LCCC Foundation Swings for Student Success at Annual Tony Boyle Golf Classic
Sophia Nieto Soto┃Writer
Golfers and community supporters will gather on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at The Club at Twin Lakes in Allentown for LCCC’s Foundation’s annual Tony Boyle Memorial Golf Classic. Named in honor of Tony Boyle, a 1970 LCCC alumnus, founder of Boyle Construction, and 20 year Foundation Board member who passed away several years ago, the event honors his dedication to expanding educational access for local students.
The tournament begins at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast, followed by a 9:30 a.m. scramble-format shotgun start across 18 holes. Participants will conclude the day with a cocktail reception, lunch buffet, and award announcements for top team scores.
Beyond a day on the green, the tournament serves as a major fundraising event directly benefiting LCCC students. All event proceeds go directly into student financial aid, including the LCCC Promise and Aspira Scholarships, which help cover tuition costs and academic fees for students struggling financially.
"The golf tournament raises about $95,000 annually for student scholarships," says Rick Christ, executive director of the LCCC Foundation. Christ, a Tamaqua native who joined the Foundation in January 2024, oversees the non-profit arm of the college as it raises, holds, and distributes funds to support student needs.
"Annually, the Foundation gives away around $1.5 million in total scholarships through our general foundation scholarship and roughly 90 other individual scholarships. Overall, we manage about $37.5 million in assets through our board and team to support non-academic emergency needs, campus programs, and student success,” he said.
For students on campus, these funds make an impact. Greydys Ruiz, an Early College student, notes how beneficial this can be for students.
"Honestly, it’s super reassuring," Ruiz says. "Knowing that community members, local businesses, and foundation staff are out there playing golf and raising nearly $100,000 specifically for student scholarships makes a huge difference."
Christ emphasizes that the primary goal is ensuring financial hardship never forces dedicated students to delay or abandon their goals to pursue higher education.
"In order to get a scholarship on campus, students have to fill out the General Scholarship Application," Christ says, adding that the application window for the spring semester opens on October 1. "Students can also visit the LCCC website and search for the 'Student Emergency Fund' if they need non-academic assistance, like unexpected repairs or emergency support. We want to make sure we get the word out so students apply and use all available funding."
Students interested in learning more about the scholarships can contact the LCCC Foundation office in the Student Services Center or email Richard Christ at rchrist@lccc.edu.
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