DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., June 25, 2024 – The LPGA Foundation announced today that Celina Sattelkau of Vanderbilt University is the recipient of the 2024 Dinah Shore Trophy, cementing her status as one of the top collegiate female players in the country.
The Dinah Shore Trophy recognizes the top collegiate female golfer who excels in both academics and athletics. Recipients must achieve an overall grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and must have played in at least 50% of the team’s scheduled events while maintaining a scoring average of 78 or less. In addition, nominees must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills on the course, and charitable impact and service in their community.
“I am honored to receive the Dinah Shore Trophy Award, especially given its namesake – Dinah Shore, a fellow Vanderbilt graduate who was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame just this year,” expressed Sattelkau. “I want to thank the LPGA Foundation and Friends of Golf for their dedication to honoring Dinah Shore’s commitment to advance women’s golf. Vanderbilt University has provided me with an incredible environment to grow as a golfer, student, and person. I am grateful for the unconditional support of my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have encouraged me over the past five years. They have empowered me to make a positive impact in the world, and I am thrilled to do so in Dinah Shore’s name.”
A native of Neustadt, Germany, Sattelkau certainly left an indelible mark during her time at Vanderbilt. She came to the United States with a deep-rooted love for the environment and the game of golf. She was already as an accomplished athlete, having served as a member of the German National team since 2016, where she earned 3rd place in 2022 in the World Amateur Team Championships and 3rd place in 2023 in the European Team Championship.
Although she arrived in Nashville excited to wear the Black and Gold, Sattelkau struggled to find her footing after suffering from neuropathy in her hands and feet due to COVID. She dealt with mental health issues as a result and had to step away from golf briefly. After some time, she gained the courage to seek help adjusting to life in America. She proved to be a true success story who was able to get her game back.
From that moment on, there was no stopping Sattelkau. She believes it was her setbacks that taught her so much and helped her in ways she could have never imagined. She returned to the game with a growth mindset and a new “Winning Formula” that she developed for herself and to help others.
Sattelkau’s relentless pursuit of academic distinction demonstrated a passion for learning that inspired others around her. Her goal was always to communicate her knowledge about the environment to others while also using her financial knowledge to make a positive impact.
She excelled during her five years in Nashville earning both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from Vanderbilt University. Sattelkau maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning her Master of Science in Finance from the Owen Graduate School of Management. She made the Dean’s list every semester and graduated cum laude with a 3.89 GPA earning a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and the Communication of Science/Technology and a minor in Environment & Sustainability Studies. She received the distinction of All-American Academic Scholar three times and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll five times. She was a finalist for Vanderbilt’s Award for Leadership Excellence in 2022.
On the golf course, she was known as a true competitor with the fire to win. Sattelkau is a four-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American and two-time All SEC First Team. She was named the first two-time All-American at Vanderbilt since Marina Alex in 2012. Known for being a supportive teammate, Sattelkau helped the Commodores conclude their 2024 season at the NCAA Championships with their highest finish since 2014. She contributed to the team reaching back-to-back-to-back NCAA Championships in a decade, when the Dores made a program-best five-straight appearances from 2010-14.
Some of Sattelkau’s biggest impact has come from her community outreach and leadership. She dedicated countless service hours and raised money for the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University, led exercise sessions at an Alzheimer’s care facility, wrote letters to seniors during the holidays and fostered dogs from a local animal shelter. In addition to her community service, Sattelkau served as Founder/President of the Vanderbilt Sports Business Club dedicated to merging sports and business for students. She was selected for the “Be An Anchor” Leadership program by the Athletic Department and served as Project Lead in the Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility for four years.
The LPGA Foundation first announced the Dinah Shore Scholarship Fund in March 1994 in honor of the late Dinah Shore, a Vanderbilt University graduate and an honorary member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame. The Dinah Shore Trophy Award has contributed more than $210,000 to women’s collegiate golf programs, including this year.
Since 1994, Friends of Golf (FOG) has helped the LPGA Foundation provide this award to the country’s top collegiate golfers and community leaders. As part of their support, FOG contributed to the $10,000 grant that will be awarded to the women’s golf program at Vanderbilt University.
The last recipient from Vanderbilt University to receive this award was Mallory Crosland back in 1999. Former winners of this prestigious award include current LPGA Tour players Stacy Lewis (University of Arkansas, 2007) and Amy Olson (North Dakota State University, 2012), as well as Golf Channel personality and former LPGA player Amanda Blumenherst (Duke University, 2008, 2009).
About the LPGA Foundation
The LPGA is committed to being the global leader in women’s golf and to using our unique platform to empower, inspire and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.
Our commitment to Changing the Face of Golf focuses on making the sport we love more diverse, accessible, and inclusive. As the philanthropic arm of the LPGA, the LPGA Foundation achieves its vision through the programs of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, LPGA Leadership Academies, and providing grants & scholarships to those in financial need. The Foundation also includes the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, the recreational arm of the LPGA serving 16,000 members worldwide.
Our programs advance equality by removing barriers to sports participation, ensuring that every girl and woman who want to play has a welcoming and positive experience while taking advantage of the benefits of golf.
About the Friends of Golf (FOG)
Originally founded in 1979, Friends of Golf (FOG) has donated over $10 million to both national and Southern California college, high school and non-profit golf-focused organizations. Legendary professional golfer and Bel-Air Country Club teaching pro Eddie Merrins (“The Little Pro”) and a group of Los Angeles-area golfer helped organize FOG’s first annual golf tournament intended to benefit the neighboring UCLA men’s golf program. Since then, FOG has hosted 42 annual charity golf tournaments at Bel-Air Country Club and honored some of the game’s top stars including Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Lorena Ochoa and Collin Morikawa. FOG supports student athlete golfers by instilling the values of honesty, ethics, and fellowship with a true appreciation for the game. From the time boys and girls enter grade school through the end of their college experience, FOG makes it possible for aspiring junior golfers (irrespective of economic standing) to play, compete and excel in this exceptional sport.
FOG also backs a number of leading national amateur golf awards including The Ben Hogan Trophy, presented each year to the top male college golfer and The Dinah Shore Trophy, which is similarly presented to the top female golfer through a joint venture with the LPGA Foundation. Friends of Golf, Inc. is recognized as a non-profit, tax-deductible organization through Federal I.D. #95-3668541 and the State of California Franchise Tax Board Organization #1058257. (www.friendsofgolf.org)
