Since 2021, Methodist University’s Founders Council has brought alumni, community members, and friends of MU together through its annual golf tournament and tennis showcase. The two events serve one shared purpose: to support student scholarships and create connections that strengthen the MU community.
Since 2021, Methodist University’s Founders Council has brought alumni, community members, and friends of MU together through its annual golf tournament and tennis showcase. The two events serve one shared purpose: to support student scholarships and create connections that strengthen the MU community.
This year’s Founders Council Tennis Showcase took place on November 1 at MU’s Clayton Tennis Center, followed by the Golf Pro-Am Tournament on November 5, held at MU’s on-campus, 18-hold Downback golf course. Proceeds from both events support MU’s Loyalty Fund, as well as its PGA Golf Management and Professional Tennis Management programs.
For Jackson Bingham ’21, current president of the Founders Council, being part of these events is more than an annual commitment; it’s a part of an ongoing “Forever Monarch” legacy with Methodist University.
“Since I started with the Founders Council a few years ago, it’s become one of those things that’s just integrated into my everyday life,” Bingham said. “As a former student and now an alumnus, I’ve always found myself talking about MU, and being on the Council gives me another way to do that.”
Bingham first joined the group as a member before moving onto the executive board and, eventually, being asked to lead as president. His enthusiasm for MU is apparent in both his professional life and his leadership.
“It’s nothing too different from what I’ve already been doing,” he added. “It comes naturally to me because MU has always been part of who I am.”
Tennis Showcase
This fall marked Bingham’s first time participating in the tennis tournament in person, and it quickly became one of his favorite experiences with the Council.
“I hadn’t been able to make it in past years, but this time I was out there all day,” he said. “It was fun to see everyone − whether they were seasoned players or first-timers enjoying themselves. It made me want to pick up a racquet myself next year.”
The day was filled with competition and camaraderie but, Bingham emphasized the purpose behind it all.
“The Founders Council does it for student scholarships,” he said. “To see the students who benefit from those scholarships out there having a good time really brings the mission full circle.”
Golf Pro-Am
Just days after the tennis event, excitement and competition carried over to the Founders Council Golf Pro-Am Tournament, where 18 teams of four took to the “Downback” golf course for a day of friendly competition.
The morning began with MU student caddies helping players warm up and practice their swings. The tournament pairs alumni, professionals in the community, and students of MU’s nationally acclaimed PGA Golf Management program.
For many participants, the event is both a reunion and a celebration of shared support. From the first drives off the tee to the final putts of the afternoon, the greens were filled with energy and laughter.
“The golf tournament really embodies what the Founders Council stands for,” Bingham said. “You see students learning from alumni, alumni reconnecting with old friends, and everyone contributing to something that ultimately benefits Methodist University students.”
With another successful tournament in the books, the Founders Council looks ahead to even more ways to unite alumni, students, and the community through service and fellowship.
From swinging racquets to perfecting putts, the Founders Council continues to serve up connections and drive home its mission. For more on how you can sponsor either event or give back visit methodist.edu/advancement-alumni-relations