Brooke Schurman, Walhalla, N.D., and Garth Fetsch, Langdon, N.D., both freshmen at Mayville State University, are the first recipients of the Frank White and Chris Snortland Annual Scholarships at Mayville State. Each of the students received $500 awards for the 2012-2013 academic year. The scholarships were funded from the proceeds of the first annual Frank White-Roger Snortland Scholarship Golf Tournament held at the Walhalla Golf Course in July.

Brooke Schurman is pursuing a major in early childhood and a minor in elementary education. She is a cheerleader on Mayville State’s newly established cheer team this year. Garth Fetsch is pursuing a major in business, and is a member of the Comets football team.

The purpose of the Frank White - Chris Snortland Annual Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students pursuing degrees at Mayville State University. In awarding the scholarship, a student from Langdon High School and another from Walhalla High School will be selected each year. Students should demonstrate good scholastic effort and academic promise.

The Frank White-Roger Snortland Golf Tournament was the brainchild of tournament organizers Frank White, Walhalla native, 1979 graduate of Mayville State, and assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Dakota (UND); and Chris Snortland, Langdon native and 1993 Mayville State graduate. Chris is the son of Roger Snortland, also a Mayville State alum, who graduated in 1968. He was a highly successful coach in Langdon. Chris got involved with the tournament as a way to memorialize his dad, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 60, after a battle with cancer. All proceeds from the White-Snortland tournament are being used to fund scholarships at UND, Lake Region State College, the American College of Norway, and Mayville State University.

Chris and Frank have special connections with a number of former UND hockey players who turned out in full force to support the event. Ten former players, along with UND men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol showed up to play. According to Hakstol, “(this showing) speaks for itself in terms of the impact Frank White has had on the lives of these young guys. I don’t think anybody gave it a second thought when the invitation was put out.”

Among the golf tournament participants were Matt Greene, former UND defenseman (2002-2005) and now assistant captain of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, which won the Stanley Cup in June. Chay Genoway, former UND captain and defenseman (2006-2011), who recently signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild also came to play. Other former players who participated in the tournament were Andy Kollar (1998-2002), Robbie Bina (2003-2008), Jay Panzer (1995-1999), Andy Schneider (2001-2005), Nick Fuher (2001-2005), Lee Marvin (2002-2006), Matt Watkins (2005-2009), and Jake Marto (2007-2011).

For more information about the Frank White and Chris Snortland Annual Scholarship at Mayville State University, contact the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4687.