June 1, 2021
Isabella ‘Bella’ Iacovetta, a 4.31 student at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, is this year’s recipient of the 2020 Colorado PGA REACH Women’s Leadership Scholarship. Observing, describing and identifying key leadership qualities during the progression of a pandemic was the essay topic presented to the 2020 Women’s Leadership Scholarship applicants as they competed for a $2,500 college scholarship. The responses offered by these young women showed great awareness and understanding of the environment around them. In part, Bella says, “They are selfless, have good communication skills, empathetic, confident, influential, courageous and respectful.”
Arrupe Jesuit is a Cristo Rey High School known for integrating academics with work experience. Through this program, Iacovetta has worked with patients at an orthopedic spine center, volunteered with the City of Thornton Fire Department and worked with the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Division. These exposures have helped her to discover her desire to pursue a degree in criminal justice that she can draw from in a career as a firefighter paramedic. She plans to attend Marquette University in Wisconsin in the fall of 2021.
Iacovetta may be familiar to some in the golf industry as she has spent the last three summers working as a caddie at the Lakewood Country Club. A job, that according to Iacovetta was “a physically difficult job that provided great networking opportunities.” Besides all of this, she is active at her high school as a math and science tutor, captain of her basketball team, volleyball team member, prom chair and part of the homecoming committee, to name just a few.
“Striving to be a leader is something that wakes me up in the morning because it lets me be the difference,” shares an insightful Iacovetta. “We may want to be liked by everyone but realistically, that will not happen. As long as we are doing the right thing, it does not matter what anyone else thinks of us.”
“One of the key commitments of the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation is its dedication to the development, advancement and empowerment of women,” says Colorado PGA REACH spokesperson Sue Payton, President of SCI Aerospace, Inc . “Awarding a Women’s Leadership Scholarship to a young college age woman with a proven track record of academic excellence, leadership and community involvement is one of the ways we meet this commitment.
“This year’s applicants were truly outstanding and included exceptional high school students from across the state. Their insights and examples of the confidence, empathy and critical thinking skills required to lead in unchartered waters and to do what is right no matter what the personal consequences might be, exemplified their strength of character. We congratulate all of our 2020 Women’s Leadership Scholarship applicants and look forward to more activities in 2021 that develop, advance and empower women,” concludes Payton.
