(FTSV at 2025 Innovators Forum Published 12/3/25) This past October, two First Tee – Silicon Valley participants flew to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to participate in the annual Innovators Forum. The Innovators Forum is part of First Tee’s national opportunities schedule where students from around the country apply to participate in leadership and development events to further their education and experience gained through First Tee. The Innovators Forum equips and empowers teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities based on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability. Selected participants had the chance to learn from industry leaders through interactive workshops and group sessions with their peers.
This year, First Tee – Silicon Valley was proud to be represented by Nicolas Hernandez-Lopez and Sahara Huchim Velazquez.
Both participants have been in our program for more than 5 years and are also junior volunteer coaches. They had an awesome time and relished the chance to meet and get to know fellow First Tee golfers from around the country and learn valuable lessons in time management, networking, and project coordination.
Besides the excellent learning and collaboration opportunities, participants had fun too.
“My highlight was taking a ride on the water taxi to attend a charity golf tournament and seeing a dolphin in the water!”, said Sahara. “While we were on the water taxi we learned that the service started as a non-profit supporting river keepers on the St. John’s River and spreading awareness about their cause.”
Even during their down time, participants were still provided opportunities to see how a service project can be implemented in creative ways.
Nico and Sahara both have excellent ideas of how they can start a project to make a difference in their communities. Nico wants to start a community resource fair in East Palo Alto and has been working with the city’s Vice Mayor to make it happen. “I want this to be bigger than me so hopefully I can pass it off when I leave for college and keep it going forever.” Sahara wants to help bring more Latina’s into FTSV by hosting open house community events and leveraging the power of our Junior Council to create events and fundraising ideas to help spread awareness about our program.
“One thing I learned [from Innovators Forum] was that while FTSV may cover much of the cost of entry to our golf programs for those in need, that doesn’t help solve other problems such as transportation. Families may not choose to participant in golf simply because they can’t get to the golf course at the right time.”
Sahara plans to help address possible solutions to these kinds of logistical issues.
We’re so proud of everything these participants have accomplished, and staff here at FTSV only have this advice to give: keep going!
Nico and Sahara both deserved these opportunities, and we’ll look on with excitement and anticipation to see how their service projects come to fruition.
The 2026 First Tee National Opportunities schedule will be released soon – if your teen is interested in applying, stay tuned! Click here for more information on the National Opportunity process.
(FTSV at John Deere Drive Your Future Academy Published 12/3/25) In early November, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 36 girls from First Tee chapters from across the country were welcomed to the annual 2025 Drive Your Future Academy, a five-day leadership program specifically for girls, designed to help develop critical skills that will serve students in college and beyond. Kathryn Newton – actress, First Tee – Miami alum, and First Tee Ambassador – headlined the list of mentors on hand to lead a variety of workshops centered around topics such as: advocating for yourself and others, overcoming adversity, cultivating meaningful relationships, roadmap to successful mentorship, and embracing self-awareness.
This year, First Tee – Silicon Valley was honored to be represented by two of our participants and junior volunteers, Alexis Chu and Jennifer Barrientos.
Both participants are long time participants in our program, junior volunteers, and members of our Junior Council. At the event they had a great time learning from their peers and mentors and came away with a ton of valuable life skills they will surely use in their futures.
For Jennifer, it was also a new life experience, being the first time she’s left her home state.
“I really enjoyed the experience overall – everything was brand new for me; it was even my first time on a plane!” she reflected. “The biggest highlight for me was the lesson on mentorship – we can always offer support to people by offering our skills and diversifying the people you surround yourself with. Our coach laid out a timeline of her mentors and taught us that each mentor will lead you to your next.”
The event reinforces First Tee’s commitment to empowering girls through its programs, which are offered through 150 chapters across the country. Most First Tee Chapters, including us here at FTSV, provide dedicated programming for girls, intentionally inviting and engaging them in a variety of opportunities. At our chapter, that is Girls Golf, a quarterly event geared specifically (but not exclusively) to girls, designed with input from our Junior Council and put on with help from junior volunteers like Jennifer and Alexis. When asked to sum up the importance of creating safe spaces for girls in golf and how that was created at Drive Your Future, Jennifer replied,
“Being a group of all girls, we had similar challenges. I’ve had struggles being the only women and Latina in certain spaces, but at Drive Your Future, we were reminded that girls can advocate for themselves and accomplish anything we want. Hearing stories from women that have grown so much through their lives and careers was inspiring.”
Events like these are so valuable for participants to build on the lessons they’re already working on in their First Tee classes back home.
Congratulations to Jennifer and Alexis for being selected for this amazing opportunity. Well deserved!
The 2026 First Tee National Opportunities schedule will be released soon – if your teen is interested in applying, stay tuned! Click here for more information on the National Opportunity process.
(Change the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Li An Panfil – Published 10/23/25) Li An was a standout participant with First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2013. She is now a freshman at UCLA where she is studying healthcare.
