Blog Archives - Page 2 of 11 - First Tee

Elle, Julian Gianelli to compete in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship

This September two participants from First Tee – San Joaquin will make their way to Pebble Beach, California, to play in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship, and they happen to be siblings.

Julian and Elle Gianelli have been First Tee participants for six years. After being introduced to golf 11 years ago by their grandpa, they both found a love for the sport: getting to learn from him, spend quality time together and even show off a little bit.

Julian is a junior in high school and is involved with Model UN, Key Club, Campus Ministry, Link Crew, the California Scholarship Federation, the varsity golf team and completed over 200 hours of community service in 2023. He’s also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, with the curriculum of First Tee reminding him of the curriculum taught in Taekwondo.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey with First Tee has been the opportunity to give back to the community by coaching and mentoring younger participants,” he said. “Serving as a positive role model for these children has been an honor, allowing me to share the values and lessons instilled in me by First Tee and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

Another way Julian gives back to his community is through his passion project “Crop Kindness Connect,” where he collects excess fruits and vegetables from local growers and provides them to those in need and local lower income schools of Stockton.

His older sister, Elle, is a senior in high school and is involved in the chess club, Kids Connect Global and has earned the President’s Service Award with over 250 hours of community service in 2023. She is also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in taekwondo and has been involved in several First Tee national opportunities, including the First Tee Innovators Forum, where teens develop a community service project to implement in their hometown.

Elle created a nonprofit called Socks4Seniors, which has provided over 6,500 pairs of silly socks and notes to over 100 nursing/assisted living facilities nationwide.

“I’ve been able to envision the impossible and am proud of what I have established and achieved through my nonprofit,” she said.

Julian and Elle are just two examples of the impressive 80 participants selected to play in the PURE Insurance Championship from September 17 – 22 This opportunity pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions’ player and amateurs from the business world.

Good luck to all 80 participants as they continue their preparations for Pebble Beach!

The Power of Connection: Building the Coach-Participant Relationship

By Kristin Westberg, Senior Director of Curriculum and Education

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

At First Tee, coaching involves far more than just teaching golf skills and life skills in a class; it’s about cultivating relationships that foster growth, build confidence and demonstrate resilience. But how can coaches create a foundation of trust that cultivates legitimate relationships with participants? Empowering Youth, one of the First Tee Coach Building Blocks, focuses on this aspect of development and is one key to building relationships that create impact.

Trust is the foundation

Eighty-three percent of parents wish their child had more access to trustworthy coaches. Trust forms the bedrock of any enduring coach-athlete relationship. It’s the glue that holds everything together, facilitates effective communication, skill development and overall progress. All First Tee coaches are background checked and formally trained to connect with participants, whether they’re passionate golfers or just trying something new. They prioritize building trust early on to establish a strong foundation that can lead to a lasting connection.

Positive role modeling

Ninety-two percent of parents say they hope their child has a coach who they would consider a role model. First Tee coaches serve as mentors and role models for participants. They lead by example and demonstrate the values they expect from participants. Kids are far more likely to do what you do, rather than what you say, and coaches recognize this as an opportunity to positively model both golf skills and life skills that can be applied on and off the course. Coaches are committed to Building Game Changers, work hard to embody the Key Commitments, set a positive example of pursuing goals, grow through challenge, collaborate with others, build positive self-identity and use good judgment. These behaviors help to build trust and foster connections with participants of all ages.

Continuous improvement

Fifty-three percent of parents say having a trustworthy sports coach or mentor would increase their likelihood to commit long-term to the activity. First Tee coaches understand that building meaningful connections with participants is an ongoing process, and the First Tee curriculum exists to support them through that. First Tee offers a variety of eLearning courses and supplemental resources, as well as HQ led trainings to deepen their knowledge and develop new skills, such as understanding the stages of youth development or tips and tricks for tackling skill disparities. These practices improve the learning environment in a class and create opportunities to develop relationships and strengthen connections with participants.

