The LeVeen-Roach Scholarship Fund of Secession Golf Club

Where are you enrolled?

In the Honors College at Clemson. It’s been a great year. I roomed with another LeVeen-Roach scholar, Jackson Williams in Stadium Suites overlooking Death Valley! I loved being able to wake up on game days and see the organized chaos!

What is your major?

Mechanical engineering. This year was especially tough as we are required to take Statics and Dynamics, Intro to Fluid and Thermodynamics, and other tough courses. I was still able to make it on the Dean’s List first semester, and I have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.62.

When you’re not studying, how do you spend your time?

Intramural sports, football and soccer. The football season was a good one. We went four games deep into playoffs. The soccer team was not nearly as good. I played goalie for the first time since I was around 7 years old. We lost in the first round of playoffs. I play golf at the Walker Course as well as a few other courses around the area.

In addition to athletics and studying, what else keeps you busy?

This year I joined Clemson’s Rocket Engineering Club. We will be traveling to New Mexico June 19 to 25 to shoot off our 10-foot tall rocket hopefully reaching an apogee of 10,000 feet! I am also trying to start a competitive pistol shooting club at Clemson.

How was your summer?

I worked as an intern at a polymers company in the upstate called Auriga Polymers. I worked on the machines they use to create polymer threads for customers. The previous summer I worked as a camp counselor at Camp Woodie, and I enjoyed that as well. I like being outdoors, teaching about the wildlife and hunting.

Any thoughts on your immediate future?

I have really enjoyed my time at Clemson and look forward to my next two years there. I am so grateful for the assistance and help the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship Fund has given me. It’s helping me achieve my dreams.

What is your connection to Secession G.C.?

My father, Sylvain “Sly”Fleury, has worked there for many years as a caddie. I’ve had the pleasure to play the course and use the range a few times throughout the years. Secession is why I got into the game. I remember going with my dad when he had to pick the range, and the two of us would hit the golf balls from the woods back onto the range.

Where did you go to school, and what was your major(s)?

I attended The Citadel, and my major was political science with a subfield of law & legal studies.

What’s next? What are your immediate plans?

To take my LSAT and score in the 160s, and, in the coming months, find a law school! My long term career goal is to have success within the legal field.

What has the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship meant to you?

It has meant a great deal to me and my family. The scholarship allowed me to attend The Citadel. It helped to ease the financial burden of college.

Tell us a little about what golf has meant to your life?

Golf has always been a sanctuary to me. Every time I step up to the tee, I feel a great sense of calm. I may get agitated after a bad shot or two, but the beautiful thing about golf is that a good shot can quickly change one’s mood. I simply play the game to try and better myself one shot at a time.

Tell us something about yourself.

I am currently finishing up my final three hours of college and anxiously awaiting my first official attempt at the LSAT! I have been spending some free time hanging out with friends who are going into the military, visiting family in Canada and setting up my LSAT. I will be living in Charleston for the foreseeable future, so I will definitely be using the great resources at The Citadel to help further my path to success.

Where are you going to school and what year are you in?

I am Junior at Clemson University.

What is the focus of your studies?

I am a Business Management major, so primarily I am studying different types of management focuses and how to be a more effective and productive manager.

What’s your ultimate career goal?

One day I would like to play on the PGA Tour ,and after that I could see myself coaching at the collegiate level.

How are you finding college life?

I am really enjoying my time at Clemson University. It’s hard to believe that I only have a semester and a half left. Much of my time is focused on developing my skills as a golfer for Clemson University and trying to fit in as a normal college student at the same time.

What has the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship meant to you?

The LeVeen-Roach Scholarship has made a major impact on my college life thus far. I am so thankful for their support and am honored to represent such a prestigious club and award from the generous members of Secession Golf Club who made this opportunity possible. Without this scholarship, I would be encumbered in loans and would be under a much more stressful lifestyle while at school. It is truly a privilege to have the support from the Secession community.

What does the game of golf mean to you?

The game of golf is everything to me. In some form or another, golf has been a part of every single day for me for as many years as I can remember. Golf is who I am and something that I am so thankful my father introduced me to. There is nothing more pleasing than a well struck golf shot or a competitive round with friends and family.

Tell us something about yourself.

When I am not playing golf, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. The summer months are my favorite, when I can enjoy a day on the beach or some time on the water.

Where are you going to school and what year are you in?

This past May I graduated from Miami University of Ohio.

What is the focus of your studies?

At Miami I studied kinesiology (exercise science) and health promotion. I chose this double major to prepare for a career in physical therapy.

What’s your ultimate career goal?

Since graduating, I have shifted away from the field of physical therapy, but remain passionate about health and fitness. My ultimate goal would be to have my own business that inspires others to be healthier/fitter versions of themselves.

What has the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship meant to you?

The LeVeen-Roach Scholarship has helped my brother and I attend college without the financial stress that many families experience along the way. We are both truly grateful to have had the support of the LR-Scholarship fund and the Secession family throughout our lives.

What does the game of golf mean to you?

Golf always reminds me of home and family. Growing up, Josh and I spent many mornings and afternoons tagging along with our father on the golf course. It was only a matter of time before we shared the same obsession that he did. Even though I no longer play competitively like my brother, the relationships I have built due to golf will last a lifetime. This is why I keep the game so close to my heart and always look forward to my next round.

