Darryl Ervin, a senior in accounting, got a hole-in-one opportunity. Ervin was one of 25 students selected out of hundreds of applications for the inaugural Lee Elder Internship — a one-week immersive experience at the U.S. Open at the Country Club.

Lee Elder was a groundbreaking player: the first African American golfer to play in the Masters and on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. His legacy is providing exposure to golf industry job opportunities and professional development training, ultimately opening doors for students like Ervin, who describes himself in his LinkedIn profile as “just a kid from Detroit dedicated to serving people.”

In addition to earning this highly competitive scholarship, Ervin is finishing a tax internship at Ernst & Young this summer. After graduation in December, he plans to grow his nonprofit, SLS Detroit, which is dedicated to empowering Detroit’s youth through academics, mentoring and community service. An advanced degree is also likely for Ervin, he said.

As a national ambassador fellow for the Leadership Brainery, Ervin heard about the Lee Elder Internship through Brainery cofounder Jonathan Allen.

“It is a special feeling to be a part of the inaugural cohort for such a great initiative, and it motivated me to put my absolute best foot forward for every opportunity that was presented to me so that I could help lay a great foundation for next year’s interns and beyond,” Ervin said. “As Jemal King would say, ‘Your level of exposure will determine your level of success,’ and this opportunity at the U.S. Open has exposed me to so much and has truly opened doors.”

To read more about Ervin's experience, visit broad.msu.edu