Ninety percent of parents believe that coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development. A coach’s influence extends beyond the course and long after the round ends. Genuine connection matters when building the coach-participant relationship and even more when building game changers. At First Tee, we recognize that when participants know you care, they’ll care what you know and that’s when true learning and growth happens.

The statistics used throughout this story are from a new study between First Tee and Harris Poll. Visit the Character Gap research to learn more.

Q&A with a Coach

Sterling Simmons III is a First Tee alumnus and the player development instructor at First Tee – Greater Richmond. In that role, Sterling leads First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Player Development Academy, First Tee matches and oversees the organizations PGA Jr. League teams.

How did you get involved with First Tee?

My father took me to the First Tee Greater Richmond driving range when I was younger, and I met my first golf coach Craig Wood. I’ve stayed involved ever since.

Why do you continue to coach?

I enjoy being able to be a part of the development process for our participants, both on and off the golf course.

What have you learned from coaching at First Tee?

First Tee has taught me that each participant is unique in their own way and as a coach, you have to be able to adapt how you teach to match the participant.

What do you think new First Tee students should know?

The course of life and the golf course are very similar. You will be presented with obstacles and challenges along the way, but the ability to navigate and overcome adversity will help you in the future on both of these “courses.”

What do you think new/inquiring coaches should know?

You don’t have to be a great golfer to make an impact on a participant’s life.

New Study from The Harris Poll and First Tee: Coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development

Parents rely on sports – and trained coaches – to help their children build character and learn life skills, including working with others.

CHICAGO, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – While 93% of parents agree that kids can learn important life skills from playing sports, four out of five parents also believe there is a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.

That is from a new survey by global consulting and market research firm, The Harris Poll, and youth development organization, First Tee. The U.S.-based survey was conducted online in April 2024 with feedback from 2,049 adults.

The survey captured data on youth involvement in extracurricular activities and sports. The data was also analyzed by gender, age, race, education, and income, among other characteristics.

“Since our mission is centered on positive youth development, we think it is important to seek parents’ perspectives as the world around them continues to change and their kids face new challenges,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “It helps us better understand and serve youth, and in the case of this study, it reinforces the importance of our investment in training our coaches.”

First Tee’s network of 150 chapters engages more than 5,000 active, trained coaches who deliver a curriculum designed with input from youth development experts using golf as the platform. The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered. As part of First Tee’s onboarding, each coach is background-checked and completes training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The key findings from the survey include:

89% of parents feel character is a lost value that should be more emphasized in today’s society – an increase of +4 percentage points from the 2023 survey. Today’s kids and teens are facing new challenges, and strength of character is essential for overcoming obstacles. Parents understand that need, as nine out of 10 parents seek opportunities for their kids to build character.

Parents believe sports can help close the character gap. Parents put their kids in extracurricular activities – with sports being most popular – for socialization and to build confidence. According to 93% of parents, children learn important life skills from playing sports.

Parents believe coaches are essential to youth development. Parents turn to coaches to help teach their kids character, self-confidence, determination and leadership. 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire children to excel both on and off the field.

Safety is critically important to parents. They prefer coaches who have been background checked, with 94% of parents citing it as a priority in today’s world and 83% wishing their child had more access to well-trained coaches.

“While every generation confronts their own unique challenges, kids are facing new barriers to character development,” said Harris Poll CEO Will Johnson. “Our research findings make it clear: Parents, when registering your kids for the upcoming school year, don’t forget the critical development that comes outside the classroom.”

This is the second annual research collaboration between The Harris Poll and First Tee.

Download the full 2024 Report.

For the results of the 2023 parent survey, click here.

***

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)  
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.  

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

###       
MEDIA CONTACTS:    
Annika Mayers, First Tee    
[email protected]
904-273-3513

Help your child stay calm with the 4 Rs

There was a viral moment at the 2024 U.S. Open, when in a news conference, First Tee – Sandhills participant Tytus Solt asked World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler about staying calm after a recent triple bogie.

“I think that’s something you just learn playing more and more golf, that bad breaks are going to come, but it’s more about your response to those things,” Scheffler answered.

Everyone has highs and lows on the golf course, but the most successful players have strategies to control their emotions. And the important thing is, those strategies can be useful in tough moments off the course too.

