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Writing in Eland’s future
Getting to know the Junior Golf Scholars

Who knows how Kansas Golf Foundation scholar Pat Eland’s story will turn out. But it now appears he will able to write it.
Though he really didn’t know which direction his education would take as recently as last school year, the University of Kansas sophomore from Hoxie has decided on pursuing a degree

in journalism.
   “I started out the year without a clue as to what I wanted to major in, but soon after completing my first semester I had made my decision,” Eland wrote in a letter to The Foundation last summer. “I took my English 101 class first semester and I credit my teacher in helping me to decide what direction I should go in. He just really made me realize my talent and love for writing, so that’s when I came to the conclusion of journalism as my major.”
   Eland will now apply for the KU School of Journalism in the spring semester and plans on a Leadership minor with a Sociology concentration.
   “My first semester (2009-10) will be a very busy one,” Eland wrote. “ I have a full schedule of classes that I need to get out of the way before I can apply to the School of Journalism, as well as two jobs that I am very excited about.”

Leading Indian athlete
   Eland was introduced to the game of golf by his father Ken on the Hoxie Municipal course. He, his father and brother Brad played together. Later, Pat became involved in the junior golf program offered through the Hoxie Parks Department.
   “My dad really taught me the game and I just progressed from there,” says Eland, 20.
   He would go on to play all four years for Hoxie High School. Eland reached the state tourney his freshman, junior and senior years. His senior season he tied for 19^th at the 1A tourney at Dodge City. His freshman season the Indians placed fourth as a team in 2A at Emporia Municipal.
   Eland also played football and basketball at Hoxie High. The football team reached the state playoffs three of his four years at the school. Eland was all-conference his junior and senior seasons at defensive back and was an all-league selection his senior year at running back. The Hoxie basketball squad reached the state tourney Eland’s junior campaign.
   In the classroom, Eland developed his interest in writing and journalism. His mother Peggy is an English/Journalism teacher at the school. Pat was on the yearbook staff his junior and senior years and served as sports editor for the publication as a senior.
   This past summer Eland spent his fourth straight year working for the City of Hoxie as a laborer. He took a night class at Colby Community College and even found a little time to get back on the golf course.
   “Other than work and class, I am planning on just relaxing and playing a lot of golf in the evenings,” he wrote. “I also will be playing in golf tournaments with my dad and friends throughout most of the summer.”

Running backs and writing
   Eland says he expected to enjoy his college experience on Mt. Oread, but so far it has far exceeded his expectations.
   “I knew going into the year that I would enjoy it since I had always enjoyed coming to KU football and basketball games over the years, but I wasn’t prepared to love it this much,” he wrote.
   Things have been very busy during the fall semester of his sophomore year. With a full class

load and two part-time jobs, there isn’t time for much else. Eland’s been serving as an assistant football coach at Bishop Seabury Academy in Lawrence, coaching the school’s running backs and linebackers.
   “We play eight-man football and I’m the assistant high school and head junior high coach,” Eland said. “It’s been a really great experience for me. I’ve enjoyed so much being able to convey my knowledge that I’ve compiled over the years…being able to teach the kids has just been a blast.”
   Eland has also begun work in his field, taking a spot on the sports writing staff of the campus newspaper, The University Daily Kansan.
   “I will be starting out covering intramural sports and working my way up from there,” says Eland, who adds one day he’d like to write for a major sports publication and continue coaching high school football. “I cover all the intramural sports that happen here at KU. I’ve written articles about the winners, but I also had one story that was in our magazine that is put out on game days. It was about intramural referees and that got me quite a bit of attention.”
   Eland says he’s also gotten involved in KU’s Sigma Alpha Lambda, a leadership organization that does community service projects. The busy student says he remains appreciative of the help the KGF scholarship has provided as his education continues.
   “Overall, I would just like to thank (The Foundation) for your support this year and for the next three years where I can assure you that your support has and will be put to good use,” Eland says. “It’s a great honor to receive (the scholarship) because not many people receive it. So many of my friends are paying for school and I depend on scholarship money. I feel really good about myself that I was able to achieve that.”