Sifford Scholarship Fund Announces Fourth Cohort of Sifford Scholarship Awardees
June, 12th 2026, Philadelphia, PA – Earlier this week, the Sifford Scholarship Committee announced the fourth cohort of Sifford scholarship awardees, a group of 12 exemplary HBCU students selected from a competitive pool of applicants. The Sifford Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 in honor of the legendary and trailblazing Dr. Charles “Charlie” L. Sifford - the first Black golfer to earn a PGA TOUR card in 1961. The Sifford Scholarship was created to help fund college costs for students who attend a Historically Black College or University and students focusing their education on a golf management program.
The Sifford Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 in honor of Dr. Charles L. Sifford - the first Black golfer to earn a PGA TOUR card in 1961. The Cobbs Creek Foundation in Philadelphia serves as the fiscal sponsor for the scholarship fund.
The centennial anniversary of Dr. Sifford’s birth was in 2022. Throughout that calendar year, celebrations were held in his honor. One such event - the 2022 Travelers Championship in Connecticut - took the lead in raising funds to support the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Scholarship Fund. Dr. Sifford secured his first victory on the PGA TOUR in 1967 in Connecticut.
The 2026 Sifford Scholars are:
Leonard Anderson (Tuskegee University)
Aubrey Beckles (Spelman College)
Justin Clay (Florida A&M University)
Tommi Crump (Delaware State University)
Lourraine De Luna (Lincoln (PA) University)
Francoise Hall (Howard University)
Laniah Moffett (Howard University)
Nasir Muhammad (North Carolina A&T State University)
Caitlyn Oppong (Spelman College)
Sydney Raines (University of Maryland Eastern Shore)
Jaelon Ridley (Morehouse College)
Morgan Rodriguez (Delaware State University)
The Sifford family offered their congratulatory remarks - "The Sifford Family is deeply proud of this year’s recipients, and of their continuation of the commitment to academic excellence of our previous cohorts. We have every confidence in their future successes, and that they will continue Dr. Sifford’s legacy of greatness wherever they go. I'm sure Dad is looking down smiling on them and wishing them the best in their pursuits.”
The Cobbs Creek Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Scholarship Fund. From its founding in 1916, Cobbs Creek embraced both Black and women golfers and acted as the home course to Charlie Sifford during the time he was a resident of Philadelphia.
About the Cobbs Creek Foundation
The Cobbs Creek Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2018 to restore the Cobbs Creek Golf Course and to return the site to its status as one of Philadelphia’s historical landmarks. In partnership with local schools and community members, the Foundation’s mission is to create a state-of-the-art, economically sustainable golf and educational campus that provides opportunity for the youth of Philadelphia by serving their academic, athletic, and social-emotional needs. To learn more about the Cobbs Creek Foundation, visit www.cobbscreek.org.
About JLMP LLC
JLMP LLC is the exclusive life rights agent for the Sifford Estate. JLMP aims to improve awareness of Dr. Sifford’s trailblazing efforts, the rich life lessons from his Just Let Me Play story and his vision of diversity in the professional game of golf. JLMP also seeks to advance Charitable/DEI efforts via our 501 c(3) fiscal sponsors – The Cobbs Creek & Cleveland Foundations – by securing sponsorship from those who share Dr. Sifford’s vision for growing diversity in golf. For additional details on the Sifford Scholarship Fund - visit https://siffordscholars.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Russ Crockett, JLMP LLC SiffordScholars@gmail.com
Emma Killian, Cobbs Creek Foundation emma@cobbscreek.org