In her time with FTSV she participated in every class offered, including our four Ace seminar classes (Career, Education, Give Back, and Golf). Li An also volunteered regularly, giving almost 300 hours as a FTSV volunteer coach in Gilroy. She also coached and organized Girls Golf events and lead several subcommittees in our FTSV Junior Council. Throughout Li An’s many FTSV engagements, she always went above and beyond and distinguished herself as a respected leader.
Li An’s high character, community contributions, and FTSV engagement helped her selections for the following National Opportunity Achievements:
We Asked Li An about How First Tee – Silicon Valley Impacted Her
“First Tee – Silicon Valley played a big role in developing my perseverance and helped me become a stronger communicator and learn skills that are transferable everywhere in life. It’s a big community feeling, spreading knowledge and helping us to improve and be our best selves.”
Li An applied the life and work skills that she learned and coached in FTSV. As a result, she succeeded academically, built a network of support, lifted others up around her, and achieved scholarships that helped her attend UCLA.
A National Leader with Local Heart.
Among the 140 First Tee chapters nationwide, First Tee – Silicon Valley is at the top or near the top in the following categories:
85% participant diversity
48% participants from low-income households
55% retention rate including a 75% teen retention rate
1:4 mentor-to-kid ratio
These numbers reflect our commitment to making sure every child has access to caring mentors and meaningful opportunities.
Be Part of the Change.
As we look to 2026, we need your help to build on this momentum. A monthly pledge is the most powerful way you can support our kids. Your commitment provides the stability and resources necessary to help thousands of youth grow into resilient, confident, and compassionate leaders.
Help Us Grow Our Impact and the Number of Kids We Serve!
Our youth development programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. We care for kids with safe spaces, quality coaches, character curriculum, and a culture of respect.
Course Program — ensure high quality classes that are affordable and accessible to all (full cost for one participant to take an 8-week class = $500 – or pledge $40 per month)
School Program — equip teachers to deliver our curriculum in their setting (cost of equipment, training, and curriculum per school = $2,000 – or pledge $165 per month)
Opportunities — provide our kids with special experiences outside of our classes (cost of quarterly tournaments or scholarship = $5,000 – or pledge $415 per month)
Make your monthly pledge today—and help us Change the Game for MORE Kids tomorrow.
(Fall 2025 National Opportunity Update – Published 10/03/25) For First Tee – Silicon Valley, the Fall has many unique and impactful opportunities for high school participants who go above and beyond. Between the Innovators Forum, the Drive Your Future Academy and the PURE Insurance Championship, hardworking FTSV participants will represent their chapter on the national stage. If you are interested in learning more about the National Opportunities available, please visit our website or email Coach Phoenix – [email protected].
Each year, a group of exceptional First Tee teens gather at the First Tee Innovators Forum, where they develop a meaningful service project to bring home to their community. Projects focus on education, health, human rights or environmental sustainability. By bringing together passionate participants from across the chapter network, the Innovators Forum provides a distinctive enrichment experience, engaging teens who share a similar desire for learning and generating changes in their communities.
This year, two outstanding FTSV participants will be attending this event. Sahara Huchim Velazquez and Nicolas Hernandez Lopez have been in the program for years and both volunteer as junior coaches. Have a great time Sahara and Nicolas!
For more than 20 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has provided First Tee participants with the unique opportunity to showcase the skills and values they’ve gained through the program. Held at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the tournament pairs 80 standout teens from First Tee Chapters nationwide with PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business community. The annual event was broadcast internationally on Golf Channel.
This year, FTSV participants Alexis Chu, Brian Yu and Walton Li attended this event and were phenomenal representatives of our chapter. Everyone played very well, including a 6th place finish for Alexis and 3rd place finish for Brian. More importantly, all players conducted themselves with respect and kindness, building lasting relationships while playing golf in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Fantastic work!
The First Tee Drive Your Future Academy presented by John Deere is a female empowerment event recognizing young women who are motivated to influence positive impact at their chapters, schools and communities. The five-day academy experience focuses on the importance of building a strong network and how to approach mentorship opportunities, navigating post-graduation and career planning, and appreciating the value/impact of volunteerism.
Jennifer Barrientos and Alexis Chu were selected to attend the upcoming 2025 Drive Your Future Academy. Jennifer has been a participant for over 7 years, is a dedicated junior coach, and is a key member of the FTSV junior council. Alexis is also a dedicated participant, demonstrating her strong life skills on and off the course, including just recently at the PURE Insurance Championship. Enjoy the week!
(FTSV Participant Tristan Hipolito Awarded ACE Certification Status! – Published 10/03/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share that Tristan Hipolito was recently awarded the distinguished honor of being Ace-Certified!
Ace is the highest level of certification at First Tee and less than 1% of First Tee participants from across the country achieve Ace certification. Tristan will receive local and national recognition from First Tee for completing his Ace classes and the post-class documents. More importantly, his work in our Ace classes helped him apply the First Tee Life Skills to college and career exploration, and to his give-back volunteer opportunities. The Ace classes also assisted in developing transferable skills that will aid him in his professional development.