At First Tee, we teach the 4 Rs.

Relax: “This can look a few different ways,” explained AnnaLeis Caldwell, from the Programs team at First Tee. “You might hum a song while walking to your next shot. You might close your eyes for a moment or visualize your next shot.” The former collegiate golfer said she uses breathing patterns to calm down while walking to her ball. “Every player may find something a little different works best for them,” she said.

Replay: This technique is not just useful when you hit a poor shot, Caldwell explained. It is most effective when you use the 4 Rs to keep your emotions level, so you do not get too excited or upset. Replaying a good shot can help boost your confidence. Meanwhile, Bobby Jones famously said, “I never learned anything from a match I won.” Replaying a poor shot and considering what went wrong can be enlightening too.

Ready: This is when you choose your target and club before completing your pre-shot routine, Caldwell said. Consistency and rhythm are important in golf, which explains why research shows that having a pre-shot routine can help you play better.

Re-do: In this step, you put everything together, hit your next shot and start the process over again. “This is your opportunity to start fresh,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell still uses the 4 Rs when she is playing golf but acknowledged there can be off-the-course applications too. “It could be helpful for kids during testing, maybe after receiving a poor grade or even while playing other sports,” Caldwell said.

Find a First Tee location near you.

40 First Tee Teens invited to First Tee Leadership Summit in Partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore

Actors Michael Peña and Kathryn Newton will headline the two weeklong retreats focused on sharpening leadership skills.

WEST CREEK RANCH, Mont. (August 5, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore are set to host 40 teens from across the country at West Creek Ranch, an intimate setting in Montana for leadership development, community building and connection. Owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee board member Arthur M. Blank, the picturesque ranch is the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these teens to explore leadership development, community building and problem solving. Students spend much of the time in outdoor interactions including whitewater rafting, horseback riding and archery, based on the belief that connections made in nature provide benefits that cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Each week will tee off with keynote speakers who will discuss their individual leadership, share life experiences and examine how they have grown through opportunities and challenges. The first week will feature actor Michael Peña, while actor and First Tee alumnus Kathryn Newton will be the featured speaker during the second week.

The First Tee Leadership Summit is designed to help teens grow their leadership skills through hands-on activities that require teamwork and personal strength. Daily leadership themes include pursuing goals, growing through challenges and building positive self-identity.

This is the fourth consecutive year that nonprofit youth development organization First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore will hold this event at West Creek Ranch. This year’s group comes from 25 cities across the country, with 20 teens attending each week. West Creek Ranch is a 6,600-acre working ranch in Emigrant, Montana, that is bordered by the Yellowstone River and Gallatin National Forest.

“We are excited to host these 40 impressive teens for an unforgettable week of personal growth and relationship building,” said Dick Sullivan, Executive Chairman & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “So many lessons from golf can be applied to life, and we truly believe in the positive impact sports can have on kids and teens, which is why we’re proud to support this event and partner with First Tee chapters across the country.”

“Thank you to Arthur Blank and PGA TOUR Superstore for their continued generosity in supporting this event,” added Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The lessons these young leaders will take away from Montana will shape their futures in remarkable ways.”

At the conclusion of the Summit, four students will be selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program and will receive financial support as well as access to mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout college.

To be eligible for the Summit, teens completed a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country, before completing applications that outlined their leadership experience and goals. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and Arthur Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through donations and by supporting participant events, including the Leadership Summit and the Leadership Academy, which is held in Atlanta.

The Leadership Summit is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee to expose teens to new challenges and inspire them as they prepare to embark on life after high school.

See the full field of participants.

Alumna Srishti Dhurandhar reflects on how Leadership Summit has impacted her journey

First Tee – Metropolitan New York alumna and 2022 First Tee Scholar, Srishti Dhurandhar, has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. She made the most out of her experience by completing the First Tee Leadership Series, attending Leadership Summit and going on to work at her local PGA TOUR Superstore.

