This year, the Foundation increased its scholarship to $3,000 from $2,500 in previous years and selected twelve Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholars out of eighteen finalists. Nine of the scholars are first time recipients and three are second year recipients.

The Foundation is honored to present the twelve recipients of the 2005-2006 Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholarship.

Robert A. Biggers Jr.
Robert (Robbie) Biggers is a Freshman at South Carolina Sate University where he plans to major in Psychology and minor in Business or Sports Management. He was a four year Golf Varsity Letterman at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida. During his senior year of high school, he was the area regional champion. Robbie has been involved with the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association since 1998. During the summers of 2003 and 2004, he worked at Isleworth Country Club. While Robbie's father, Robert Biggers, Sr. introduced him to the game of golf, he was taught to play the game by Dr. T.J. Dorsey who founded and directs the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association. Robbie's greatest desire is to be the greatest golfer he can be. He would like to focus on the psychological aspect of sports and be able to give back to his community by counseling and aiding youth.

Brittny L. Bryant
Brittny Bryant is a Senior at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana majoring in Biology. Upon graduating from college, she plans to attend Graduate School and major in Business Administration. Brittny has been on the Honors Roll since 2003. She received the Student Athletic Academic Committee Award in 2004 and was awarded Most Improved Player-Golf in 2003 and 2004. She participated in the Women in Golf Foundation, Inc.'s girls' summer program during middle and high school. This foundation sponsored Brittny's summer internship and after school work program at Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis. Brittny claims that golf is the only addiction she has‹it is her passion. Golf has taught her perseverance and endurance.

Matthew L. Espinosa
Matthew Espinosa is a Senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas majoring in Psychology and a 2004 Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholar. He has been a Justin Leonard Scholar (2002-2005), a Bishop Dixon Scholar (2002-2005) and a National Minority Junior Golf Scholar (2002-2005). In 2003 and 2004, Matthew was on the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Honor Roll and on the Southwestern University Athletic Honor Roll. In 2004 and 2005, he received the Hispanic Scholarship Fund/Peieris Foundation Scholarship. In one of his essays, Matthew wrote that while he loves golf and everything about it, above all, he most identifies with Michael Berkeley's love of family. He discussed how he came to understand his sister through golf. When her superior talent began to emerge and she began to surpass him on the course, he told how it wounded his self-esteem to be beaten by his younger sister. However, as his sister moved into national recognition, Matthew's pleasure and pride in her accomplishments came to outweigh his more egotistical concerns. Matthew plans to attend law school upon graduating from Southwestern University and pursue a career in health law.

Franco Garcia-Lopez
Franco Garcia-Lopez is a Sophomore at Dominican University of California where he plans to major in Political Science and minor in Pre-Law. Franco is a 2004 Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholar. While a student at Hilltop High School in San Diego, California, Franco was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, a volunteer with the San Diego Inner City Junior Golf Foundation, captain of the Varsity Golf Team and took 56th place in the Junior World Golf Championships in 2004. Franco is described as an accomplished student, an avid golfer, as well as a very reliable, responsible young man who is always eager to help the younger kids in sports activities. He has been able to balance schoolwork, golf and assisting his mother in a single parent household. One of Franco's goals in life is to make golf more reachable to young black males in America. Franco wrote in one of his essays, "Golf has taken me to places around the country where so many young black males never dream of being, such as the posh country clubs, meeting celebrities like Franco Harris, or giving speeches in front of people of all colors and economic backgrounds. I play golf with corporate sponsors with the same ease as with inner city youth." After college, Franco plans to attend law school and continue to focus on a professional golf career.

Deztany O. Jackson
Deztany Jackson is a Freshman at Old Dominion University in Virginia where she plans to major in Engineering and play collegiate women's golf. She was captain of the Women's Golf Team at Oxon Hill High School in Maryland and ranked 5th in the state. She was a member of the National Honor Society (2004-2005) and a member of the Spanish Honor Society (2003-2005). Deztany placed in the top 5% of her 555 student senior class with a cumulative grade point average of 3.898. She was selected as Most Valuable Player-Golf in 2004-2005, a Maryland Distinguished Scholar in 2004, and a Washington Metropolitan Scholar in 2004. As an active junior, Deztany played basketball, the piano, the saxophone, and studied martial arts. She regards Michael Berkeley as a renaissance man whose heart belonged to golf. Like Michael Berkeley, Deztany wants the sport of golf to be involved in her career and her personal life. Her career goal is to manufacture and design sports equipment especially golf equipment.

LeCardi P. Johnson
LeCardi Johnson is a Freshman at Old Dominion University in Virginia where he plans to major in Business. He was Captain of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy's Varsity Golf Team in 2005 and played Varsity Golf throughout his high school years. He was a recipient of the Urban League Scholarship, the Kaplan SAT Preparatory Scholarship and National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship. He was Captain and Team Spokesman for the South East Junior Golf Association and has received numerous awards at the South East Junior Golf Academy. LeCardi's grandfather introduced him to the sport of golf at the age of three, and he has been playing since the age of seven. For LeCardi, golf has been a therapeutic means of staying focused not just on athletics, but also on his academic goals. He most identifies with Michael Berkeley's love for the game of golf as an inspiration to pursue his dreams. LeCardi would like to own a driving range with a practice facility someday which would be free to youth in an effort to help them reach their golf dreams.

