Whether it’s a 10-foot birdie putt or a psychology test, one can bet that Angelina Huang will have studied every possible way to ensure a successful outcome. And for Huang, the 2024 Bill Walters Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship winner and a Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association member, both the work on the golf course and in the classroom are helping her as she gets set for her next challenge: college golf. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider

Each year, the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame and Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, work together to identify top graduating members to award scholarships. Huang, a senior at Clark High School, said being awarded the scholarship is validation for her work ethic.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity this gives me,” she said. “Getting this scholarship makes me realize all the work is paying off. I got accepted into UCLA and Washington University in St. Louis so far and I’m waiting on a few others. Everything will be decided soon. It is nerve wracking but exciting at the same time.”

She plans on going into dentistry or getting a PhD in neuroscience.

“I really want to focus on academics to make sure I give myself different opportunities after college,” she said.

And those opportunities just might include a look at professional golf.

“I would definitely look at the LPGA Tour if I get the chance,” she said.

To that end, she said her game is in a good spot…but she said there’s one part in particular she’s working on.

‘Like a lot of people, everyone would say they need to work on their putting, right,” she said. “It seems like the easiest part of the game and it makes or breaks the round. That’s why I’m really working on that part especially hard.”

Huang said the SNJGA program was front and center when it came time for her to juggle both golf and the classroom.

“I learned so much from them,” she said. “When you’re playing tournaments and meeting all the other junior golfers it really makes you realize that while golf is an individual sport, it’s also a people sport. When I was a freshman and a sophomore they helped guide me through the process. And when you look at all of the kids they have worked with, the job they do is impressive.”

Huang also learned the power of giving back and she feels that might have been a boost when it came down to the chance to earn the scholarship.

“I’ve tried to do a lot to help the golf community,” she said. “I wrote a book, ‘I Want To Play College Golf,’ and wound up donating more than $17,000 to various organizations. Then over the winter break I helped organize The Las Vegas Cup with the AJGA that raised $25,000. We donated to the AJGA Ace Grant that helps kids with financial assistance if they want to play college golf and also to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. It was just trying to give back.”

In the end, she said applying for the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship was one of the biggest steps she undertook.

“I’d say if you don’t apply, you’re never going to get it,” she said. “That goes for everything in life. If you don’t go for it, you won’t get it. You just never know what might happen.”

Look for additional profiles of SNJGA scholarship honorees in the future.

SNJGA
Scholarship Recipients
(profiles to follow)

Jayda Sidney 
R.J. Arone 
Rylee Lord 
Savanna Sampson 
Mizara Norton 
Ariya Soldwisch 

In 2024, the SNJGA awarded $42,000 in scholarships. Total including HOF is $52,000.