Hank Stark, a Boulder City High School graduate and now a student at UNR, was awarded the Walter M. Galyk Scholarship. He’s going to be studying hydrology and working his best to help make the world a better place…one drop of water at a time.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider

The scholarship was set up by Camille Galyk after her husband, Walt, was killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2012. Walt was an accomplished golfer and Camille honored her husband by setting up the charitable foundation which helps kids with scholarship funds.

For Stark, the scholarship is a welcome addition as he tackles college life.

“The scholarship through the SNJGA and the Galyk Foundation is just amazing,” he said. “You can’t appreciate how much this helps me. College is so expensive. I can’t be more thankful. It’s going to be a great help.”

Stark said earning the scholarship is just the icing on the cake from his time with the SNJGA.

“The SNJGA gave me a lot of experiences I wouldn’t have had without their help,” he said. “They helped with tournaments…managing my time on and off the course…and to improve my game. I also made a lot of friends along the way. It was always ‘see you at the next tournament.’ ”

Now it’s on to college life.

Stark is excited about his hydrology study plans at UNR.

“The main focus will be water and climate change and how water is being limited,” he said. “I want to focus on the snowpack and how it affects everything…and how we can use water more efficiently and keep our eco-systems healthy.”

Stark said he may look at trying to walk on to the golf team if his game keeps improving, but right now golf will be secondary to the classroom.

“I really want to focus on my studies,” he said. “And golf’s going to be a little more difficult up here in Reno with the snow coming in a while. But there are a lot of simulators and indoor facilities I can use so I’m looking forward to that.”

He also said the weather change was welcome.

“I was wearing pants instead of shorts this morning for the first time in six months…it was awesome,” he said with a laugh. “And it’s a lot greener up here. I’m really enjoying my time.”

When he does get on the golf course, he’s got his sights set on where he needs work.

“I really need to keep my driver in the fairway and keep the big numbers away,” he said. “My short game has improved a bunch. I’ve worked hard on my wedges but keeping the driver in play is the priority.”

He said golf has kept him driven.

“For me, it’s a definite connection with my dad (Matt),” he said. “I want to keep getting better and see how far I can actually go. It’s taken me a lot of years to get to a 78 that I shot last year at Boulder Creek. I’m pretty proud of that and want to make sure I keep improving…both on the course and in the classroom.”