ESA Announces 2025 Marsh Scholarship Recipients

ESA All-Star Mako Musilunas is a multiple ESA Regional and Easterns champion, and now he’s an ESA 2025 Marsh Scholarship Recipient! Photo: MEZ/ESM

The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) is excited to announce its 2025 Marsh Scholarship Award recipients – Celia Cook, ESA Georgia and ESA All-Stars; Beau Chan – ESA New York, Mako Musilunas – ESA Northern South Carolina and Ellie Walsh – ESA North Florida.

The ESA offers the Marsh Scholarship Fund for current ESA members pursuing their education beyond the secondary school level. Over the years the fund has provided financial assistance to many deserving student surfers on the basis of academic excellence and strong recommendations. It is the longest running scholarship program in the US surfing community.

Recipients of these awards have achieved academic excellence proven by their transcripts and reference letters. They have also been contributing members of the ESA by offering their time to volunteer at ESA events in various capacities from helping to set-up, judging, announcing and more.

The ESA Marsh Scholarship Program began when it was instituted in 1981 by former ESA Executive Director Dr. Colin J. Couture to recognize and honor the accomplishments of the Marsh Family of North Carolina and young Mike Marsh in particular.

Led by his legendary East Coast family and surfing’s highly respected matriarch, Bette Marsh, Mike set a pioneering example for students everywhere by earning his law degree while simultaneously and successfully waging his own personal battle with cancer. The purpose of the program is to offer financial aid to deserving ESA student surfers wishing to continue their education beyond secondary school level. The grants are awarded to ESA members on the basis of academics and U.S. citizenship, rather than athletic ability.

“The ESA Board of Directors and Marsh Scholarship Trustees take great pride in presenting the 2025 awards,” said ESA’s Special Program Director Kit Henningsen. “These students have distinguished themselves with years of academic excellence, superb recommendations, and positive contributions to the ESA and surfing in general.”

Celia Tate Cook – ESA Georgia District – “I’m so thankful and honored to be a recipient of this scholarship. The ESA has been such a huge part of my life since I was a kid, so this truly means so much to me! I’ll be going to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and double majoring in finance and accounting. I want to eventually become a financial planner and help women with financial literacy!”

Beau Chan – ESA New York District – “I am so grateful to receive the Marsh Scholarship to help continue my studies at Wesleyan University. I intend to major in economics and to pursue a career in finance. I will also be a member of the Wesleyan Swim and Dive team. I want to give another big thanks to all the Marsh Scholarship Trustees for awarding me with this scholarship and to the ESA for fostering my love for surfing. Thank you so much!”

Mako Musilunas – ESA Northern South Carolina District – “I am honored to be the recipient of the 2025 ESA Marsh Scholarship. Thank you so much for believing in me and helping me to prepare for my future at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Fl. Your generosity will help me to focus on my studies and pursue a degree in Biomedical Sciences. I have been a member of the ESA for many years and I am very appreciative of your support.”

Ellie Walsh – ESA North Florida District – ““I am incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship! ESA has been such an amazing community to me for the past few years and I’m so grateful for the support with my surfing and education. I am going to the College of Charleston and I will be majoring in historical preservation and I am hoping to learn a lot and maintain a high GPA.”

“This year’s winners are among the best and most highly qualified we’ve ever seen,” said Henningsen. “Congratulations to all!”

For more information on the ESA’s Marsh Scholarship, visit www.surfesa.org/scholarship/