kendall Leak – Union Academy Charter School

Whether she’s on the course or behind the camera, Kendall finds ways to bring people together while pouring her unbridled creativity and energy into everything she’s involved in. She maintains an outstanding 4.42 weighted GPA, ranking in the top 12% of her class, and has earned the title of AP Scholar with Honor. A dynamic leader, Kendall serves as President of the National Honor Society and is the creator and host of "Cardinal Talk," a weekly school broadcast that highlights the diverse talents of her peers. Her athletic and community achievements are equally significant; she is an All-Conference golfer who has helped lead her team to multiple state qualifications and was one of only 13 girls nationally appointed to the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf e-Leader Board of Directors in 2025. Kendall's profound commitment to service is evidenced by her Gold Congressional Medal, representing over 1,000 hours of community work, including tutoring elementary students and leading mental health initiatives. Aspiring to become a sports broadcaster or news reporter, the North Carolina native plans to major in Sports Journalism and Marketing.

Chevron Changing the Face of Golf Scholarship Recipients

Sophie Alcala-Marks – Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School

After mentoring over 300 young golfers in her local LPGA*USGA Girls Golf chapter, Sophie has become a driving force in growing the game in her community, using her leadership to inspire confidence, inclusivity, and opportunity for the next generation of girls in golf. The Florida native certainly leads by example in the classroom and on the golf course. Starting in the classroom, Sophie maintains an elite academic record with a 4.92 weighted GPA, earning prestigious honors such as the College Board AP Scholar with Distinction and National Recognition in both Hispanic and African American categories. Moving to the golf course, Sophie has served as the President of the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Miami Chapter where she used her platform to mentor over 300 young golfers. She has been a standout member of the Girls Golf program for years and used that experience to become her school’s Varsity Golf Captain and President of both the Mind Body Ambassadors and the National Art Honor Society. Sophie is headed to the University of Miami this fall to major in Sports Medicine/Pre-Med, where she aims to eventually become an orthopedic surgeon and increase the representation of women of color in the field.

Allyson Bell – Cottage Hill Christian Academy

Allyson’s golf journey is one of full-circle impact. For example, after becoming the one millionth member of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf in 2023, the Alabama native has given back to thousands of girls by serving on the e-Leader Board of Directors and supporting events nationwide. Allyson is a big dreamer who has always strived to motivate the girls around her by giving her all both academically and athletically. Allyson maintains an impressive academic profile with a 4.59 weighted GPAand a top composite ACT score of 23. Beyond her academic excellence as a Top Ten Scholar, Allyson has played an integral role in helping the Girls Golf program reach new heights through her local coaching and assistance at events including the LPGA Tour’s Chevron Championship and CME Group Tour Championship. Her leadership extends into her community, where she has served as Recording Secretary and Chaplain for the Jack and Jill of America Mobile Teen Chapter, while also volunteering for organizations such as the Breast Cancer Walk and the Child Advocacy Center. Allyson's commitment to her future is evident in her goal to pursue a STEM-focused degree to eventually become a veterinarian, and her desire to continue to give back through the game that shaped her life.

Arden Han-Wai – St. Francis High School

As a three-time MVP and four-year varsity captain, Arden has consistently set the standard for excellence on and off the course. The California native maintains a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.60 weighted), ranking at the very top of her class as a National Merit Semifinalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. As incredible as Arden has been in the classroom, she has reached even greater heights on the golf course where she has been a four-year varsity captain, three-time MVP and one of only 14 students nationwide to earn the First Tee Ace Certification in 2025. Her leadership is equally multifaceted; she serves as Co-Chair of the Youth on Course Leadership Council and is a talented artist whose work, including a large-scale school archway, has earned Scholastic Art & Writing honors. Arden has been accepted to Stanford University, where she plans to pursue a STEM-focused degree in Product Design, combining her analytical skills with her passion for sustainability and human-centered innovation.

Syna Nijhawan – Carnegie Vanguard High School

For Syna, success in golf has never been just about results, it’s also about what she builds around the game. With more than 40 tournament victories and a global ranking in the top 13% of junior golfers, she has proven herself as a competitor, but her impact extends far beyond the scorecard. The Houston native maintains a remarkable 4.67 weighted GPA within a highly rigorous AP curriculum. Syna is also a distinguished "change agent" in the sport. She was awarded the Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award in 2025—given to just one girl globally each year by the American Junior Golf Association for community impact—and served as a national eLeader for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf in 2024, where she launched the "I Am Power" mentorship series. Syna’s commitment to community health is equally impressive; she conducted published skin cancer research through Rice University and successfully advocated for the installation of free sunscreen dispensers at public golf courses across Houston. Syna plans to attend the University of Chicago to major in Neuroscience, with the ultimate goal of becoming a neurologist.

Gabriella Robles – La Lumiere School

Gabriella’s path has been shaped by resilience and determination. After recovering from multiple foot surgeries, she returned to competition and took on leadership roles as a three-year varsity golf captain while also competing in sports like volleyball, tennis, and cheer, just to name a few. Hailing from Oklahoma, the Honor Roll scholar maintains a rigorous academic profile with a 4.51 weighted GPA, earning excellence awards in Honors Geometry and Film. Gabriella’s commitment to service is equally profound, evidenced by over 300 hours of volunteering at local food banks and her involvement with organizations like the Michigan City Humane Society, Reins of Life and the Walk for Alzheimer’s. Driven by her own experience recovering from foot surgeries, Gabriella aspires to pursue a STEM-focused pre-medical track to become an orthopedic surgeon, with a long-term goal of serving rural and underserved communities through Doctors Without Borders.

These seven scholars illuminate golf’s profound influence, each harnessing its lessons to forge unique paths of purpose and progress. Whether igniting confidence, shattering barriers, or healing communities, they prove golf is so much more than a game; it is a driving force for visionaries. Chevron and the LPGA Foundation salute their achievements and eagerly await their indelible marks on education, golf, and society.

For more on the LPGA Foundation’s scholarship programs, visit LPGA*USGA Girls Golf.

LPGA Foundation Announces 2026 Chevron Scholarship Recipients

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