NORMAN, Okla. - Matt Buckley of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) golf team has been named one of five finalists for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, an annual honor given to an outstanding Division I, II, III, or NAIA scholar-athlete of the year. The award, which is presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), is bestowed upon a graduating senior, in recognition for their achievement in the classroom, and in their community. The GCAA, in cooperation with the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, will be announce the winner of the 2025 Byron Nelson Award on April 29 at the THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Dinner at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Buckley has five top-20 finishes in seven tournaments so far this season for the Engineers, including runner-ups at The Gauntlet and the Glen Oaks Invitational. The Elmhurst, Illinois native, with a current 73.92 scoring average through 12 rounds as a graduate senior, is team co-captain for the second straight year and finished the fall owning or sharing 24 program scoring or academic records. Buckley received 2024 PING Honorable Mention All-American honors after carding three top-five and four top-10 finishes. He has been named PING All-Region and All-Liberty League (three times First Team) each of the last four years. Buckley participated in the program's first two team trips to the NCAA Division III Championship (2021 and 2023) while securing 2021 Liberty League Rookie of the Year and 2021 GCAA All-Freshman Team accolades.
 
After graduating magna cum laude (3.78 GPA) with a B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering last May, Buckley will graduate next month with a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (concentration in thermal hydraulics) and a 3.76 GPA. He is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic and GCAA All-America Scholar as well as a two-time CSC All-District member. As a RPI Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory Research Assistant, Buckley presented the Lab's research, Numerical Analysis of Thermal Shielding for Lunar Habitat Design, at the NASA-sponsored Thermal Fluids & Analysis Workshop in August 2024. He partnered in the design and mass production (300 pieces) of a model dump truck for the Lab, and for his Capstone Project, he partnered in the design of a model electric drone with 12-hour capability.

In his free time, Buckley has been active amongst his peers and in his community. He has served on the Junior Board of the Freedom Golf Association (now U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance), fundraising through various golf events to support adaptive golf programs and individuals with disabilities. Taking part in the AJGA's Birdies for Charity program, Buckley raised over $5,000, with half going to the Freedom Golf Association and half to the AJGA's scholarship fund. He received a Sportsmanship Award from the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA) for his efforts.

Buckley served as Philanthropy Chair for the Pi Chapter of Zeta Psi the last two school years, coordinating schedules for his fraternity brothers to serve meals to the homeless at least twice a week through Joseph's House of Troy. He also initiated and led a campaign for St. Baldrick's Foundation, pledging to shave his head for the cause once the fundraising goal was met. Academically, Buckley has been a dedicated tutor for RPI's Advising and Learning Assistance Center (ALAC), holding multiple-hour sessions twice a week. He has also tutored his men's golf teammates and the women's hockey team with engineering and math. As a team captain, Buckley has organized his team's volunteering as parking lot attendants for men's hockey games to raise money for the golf program.