Tell us something about yourself.

After graduating from Miami, I moved to Atlanta to move in with my girlfriend of five years. Last year we made an addition to our family, a very energetic Weimaraner puppy. We enjoy spending time with our dog and staying active in our free time.

Tell us about where you are in your education.

I am two classes shy of being a junior at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, working on a degree in English with a minor in Philosophy.

And have you thought about your goals after college?

As far as an ultimate career goal, I am just going where I feel God is leading me and hope to help as many people as possible. My goal is not money, but happiness and contentment. God will provide the necessities.

What has the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship meant to you?

The scholarship has allowed me to go back to school. Without it I would definitely not be able to afford college as I did not want to be up to my eyeballs in loans when I finished. It has also allowed me to work part time and not be worried about how I'm going to afford books and other such things.

What does golf mean to you? Who taught you or inspired you?

I grew up in a single-parent home with my mother. I was not a country club kid, but my grandfather, who was my male role model, loved golf and taught me to play. The game has taught me life is hard but fair when you play by the rules, and to enjoy the journey and you will know peace and contentment in all aspects of your life. My grandfather would be very pleased with where my life is heading and extremely grateful to the men of Secession Golf Club.

Tell us something about yourself.

I read everything from Aristotle to Than Nicht Hahn, I also read a lot of poetry. I have started writing a lot; hoping to write a book before it is all said and done. I enjoy being out in nature, helping others, and basically just seeing what I can contribute to the betterment of the people. And I'd like to take this time to thank the board of the scholarship fund and all the members of the club. Everyone has been beneficial to the man I am becoming. God bless you all.

You are one of our first recipients. Where are you living now and what profession are you in?

Beaufort, SC. I am the Director of Accommodations at Secession Golf Club.

Where did you go to college and what was the focus of your studies?

I attended the University of South Carolina – Beaufort. My major was Business Management.

What has the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship meant to you?

The Secession caddy master at the time, Joe McGee, lent me $3,000 to start college. (He worked me like a dog so I could pay him back in a timely manner!) Further help from the scholarship was absolutely crucial for me to continue my studies. I knew Jeff LeVeen and Stephen Roach after caddying for them a few times. They were wonderful people. I was standing by #1 tee on the morning of Blue-Gray, 2001. Members were lined up all the way up the 18th fairway. Talk about a lump in the throat.

What does the game of golf mean to you? Who taught you or inspired you?

From learning the game at a very young age to now working in the industry, golf has always been important to me. My father, Fred Summers, introduced me to the game when I was about four years old. I remember having a cut down golf club and joining him for a “quick 9” after he returned from work. He had to pay 50 pence as a “green fee”! My father was, and still is, a fine player who taught me about the game, and the life lessons that come with it. I joined Burton-on-Trent Golf Club in Derbyshire, England, at 12 years of age. I didn’t realize it at the time but golf was shaping my life. The game brought me to America to teach golf in Haverford, PA, caddy at Merion Golf Club, and ultimately to Secession Golf Club.

Tell us something about yourself.

I have a wonderful wife, Ellie, and daughter, Morgan who has just begun her junior year at John Paul II High School. I play golf, have traveled in Europe and North Africa; bit of a history buff. I hitchhiked across America once, regularly travel to the Florida Keys, own a rescue dog and am passionate about Derby County Football Club!

I am so thankful to the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship Fund for supporting me in my pursuit of a B.S. in Biological Sciences and minor Spanish in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. I will be entering my Junior year in the Fall and am happy to say I have completed all my chemistry and biology prerequisites (goodbye Organic Chemistry!) and will begin more specialized biology courses for the pre-med track.

Academics remain important to me and along with making the President’s Honor List (4.0 GPA) for all four semesters, I currently serve as my sorority’s Director of Academic Affairs. Serving in this role has helped me to grow as a leader and motivate my sisters to push themselves in their studies. This summer I am participating in research on campus examining Autism and a genetic disorder called Fragile X syndrome. The study looks at families in South Carolina with children affected by this syndrome.

I am also working for a Columbia-based national women’s clothing brand called LaRoque where I have learned so much about the design and wholesale process, as well as merchandising and retail. The two jobs are very different, but they have kept my summer interesting and busy! In the upcoming school year, I am excited to get back to in-person classes after a year of virtual learning and enjoy a normal football season, as well as begin studying for the MCAT.

As a young 1st generation immigrant from Dakar, Senegal, my goal was to attend college and pursue a career in Hospitality Management.

In 2005, Beaufort, South Carolina's Secession Golf Club and the LeVeen Roach Scholarship Fund made that goal easier with a full scholarship at The University of South Carolina.

This scholarship fund was founded in memory of two Secession members, Jeffrey LeVeen and Stephen Roach, who lost their lives in the tragic 9/11 terror attacks.

One of my goals has been to organize an alumni association and give back.

16 years later, I'm honored to share that I have joined the board of trustees for the LeVeen-Roach Scholarship fund of Secession Golf Club.

Thank you, God! Thank you to my Mom and Dad! Thank you for believing in me! Andy LaVallee, the late Frank Stone, Jim Cooley, Michael Ayrer, Chris Summers, Mike Harmon, Chris Kowalewski, and the entire board.