Golf Outing Raises Funds and Spirits

May 3, 2021 / Andrea Wenger

Golf tournament winners for 2021

The April 30, 2021 Fore the Flames Golf Tournament felt a bit like a family reunion. For many, it was the first outing after a long separation as participants emerged from pandemic-induced seclusion to a safely spaced outdoor setting to support EMS.

More than 140 golfers registered for the event, and, thanks to 41 generous sponsorships (see below), raised more than $25,000 to support EMS athletics and student financial aid. A newly added feature, powerball and mulligan fee options, brought in $1,000 specifically for athletics uniforms. “You’re a blessing to the EMS community,” wrote co-chairs of the planning committee — Mattias Clymer ’06 and Trevor Parmer ’90 — to participants.

“It was awesome to see people I haven’t seen in many months, be outside, enjoy some golf, and support the school,” commented Jeff Shank, chair of the EMS board of directors, EMS alum and father, and member of the LD&B team.

The top score for the 18-hole day — in gusty windy conditions — came from the foursome (pictured left to right, above) of Schuylar Harmison ’22, Andrew Gascho, athletic director; Justin King, high school principal; and Ryan Slonaker ’22.

A second top prize — Match of Cards — came from another EMS student-golfer team (pictured top right) of brothers Zach Hatter ’20, Adam Hatter ’22 and Drew Hatter ’24 along with boys varsity basketball coach, Chad Seibert.

See all the tournament winners posted here.

The golf planning committee included: Co-chairs Clymer and Parmer, Diana Berkshire ’70, Jair Drooger, Ann Eberly ’64, Stephanie Forbes, Kelsey Miller ’05, and Chris Slonaker, EMS golf team coach. Staff members were Trisha Blosser, Andrew Gascho, Erin Kennedy Hess, Paul Leaman, and Andrea Wenger.

Students in Anna Haarer’s Family Consumer Science class made treats the day before the event to include in the golfer goodie bags.

All golfers are invited to mark their calendars for next year’s tournament when we hope we will be free of COVID restrictions and able to welcome additional teams: April 29, 2022.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Harman Construction, Inc., Title Sponsor
LD&B Insurance and Financial Services, lunch sponsor
Weaver’s Flooring America, hospitality sponsor
Excel Heating & Cooling, putting green sponsor
Gaines Group Architects, beverage cart sponsor
Cornerstone Foundation and Rockingham Steel, driving range sponsors
Beachy & Arehart PLLC, scoreboard sponsor

Gold level sponsors

BioLife
Horizons Edge
Park Rose Village
Park View Federal Credit Union
R.S. Monger Lumber
Specialty Fleet
Valley Roots Team (Kline May)
VistaShare
Weaver Insurance & Financial Advisors

Silver level sponsors:

Asa, Kathleen, Wesley, and Caroline Graves
InterChange Group, Inc.
Schlabach Drywall

Bronze level sponsors:

CT Assist Healthcare Staffing
Landes Heating and Air
Suter Engineering, PC
Weyers Cave Medical Center

Hole in One sponsors

Blauch Brothers
Brown Edwards
Buffalo Wild Wings
MSL Consulting
Classic Kitchens
PBMares
Valley Building Supply, Inc.
Venture Builders

Student golfer sponsors:

F&M Bank
Jay & Cynthia Veenis
VMRC
Winchester Group

Media sponsor:

WBTX Radio

In-kind sponsors:

Eddie Edwards Signs
Pepsi (PCVA)
Waterworks
EMS Food Science Nutrition Class

Check out some more photos from this story

Andrew Gascho, athletic director, welcomes the crowd

Paul Leaman, head of school, greeting the crowd, including a moment of silence and prayer in honor of those we lost in the last year, including some people dear to EMS and the golf

We remembered long-term golf tournament supporter, Carmen Strite Miller, with her husband Edgar Miller

Trisha Blosser, EMS development; Mattias Clymer, alumni board and golf committee, draw a name for a Pepsi-Cola door prize

Former principal Sam Weaver with grandson Jameson '24

Andrew Gascho, athletic director, and Justin King, high school principal

EMS golfers Ryan Slonaker and Schuyler Harmison, class of '22

Paul Leaman, head of school, likes to hang out at the third hole to chat with all participants. He brings a student along to help him out with his swing. This year, golf team member Wesley Graves '25, helped him out in the morning.