During her junior year of high school, Srishti completed five Leadership Series sessions, where she learned about personal values, leadership skills and exploring career fields. “The series planted little seeds of these ideas and then Montana really grew those ideas,” she said.

Following the Series, she was accepted to Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Montana. Participants at the annual event are encouraged to try new things like horseback riding and whitewater rafting. They learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, how to work as part of a team and how to build authentic relationships.

“Summit was a life changing week for me. I came back feeling like a whole new person,” she said. Srishti spent the week reflecting on and learning about herself.

The week allowed her to get comfortable being uncomfortable, with Srishti saying that she did things that she would normally never do thanks to the event’s focus on positive risk taking,. “The environment was so safe and supportive that I felt comfortable enough to do that,” she said.

Session 1 of the 2024 Leadership Summit will be from August 5 – 9 and session 2 will be from August 12 – 16 at West Creek Ranch in Montana.

Leadership Summit provided Srishti with the opportunity to talk to PGA TOUR Superstore executives and eventually go on to work as a club fitter at the store in East Hanover, New Jersey. There she learned a lot about customer service, clubs, shafts and how to use statistics to get people the clubs that fit them best.

Now as an alumna, Srishti jumped at the chance to go back to Montana as a chaperone.

“It was a full circle moment for me, standing in the same place that those participants were in and feeling the same emotions that they were going through,” she said. “Now becoming a mentor to those participants was emotional for me also.”

Not only did chaperoning provide Srishti with a valuable experience as a mentor but it opened doors for networking opportunities that made her aware of the First Tee headquarters internship that she is completing now.

“Working here has shown me how it starts at the root. You can tell that people are here because they want to be here, and they want to help the participants,” she said.

Both the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit culminate with final presentations in which Srishti talked about her desire to work in the golf industry and combine her passion of technology and data with her passion for sports.

“Going from the speeches I gave at the end of Series and Summit, to now living out those aspirations in this internship has been so rewarding and I absolutely love what I am doing,” she said.

Srishti will complete her internship in August and begin her junior year at New York University, majoring in business and technology management and member of the collegiate golf team.

Mackenzie Mack talks about the lasting impact of First Tee

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without First Tee.”

For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.

With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.

The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.

First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.

“Had I not had such a good program director and such a good program, I would not have felt inclined to pass it forward,” she said. “All of that came from my experience and time with First Tee.”

Through her current role as the director of DE&I and engagement at Topgolf Callaway Brands, Mackenzie follows her passions by working with employees – an aspect of her job that comes naturally after years coaching with First Tee, she said – as well as the larger golf community.

Topgolf Callaway Brand has become a major supporter of First Tee, and when talking about the relationship between her employer and First Tee she said, “I am happy and lucky to be at a company that is just as passionate about the program as I am.”

Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.

Inclusivity is baked into First Tee’s DNA, and First Tee and Topgolf Callaway Brands are partnering on the Game Changers Academy this July. The weeklong event brings together 72 First Tee teens from across the country to facilitate important conversations around issues of identity, diversity and equity. Mackenzie sat on the opening night panel with NFL legends John Randle and Eric Enron, Dr. Shelby Johnson of Mayo Clinic and Ebony Taylor or AWS.

“The world is changing,” said Mackenzie. “We are a leader in changing with it, especially in the golf industry, and as the global leader in modern golf we strive to make golf more welcoming and providing options so that everyone can enjoy the game in the way they choose to enjoy it.”

She included that there is much more to golf than the competition. This sport gives individuals valuable networking opportunities, physical and health benefits, and can help you navigate career paths in the future.

Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.

Mackenzie Mack talks about the lasting impact of First Tee

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without First Tee.”

For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.

With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.

The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.

First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.

Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.

Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.

Yang and Mierl claim 2024 First Tee National Championship

Clemson, South Carolina (June 27, 2024) – Norah Yang of Los Altos, California, and Trent Mierl of Austin, Texas, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the 4^th annual First Tee National Championship at the Walker Course at Clemson University. The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.

Yang finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side. She is a rising high school senior with a 4.0 GPA. She’s been a volunteer coach at First Tee – Silicon Valley for three years and finished 3^rd at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with professional players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach.

