Most people look at golf as an individual sport. But, at the college level, team titles and NCAA bids are on the line every year. So, after the Illinois State womens golf team earned a 2004 Missouri Valley Conference title, an NCAA Central Regional bid and came within three strokes of advancing to the NCAA Championship Meet, Katie Laehns team leadership was recognized with her selection as the 10th winner of the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship.
Laehn, a junior public relations major from Wausau, Wis., was a key contributor and a leader on a squad which featured mostly freshmen and sophomores in the regular lineup. While the Redbirds had a successful 2003-04, the future looks even brighter under head coach
Ray Kralis.
What is great about our team is that we came together and discovered that we all have the same goals and the same vision, said Laehn. We came together as a team for what we all wanted to achieve. Its exciting to see what can happen in the future. As one of the oldest players on the team, I just want to play well, contribute and be a role model.
In 1995 the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship Fund was established with a substantial gift from Nina Chesebro and the late Pat Chesebro to benefit Illinois State's intercollegiate women's golf program and to honor their close friend, Helen Cushman. The pair decided to establish the fund prior to Pat Chesebro's death in appreciation of Cushman, who had introduced them to the game of golf. Since 1995, it has been awarded to a Redbird womens golfer who demonstrated a passion for the game.
Kralis says its hard to measure the value of Laehns leadership and inspiration to her teammates.
Katie is a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf and a great representative for Illinois State athletics, said Kralis. One thing that impresses me about her is that her character is the same during times of prosperity and adversity. Not only does she lead others, but she inspires them as well. She is certainly deserving of the Helen Cushman Award, the teams highest honor.
The Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship is one of 12 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes funded by private donors. Though not one of the six fully-funded endowed scholarships at Illinois State University, the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship provides significant support.
For information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
Helen Cushman
Endowed Scholars
Illinois State University Golf
2004 - Katie Laehn
2003 - Samantha Richdale
2002 - Albiona Zhubi
2001 - Jill Rachford
2000 - Nicole Foy
1999 - Suzanne Walker
1998 - Suzanne Walker
1997 - Pina Gentile
1996 - Michelle Meyer
1995 - Jen Broggi
