By Michael Veith

Working hard at something when you’re young can prove to be an asset later in life. Just ask Demi Mak (class of 2010), who has been swinging a golf club since a young age and parlayed her talent into a university golf scholarship.

Studying at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), she plays golf for the university’s sports team, the Rebels. “College is the best of times so far, nothing will beat everything paid and traveling all over the place!” says Demi, adding,” Knowing that you earned your scholarship yourself is a big accomplishment. Despite financial stability, being able to pay for your own tuition, rent, gas, and insurance is a good feeling. It’s like making money, being a student and an athlete!”

As a team member, Demi gets the chance to play all over the United States at some of the best golf courses. “This past season, we played in over ten tournaments and our team also made it to the NCAA Regionals, however the [Mountain West] conference champs was definitely one of the highlights.” The Division I NCAA Championship saw Demi take home All-Conference honours, tie for first in the individual category, and along with her teammates, take home the championship trophy for the team category.

When Demi isn’t playing golf, she’s busy taking courses in Hospitality at UNLV, whose hotel college is ranked second in America. Balancing her schoolwork and golf schedule can be hectic at times, “They expect as much out of you academically as much as athletically. Sometimes it gets really tough when you are on the road so much because you have to be completing your homework or studying for exams or quizzes just like everyone else.”

With graduation from UNLV on the horizon this spring, she’s looking at possibly pursuing a graduate degree, however she still has time be “fore” any decision has to be made.