“It has been amazing playing at Clemson this week,” Yang said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee and all the skills they have taught me.”

Mierl, who will play golf at the University of Missouri next year, shot a blistering 65 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. He’s been a member of First Tee for nine years and is a volunteer coach at his chapter. He’s the only player to compete in all four First Tee National Championships, with the inaugural event taking place in 2021, and said it was special to win in his final attempt.

“I came up one shot short of the playoffs in the first National Championship,” he said. “I’ve met great people here and made so many great memories. This is my favorite junior golf event, and it feels like I came full circle in my final chance to win at the same golf course where I fell just short.”

Both winners were awarded with the Tattersall Cup in honor of event chairman Fred Tattersall.

Two players were also awarded exemptions to the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship. As First Tee juniors can only play in the PURE Insurance Championship once, this year’s exemptions went to Gianna Singh from First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Spencer Ives from First Tee – Naples/Collier. The tournament will be broadcast on Golf Channel, Sept. 20-22.

Based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, two players will also earn spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport. The PGA TOUR will announce the full roster for its Pathways program, including the two players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.

“Congratulations to all of our participants in the field and especially to Trent and Norah for an outstanding performance in becoming the 2024 First Tee National Champions,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This event plays an important role in helping these young people prepare for the next level. We are extremely proud of this event and of the teens who work hard on their game all year preparing. Thank you to Clemson University for hosting for the second time, we look forward to coming back again.”

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college golf courses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country. Next year’s event will take place at Notre Dame University.
 
The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.
 
The National Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

First Tee returns to Clemson for 4th annual National Championship

For the first time, this year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamekast with live scoring available on Golf Genius.

Clemson, South Carolina – (June 21, 2024) – The Walker Course at Clemson University will host the First Tee National Championship next week, June 25-27, 2024, bringing together 48 of the organization’s top golfers for a 54-hole event designed to showcase how the program has helped them build the skills, positive attitude and perseverance needed to play collegiate golf.

The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. Fourteen players in the field have already committed to college golf teams. First Tee held its inaugural National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and all six of the past winners are members of college golf teams. That includes 2023 winner Megan Meng of First Tee – Greater Trenton, who’s in the Top 10 in the AJGA Rankings and will begin her collegiate career at Northwestern this fall.

In advance of this year’s competition, the event will feature a keynote address by First Tee – Greater Richmond alumnus Gavin Parker, PGA, who shares his love for the sport on his popular social media channels. Participants will also attend a careers in golf panel to learn more about working in the industry.

“First Tee continues to play an important role in the development of teens, both on and off the course,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Our National Championship is an opportunity for participants who want to take their game to the next level to showcase their skills. The week provides them with competition and an enriching opportunity to get them ready for playing in college and beyond.”

For the first time, viewers can stream the First Tee National Championship on Gamekast. Scoring will also be available on Golf Genius.

In addition to crowning a male and female tournament winner, one boy and one girl from the field will be awarded spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, a player development program that aims to achieve greater diversity in golf through an increased focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups.

First Tee – Greater Austin’s Danica Lundgren earned a spot in the Pathways program at last year’s National Championship, held at Stanford University. She’s back in the tournament field this year before joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s golf team this fall.

Two exemptions to this year’s PURE Insurance Championship will also be up for grabs. The PGA TOUR Champions event pairs pro and junior players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach each September.

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college campuses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. Next year’s event will take place at the University of Notre Dame.

The Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information on the tournament and First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org. 

View the full list of selected participants here.

First Tee Leadership Academy returns to Atlanta, headlined by basketball legend Maya Moore

Teens from across the U.S. will learn about leadership from executives within the Arthur M. Blank family of businesses.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. and ATLANTA, GA. (June 17, 2024) – The First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore returns from June 17-22. The weeklong Atlanta event will bring together 48 teens from across the country who will learn about operating successful teams from executives within the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

The event is headlined by basketball legend Maya Moore, a 4-time WNBA, 2-time NCAA and 2-time Olympic champion, who off the court, has been a dedicated advocate of criminal justice reform. Participants will also hear from leaders like Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey, Atlanta Falcons President Greg Beadles, PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman and CEO Dick Sullivan and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Chief of Staff Kelley Gulley.

