City of Cocoa Recognize Eastern Florida State College’s P.J. Wilson, Henry Scott Minority Youth Golf Camp
By Juan Rodriguez // July 15, 2022
camp has been held for the past 28 years
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – The City of Cocoa recognized the Eastern Florida State College P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Minority Youth Golf Camp during Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.
The youth golf camp has been helping teach youth the basic skills of golf, including golf etiquette, conduct, sportsmanship, as well as values for a successful living since 1992 when former President Dr. Maxwell King started it with the assistance of Henry Scott and P.J. Wilson, who were two minority golf professionals in Brevard County.
On Tuesday night the city council took a moment to recognize the camp with a proclamation recognizing June 6-16, 2022 as the “28th Annual EFSC P.J. Wilson & Henry Scott Minority Youth Golf Camp.”
“Camps like this, the seeds were sown years ago and we have benefited from the people who had the vision to do this. It’s our task to carry it on and hand it to the next people down the line,” Eastern Florida State College golf coach Jamie Howell said.
“The camp has provided opportunities for the youth of Brevard County for 28 years, it is a camp like no other. I think the college should be very proud of the support we have for this camp and the attendance and turnout we have had over the years.”
Among those being recognized were youth that has participated in the camp, former and current volunteers, Dr. Joe Lee Smith, EFSC Executive Director of Community Engagement Mike Cadore, as well as P.J. Wilson’s daughter who thanked the council and volunteers for continuing the work her father started.
“My father was truly dedicated to the program and dedicated to working with the students, so we want to thank you again and God Bless,” Wilson said during the meeting.
Besides teaching youth the game of golf each summer, the camp also gives some golf clubs to young players, and one lucky camper each year earns a full scholarship to attend Eastern Florida State College.
“I feel the job is to pass it on. The golf clubs we give away to belong to other golfers and I believe they would be incredibly proud to see their golf clubs being used well by the next generation,” Howell said.
“To be the medium that gets to take part in that is something I take very seriously and everyone who has come through the camp recognizes that this is a terrific event.”
Helping coach Howell every year with the camp is lead instructor Roosevelt Jackson and instructor Isaac Johnson along with Dr. Debra Sibley, Diane Taylor, and Jackie Poitier-French, and other volunteers that help each day to make the camp a special event.
At the end of the camp, there is always an awards ceremony where each participant is recognized and given a Certificate of Participation and special medals are given for sportsmanship, most improvement, and the best attitude.
Councilmember Lorraine Koss requested the proclamation be done in honor of the 28th Annual Youth Golf Camp.
“This is a great program that should be recognized and commended for all that it does for the youth of our community,” Koss said in the proclamation.
The camp has been held each summer for the past 28 years and has always been free of charge.
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