The European Club Education Foundation (ECEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Joe Perdue Bursaries. These prestigious awards support professional development in the field of club management, covering the costs for recipients to attend the CMAA World Conference in Tampa (February 5-9, 2025) and the MDP 3 Strategy and Leadership program in 2025.
Bursary Recipients
- Matthew Bacon, General Manager at Royal Cromer Golf Club, has been awarded the bursary for the MDP 3 Strategy and Leadership program.
- Kursat Alkan, Reception Manager at The In and Out Club, has received the bursary to attend the CMAA World Conference.
The Joe Perdue Bursary was established in 2015 in memory of CMAA’s Joe Perdue, the pioneer of club management education in Europe, and who was instrumental in assisting CMAE to establish the extremely popular Management Development Programmes.
On receiving his bursary award, Matthew said: “I’m honoured to be awarded the Joe Perdue Bursary and excited to continue on my CMAE education journey with MDP3 Strategy and Leadership. I look forward to furthering my knowledge and network as I strive to develop as a Club Manager.”
Kursat also commented ” Winning the Joe Perdue bursary in CMAE is a dream come true for me. When I first found out that I had been selected as the recipient of this prestigious award, I was overwhelmed with feelings of joy and gratitude. It is such an honour to be recognized for my hard work and dedication to my studies.
I am incredibly grateful to the selection committee for choosing me for this award and for believing in my potential. I am also thankful to my teachers, mentors, and family for their unwavering support and encouragement along the way.
As I reflect on this achievement, I am reminded of the words of Joe Perdue himself, who once said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. ” Winning this bursary has brought me immense happiness, and I am more determined than ever to continue pursuing my passion and making a difference in the field of CMAE.
In conclusion, winning the Joe Perdue bursary in CMAE is a significant milestone in my academic journey and I am grateful for the recognition and support that it represents. I am excited for the future and eager to continue learning, growing, and contributing to the field of CMAE. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey with me.”