Michael James Lucero
Michael Lucero is a Sophomore at Indiana University-Bloomington where he is majoring in Business. He has been a National Minority Junior Golf Scholar and a Hudson & Holland Scholar. Life circumstances led Michael to golf for direction. He grew up near Gary, Indiana and was surrounded by violence and drugs. His mother was murdered when he was one year old and his father is unknown. He was raised by his grandparents. Michael was introduced to golf by his godfather. According to Michael, "Golf saved me by giving me confidence, self-discipline, integrity, and a place for me to go to stay out of trouble." Michael stumbled upon The Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond, Indiana, a ten minute walk from his high school, and decided to join the golf team there to learn the game. He spent so much time there that he was offered a job opportunity to work at the course. This job helped Michael save enough money to attend college. To this date, Michael believes he would not be in college if it had not been for golf.

Kevin A. Lyles
Kevin Lyles is a Sophomore at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he is majoring in Business Management. At UNC, Kevin has been very involved with the UNC Black Student Movement. He was nominated for National Dean's List (2005), National Honor Society (2002-2004) and Deacon's Honor Roll (2001-2005). He is a National Minority Junior Golf Scholar and Brookland Baptist Church Scholar. Kevin was introduced to the sport of golf when his father started a junior golf clinic for his church. While Kevin played other sports, he fell in love with golf at the age of thirteen. Kevin most identifies with Michael Berkeley's passion for golf and zest for life. He writes, "Golf has influenced my personal character by reinforcing the importance of honesty and integrity. The sport of golf often presents a player who lacks strong moral character the temptation to be dishonest." Kevin aspires to pursue an MBA and play golf professionally.

Lisa L. Newton
Lisa Newton is a Freshman at Florida State University where she plans to major in Film Production. Lisa was Captain of Howard W. Blake High School for the Performing Arts' Girlıs Golf Team throughout her four years in high school. She was Captain of the Girl's Soccer Team during her last two years in high school. She was an officer in the Student Government Association, President of the high schoolıs Film Club, and Director of Blake High School's Film Company. She was a member of the National Honor Society, awarded the High GPA Girl Golfer in Hillsborough County distinction and recipient of several film festival awards. During her interview, Lisa stated that she started golf while in high school as a joke and did well immediately. Golf helped her focus on herself and provided an avenue to relieve her stress. Lisa most identifies with Michael Berkeley's belief in helping others. She wrote, "I am happiest when I am able to assist someone in need, and I am able to see a smile of relief and joy on their face." Lisa has provided leadership and mentoring services for children who have physical and mental disabilities (All Peoples Center) and has taught pre-school children sign language (Kingıs Kings Academy). In one of her essays, Lisa wrote, "Golf has helped me clear my mind of clutter and bring inner peace; it has trained me to focus and to listen to my instincts. These characteristics will help me be successful in any endeavor I choose to explore."

James B. Petty
James Petty is a Sophomore at Florida A&M University where he is majoring in Business Administration. He is on Florida A&M's Golf Team and a member of the NAACP-Youth Division. He is a National Minority Junior Golf Scholar (2004-2005), Flint Inner City Golf Scholar (2004-2005) and was selected Rookie of the Year-Florida A&M University (2004-2005). He volunteered his time in the Flint Inner City Junior Golf (FICJG) program. James was introduced to the sport of golf by his father and has been playing since the age of twelve. He shares Michael Berkeley's professional career interests and passion for golf. In one of his essays, James wrote, "...I have a great deal of respect and appreciation of Mr. Berkeley's academic, as well as athletic endeavors...like Mr. Berkeley, I am pursuing a degree in business administration...also like him, after honing professional skills, he opened his own firm; I too have an entrepreneurial spirit. It is my goal to go in business for myself and own my own car dealerships...Finally, Mr. Berkeley and I share the passion of golf. I, too, was introduced to the game at the age of 12 and have a love for it that will never end." James aspires to play professional golf.

Jared D. Williams
Jared Williams is a Freshman at Hampton University where he plans to obtain a degree in Business Administration. While attending St. Louis Catholic High School, Jared played on the Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball Teams, 3-A Regional Golf Team and 3-A State Golf Team, All-District 3-A Cross Country Team and on the Football Team as Team Captain and Wide-Receiver. During the summer of 2003, he participated in the Texas Junior PGA Tour and came in second place in the Louisiana Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship. He was selected to Who's Who Among American High School Students (2003-2005), won first place in radio speaking and second place in extemporaneous speaking at the Regional Speech & Debate Team Rally at McNeese State University (2005). Jared has volunteered his time in numerous organizations including Potter's House, LCA Basketball Camp, Park Place Senior Citizen Apartments and the Children's Museum. Jared most identifies with Michael Berkeley's ability to balance sports and education. In one of his essays, he wrote, "Knowing that Michael J. Berkeley became the successful owner of a firm by showing tremendous determination and leadership gives me the confidence to persevere." Jared aspires to attend law school after college.

Annika L. Windon
Annika Windon is a Sophomore at Princeton University where she is working on a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Annika is also a 2004 Michael J. Berkeley Foundation Scholar. She is on Princetonıs Varsity Women's Golf Team. Annika has played in numerous local, state and national golf tournaments since her high school years. She was named MVP for High School Team (2000-2002), L.A. Times All-Star Girls Golf Team for High School Golf (2002), named to the 2003 National Tiger Woods Team and participated in the 2003 National African American Youth Initiative Program. Annika identifies with all of the characteristics of Michael Berkeley's legacy, especially those that express a love for live, family, golf and helping others. In one of her essays, Annika wrote, "My passion for golf has undeniably been a driving force behind my success on the Princeton's Varsity Women's Golf Team...I feel that my passion for golf is closely related to my love for my family. My most cherished memories have been with my brothers and my father playing numerous tournaments around the country and volunteering as assistant teachers at various inner-city junior golf programs." Annika plans to attend medical school, become a pediatrician and serve poor communities through her work as a doctor.