Sept. 15 was not only a beautiful day for a round of golf, but also a successful day of raising funds to support students.
UNC Charlotte industry partners and alumni raised more than $65,000 at the fifth annual Belk College of Business Risk Management and Insurance Golf Tournament.
The tournament, hosted at Rocky River Golf Course at Concord, welcomed more than 100 golfers and 40 industry sponsors for a round of Captain’s Choice, a barbecue lunch, and networking with RMI students and alumni.
"We have great partners and alumni in the insurance industry who invest in our students," said Jennifer Troyer, dean of the Belk College of Business. "Scholarships made possible by this tournament allow students to borrow less, work less and spend more time taking advantage of all that the college experience has to offer both in and outside of the classroom."
Game for all
A focus of this year’s tournament was to welcome new players to the course from more diverse backgrounds. The tournament planning committee coordinated three golf lessons leading up to the tournament to encourage more diverse participation. Over 20 women and students participated in the lessons. Gallagher Insurance served as the first diversity sponsor for the tournament, providing the lessons free of charge for participants.
Also new to the tournament is a partnership with First Tee of Greater Charlotte, a youth development organization that enables children of all backgrounds to build strength and character through golf. Participants could buy mulligans during the tournament, and all proceeds went directly to First Tee.
Making an impact
Ross Fowler, director of the golf tournament planning committee and vice president of underwriting at Builders Mutual, described the event as his favorite day of the year. He says it's not only an opportunity to raise money for scholarships, but also an opportunity to connect students with the industry.
"I have had people invest in my life and career which has allowed me to be successful in my career. This tournament is an opportunity to invest in others," Fowler said. "The tournament is so much more than the money we raise. It is a chance to see great relationships being built and invested in."
Hunter Weedon ‘09, managing director of commercial accounts at Travelers Insurance, is a graduate of the RMI program and a past scholarship recipient. Receiving a scholarship enabled him to focus on his education and career development.
"I received a scholarship during my time in the RMI program, which meant a great deal to me and helped minimize the impact of my student loan balance in my senior year," said Weedon, who serves on the golf tournament committee.
"Providing my time and support of the Belk College RMI program through participating on the committee has been a rewarding experience and a perfect opportunity to give back to the program that I graduated from in 2009."
The tournament also raised funds by selling a special opportunity to fire a golf ball cannon, and prizes were awarded for longest drive, closest to the pin, and to the top three foursomes.
The Belk College’s Risk Management and Insurance undergraduate concentration, housed in the Department of Finance, helps develop the next generation of insurance professionals through courses closely aligned with industry and through experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, career fairs, student mentoring, and international travel.
More photos from the 2022 RMI Golf Tournament
About the Belk College of Business
Established in 1970, UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business offers outstanding business education programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive levels. The Belk College is one of the Carolinas’ largest business schools, with nearly 5,000 students, over 100 full-time faculty, and more than 33,000 alumni. Accredited by AACSB International, the college is committed to building strong partnerships in the greater Charlotte region and beyond as North Carolina's urban research business school. Learn more about how the Belk College is driving business at belkcollege.charlotte.edu, and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.