The First Tee Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit, expanded from The Outstanding Participant Award supported by Founding Corporate Partner Shell Oil, recognizes exemplary achievement by a young person currently involved in The First Tee program in the areas of academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation. The Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit is an interactive and educational event in which teen participants will have the opportunity to develop and hone skills to become leaders at their chapters, schools and communities. The OPLS was held in Orlando as part of and during the November 2017 Network Meeting of The First Tee.
Varsha was one of just eight finalists from the over 150 chapters who attended the Outstanding Participant Leadership Conference. Each of the finalists spoke about one of The First Tee Nine Core Values to the conference’s 1300 guests who attended the gala dinner. Varsha (wearing red below) spoke on Perseverance immediately following inspirational opening reflections on Responsibility by The First Tee’s Honorary Chair, Former President George W. Bush.