Max Boyko '28 Photographs PGA Championship at Aronimink

When the 2026 PGA Championship—one of golf's four major championships—was held just one mile from Episcopal's campus at Aronimink Golf Club, it prompted an unusual weeklong campus closure from May 11-17. While many EA families used this rare "second Spring Break" to travel, relax, or attend the tournament, aspiring sports photographer Max Boyko '28 saw something else: an opportunity.

"I reached out to someone at CBS, and got connected through an email chain with people who work for the PGA of America," Max explained. "Kyle Kelley was the person who gave me the chance to shoot the event and included me on the team. He is the founder of Meeker Media Services, the company the PGA contracts to handle media coverage for its biggest events."

What started with initiative and a cold outreach quickly turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Over the course of the championship, the EA sophomore earned a media credential and took nearly 8,000 photographs, many of which were featured across official PGA Championship media and social channels.

"I had images included in almost every carousel that the PGA Championship Instagram page posted, including images of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and other major champions," he said.

Despite the magnitude of the event, Max said the experience became less intimidating once he settled into the rhythm of working alongside seasoned professionals.

"Shooting on this big stage was easier than people may think, because they had low expectations for a 16-year-old photographer," he said. "The pressure wasn't huge, but learning how to handle myself inside the ropes, inches from the legends of the game, was the biggest growth I made that week."

Photography Teacher Ellen Erikson said Max's experience reflects the determination and initiative he brings to his work.

"Max has always been a bit unassuming in his drive for excellence," she said. "He is humble, quiet, and lets his consistently excellent work speak for itself. It was truly remarkable that Max had the courage and follow-through to reach out to the PGA and ask about photographing the event. Not only did he take the chance to ask, but he also put in the immense effort to do the work and network with professionals in the industry. The fact that his photos were then shared widely by the PGA itself made it even cooler."

For Max, the "incredible" week at Aronimink further confirmed that photography is something he wants to pursue professionally.

"I do plan to go into it as a career, and it's really a big driver in my college process," he said.