Youth golf camp awards two campers with EFSC scholarships
View and download photos from EFSC's Golf Camp Flickr Album
The 31st annual P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Youth Golf Camp concluded with a celebration on Wednesday morning on the Cocoa campus of Eastern Florida State College.
Two participants in the camp received a scholarship to attend Eastern Florida State College in the Fall. Both have been coming to the camp since they were little kids and will now fulfill their dream of going to college.
Dominick Piscitelli has been going to the camp for the past 12 years and becomes the second Piscitelli to be awarded the scholarship. His sister, Gianna Piscitelli won the award in 2016 and played golf with the Eastern Florida State College women's team.
"It means a lot to me, this is a big deal for our family," said Dominick who remembers starting at the camp at the age of 6. "This is a big weight off our shoulders for the next two years and that is a big deal for us. This camp has meant everything to me, every summer I look forward to coming to the camp and it is the best part of the summer, getting to be around these awesome coaches and other players."
But the biggest thing that he has taken from the camp is off the course.
"Respect. Respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the game. Respect in life will get you so far," Piscitelli said.
Jasper Niehoff has also been a regular at the camp each summer and the Space Coast Jr/Sr. High School graduate can't wait to attend Eastern Florida State College, studying in the Interactive Media Production Technology A.S. degree program and wants to play the trombone in the pep band.
"I am looking forward to learning more about the digital media program and have a lot of friends that are going to Eastern Florida, so I am looking forward to it," Niehoff said. "I have been playing golf for nine years and it has really been helpful with my game. They show you things that make the game easier."
The camp hosted almost 90 kids for the past two weeks learning how to play the game of golf as well as life tips by coaches and volunteer coaches who have come up through the camp themselves and are now helping others.
"I have been helping for 25-plus years, ever since Henry Scott encouraged me to come out to help and I hope to be here for many years to come," camp coach Isaac Johnson said. "What a tremendous group of kids we had this year. I always tell them attitude will go a long way in this life."
The camp is broken down into three groups, "Tee Titans" with Rockledge High golf coach Mike Inman, "Double Eagle Duo" with coach Isaac Johnson and "PJ Wilson Henry Scott Aces" with EFSC golf coach Jamie Howell.
Medallion awards were given out to campers in each of the groups.
Inman's Tee Titans group, Most Improved: Liam Watson; Sportsmanship: Lemmon Sulick; Best Attitude: Chloe Wartell.
Johnson's "Double Eagle Duo" group, Most Improved: Decklyn McIntyre; Sportsmanship: Zeus Rodriguez; Best Attitude: Jacob Johns.
Howell's "PJ Wilson Henry Scott Aces" group, Most Improved: China Clark; Sportsmanship: Juan Diego Jordan; Best Attitude: Liam Arellano.
The camp began in 1992 under the guidance of former EFSC President Dr. Maxwell King with assistance from Scott and Wilson, two African American golf professionals in Brevard County. For years it was known as the Minority Golf Camp because of its efforts to reach out to minorities, but it has always been open to all young players.
Wilson passed away in 2000, Scott in 2002.
The camp continues with the support of EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey and the EFSC Board of Trustees as well as sponsors Thrifty Specialty Produce and Meats, Train To Succeed, TSS Photography and the Community Credit Union.
Click here to check out photos from the youth golf camp celebration