Swinging Back: How VCU Students Helped Navy Veteran Judy Lemley Return to the Golf Course
Every QL Plus project tells a powerful story of resilience, innovation, and the human connection between students and veterans. One such story belongs to Navy veteran Judith “Judy” Lemley, whose love for golf was interrupted by a traumatic injury—and rekindled by a group of senior engineering students from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Judy served in the Navy from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. After a traumatic amputation of her left index finger and severe damage to her middle finger, she found herself unable to grip a golf club properly. The pain and lack of control made it impossible for her to enjoy one of her favorite pastimes.
“I was challenged in getting a good grip with my left hand,” said Judy. “Hitting the ball caused severe vibrational pain, and my stub would get sore from trying so hard to grip instead of relaxing.”
That’s where VCU students Elna Manoj, Valentina Agreda, Rachel Scardina, and Kyia Hill came in. For their senior capstone, they partnered with QL Plus to design an adaptive golf glove and prosthetic solution tailored specifically for Judy’s needs.
A Multi-Component Solution
Judy testing the glove and prosthetic design with the VCU student team at Indoor Golf RVA
The team’s solution was as creative as it was functional. They designed:
A custom golf glove with extra padding and a finger opening for Judy’s amputation site
A 3D-printed prosthetic to cap the finger and reduce painful pressure
Anti-vibration golf grips to dampen shock from each swing
An approach that also addressed Judy’s hyperhidrosis, which made gripping difficult
To test their design, the students partnered with Indoor Golf RVA, a 24/7 golf facility in Richmond co-owned by Patrick Uhazie, whose wife is a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. Patrick generously donated the space for testing and takes pride in creating a highly accessible environment for golfers of all abilities. (Indoor Golf RVA also offers a 15% discount to all retired, active duty, and reserve military members and hosted Sportable’s first adaptive golf program.)
The team collected quantitative data using hand vibration sensors and qualitative feedback from Judy herself. The results were clear: the device reduced pain, improved grip, and most importantly, restored joy.
“It was a gift I did not expect,” said Judy. “The difference they made in my life will surprise even them.”
A Life-Changing Experience For All
For Judy, the project wasn’t just about golf. It was about reclaiming her independence and joy.
The final prototype allowed Judy to comfortably swing a club for the first time since her injury
“On days when I’m feeling out of sorts, I now have an option to get outside, be in nature, and do something I enjoy. I don’t have to be around a lot of people—I can just hit a bucket of balls and feel like myself again.”
She was equally inspired by the students who brought her project to life.
“They were professional, courteous, and focused on helping me. I always felt respected. Not all experiences in healthcare are positive, but this one restored some of my faith in working with people for my health.”
Her message to other veterans and first responders is clear: Apply. Don’t hesitate.
“Regaining the hobby of being able to go to the driving range and get lost in the rhythm of hitting the balls is a gift I did not expect,”said Judy. “I would encourage anyone who even thinks that they could benefit from this program to apply.”
And her message to students is equally passionate: “The difference you will make in the participant’s life will probably surprise you on levels you won’t even understand for years.”
For Andrew, this experience has shaped how he thinks about engineering, teamwork, and service. “I hope to achieve the gratitude and fulfillment from delivering a product to a veteran and giving back to him for what he sacrificed for us,” he said. “It will show future employers that I was able to work with a team for an extended period of time to meet the needs of a client and deliver a product.”
Andrew plans to attend law school after graduation—but he’ll carry the lessons of this project with him wherever he goes.
At QL Plus, we’re proud to support student engineers like Andrew who are building real-world solutions that improve lives.