It will feature workshops on communication, developing a winning culture and more. Attendees will get a taste of the college experience, with the Georgia Institute of Technology serving as its hub. The group will also visit sites across Atlanta, including the PGA TOUR Superstore Support Center, the Coda building, Atlanta United’s training facility, the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

“Our participants learn valuable skills at the First Tee Leadership Academy and have made friendships they will carry with them well beyond their time in Atlanta,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are grateful to PGA TOUR Superstore for supporting these truly life-changing events.”

PGA TOUR Superstore has been a partner of First Tee for more than a decade, providing financial support and in-kind donations. It provides chapter grants to promote teen retention and supports national events like the Leadership Academy, Leadership Summit and Leadership Series.

The First Tee Leadership Academy is one of ten national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to inspire and empower teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. 

To be eligible to apply for the Academy, teens were required to participate in a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstores across the country this past spring. 

24 exceptional First Tee alumni selected for First Tee College Scholarship Program

Members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program receive financial support, mentorship and professional development opportunities.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (June 4, 2024) – First Tee is thrilled to welcome 24 new members to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Entering its fifth year, the program recently celebrated its first graduating class, and now boasts 94 current or former members. Like those who have come before them, each of the new First Tee Scholars has shown dedication to school, extracurriculars, volunteerism and especially First Tee, averaging 9.5 years of involvement with the youth development organization.

The 14 young women and 10 young men who comprise the 2024 Scholar class were selected from a pool of 150 applicants. They boast an average GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1350. Ten members of the new class are participants in the Ace Program, First Tee’s capstone experience. Four plan to play collegiate golf, including First Tee – West Virginia’s Argyle Downes, who will play Division I golf at Rutgers.

Members of the First Tee College Scholarship program not only receive financial support, but they are also matched with an adult mentor and provided annual professional development opportunities.

“Spring is an exciting time of the year when we welcome a new group of First Tee Scholars,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “The scholarship program has grown significantly since it launched in 2020 thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. We look forward to supporting our Scholars on their path to success.”

Ten First Tee Scholars graduated from college this spring. Several plan to attend graduate or medical school, while others are starting careers with companies like AWS, BNP Paribas Bank, PwC, Proctor & Gamble and the NFL.

Participants across First Tee’s network submitted applications to be a part of the latest Scholar class. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee

for one-on-one interviews. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, community service and other criteria.

Congratulations to the 2024 First Tee Scholars:

Name	Chapter	University
Mahek Acharya	Greater Chicago	Indiana University
Maia Alinskas	Delaware	University of Delaware
Aditi Balakrishna	Tri-Valley	University of Illinois
Sarah Brannigan	Metropolitan New York	Georgetown University
Nicholas Crawford*	Roanoke Valley	Emory and Henry College
Erika Dierke	Minnesota	University of Mississippi
Argyle Downes*	West Virginia	Rutgers University
Tyler Joplin	Greater Dallas	Boston College
William Liu	Greater Seattle	Stanford University
Emmy Martinez	Greater Dallas	Bentley University
Henry Mentzel	Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky	University of Kentucky
Gabriella Mercado	Orange County	University of San Diego
Faith Ndichu	Raritan Valley	Lehigh University
Joseph Neddo	North Florida	University of Central Florida
David Nguyen	Central Iowa	Grinnel College
Kylie Nguyen*	Greater Seattle	Chapman University
Selam Olson	Connecticut	Trinity College (CT)
Shae Patel	Metropolitan Oklahoma City	University of Oklahoma
Jaylyn Remolona	San Francisco	Seattle University
Isabella Rubio	Florida Gold Coast	University of Florida
Kailey Shapiro	Northern Nevada	Tulane University
Leah Torres*	Greater Houston	University of St. Thomas, Houston
Dimitri Vasilacopulos	Utah	Southern Utah University
Nathan Vertes	Florida Gold Coast	University of Florida

*Denotes collegiate golfer