Tristan is beginning his first year at UC Riverside where he is pursuing an Engineering degree. Tristan’s First Tee story began over 10 years ago with First Tee – East Bay. When that chapter unfortunately closed in 2017, he and his family made the long drive to join our chapter in San Jose. Ever since, he has been one of the most active and respected participants at FTSV taking at least 2 classes every season for all 4 seasons throughout his middle and high school years, and was a volunteer coach every season for the last 4 years. Additionally, he was appointed to Committee Chair by his peers in our Junior Council and led his team in event coordination, fundraising, and video production. In 2024 he was selected to represent First Tee participants from around the country in the National Junior Advisory Council, and in 2025 he was selected for the Dennis Kettmann College Scholarship.
“Here, I made friends who I was able to hang out with outside classes,” said Tristan. “I met mentors who were not only able to help me with my golf game, but also give me advice for college and future career paths related to the major I want to pursue. I also gained and practiced skills, such as communication, delegation, being responsible for others, and teamwork.”
Tristan took all 4 of our Ace 8-week classes 2-3 times throughout high school.
“Ace classes taught me many beneficial skills, but I most appreciate the ones I learned during the career project. In class we learned how to prepare for an interview, conduct an informational interview, reach out and perform job shadows, and write resumes and cover letters. As I pursued Ace Certification, I was able to use those skills I learned in class. I performed three informational interviews where I learned about the responsibilities and career paths of people I saw as mentors. They even helped me format my resume so I could send it out to engineering related opportunities. I never would have learned these skills and the others I learned in Ace if I was not in Ace.”
Ace includes (4) 8-week sessions, each with post-class projects.
Education – financial planning for college (budgeting, saving, grants, scholarships), college application process, school identification and exploration strategies.
Career – resume-building, interview skills, transferable, adaptive and content skill development, and professional correspondence.
“Congratulations, Tristan, for your outstanding work” says Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt. “I remember coaching him when he was 7 years old in the East Bay Chapter. To see his development into a leader and a high character individual is what this is all about. It has been a real honor to coach him over the years, and I am very thankful to have gotten to know him and his wonderful family. He is a true representation of respect and hard work. It is no wonder his peers, fellow coaches, and our staff all respect and value him as a person. Best of luck in college, Tristan!
To find out more about our Ace classes and how to be Ace-Certified, please click here or email/call Chris at [email protected] or 408-508-4884.
(First Tee Leadership Summit – In partnership with PGA Tour Superstore – Published 9/8/25) This past August, FTSV participants Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende attended the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, held in Emigrant, Montana. First Tee golfers from chapters across the country were selected to attend this unique and rewarding event. Participants engaged in team building activities and challenged themselves by exploring positive risk taking. Over the course of the week, these participants were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, learn about themselves and what it takes to be an effective leader, all while creating long lasting relationships and memories.
Both Joshua and Vikrant had a wonderful time. Throughout each week, both participants took part in outdoor group activities such as a ropes course, horseback riding, white-water rafting, and, of course, playing golf. In the classroom, participants were guided through different self-reflective activities and heard from several inspirational speakers. Both Joshua and Vikrant felt that they grew as people while there.
From the great food, the beautiful views and the thought-provoking speakers, Vikrant had a memorable and impactful time.
For him, hearing the unique perspectives and personal stories from the speakers was the best part. “The stories I heard from the chaperones and speakers were very surprising and interesting, mostly deep stories about their personal development. We spent a lot of time learning from the experiences of other people and how those experiences shape one’s leadership. It was really eye-opening”
“Going forward, I feel like I have a new perspective on being a leader. My leadership style currently is more about telling, but I can see it changing. I learned all about different ways to lead, including by example and from behind, among others.” Vikrant left Montana feeling more confident in his abilities to support a team and will bring that perspective back home to FTSV.
For Joshua, experiencing team dynamics was the most impactful aspect of the week.
He took part in activities that tested his capacity for teamwork. “The most impactful events were the team-based challenges and the speeches. The tent pole challenge was an opportunity for me to grow as a leader…and taught us to trust ourselves and work as one. An effective leader should allow the team to bond closely and move them as a group with one plan.”
“I enjoyed building strong relationships with other students from around the nation. Coming from a place where competition for academics is very fierce, I have struggled with forming close bonds with others. For me, being honest and open with peers was a challenge. However, the Summit redefined what it meant to me to be a friend or mentor to others. I discovered that even if you are not blood related, you could still be family with another individual. This event provided me with an opportunity to meet people in an open-minded and vulnerable state, where we could discuss our inner thoughts without judgment. Additionally, everyone at the event was extremely encouraging and respectful, which made it easier to form closer bonds with people.”
Both FTSV participant’s had experiences that will stick with them for years, and have returned home with new perspectives, ideas, and attitudes. Thank you to the PGA TOUR Superstore and First Tee HQ for putting on this event! There are many National Opportunities each year with some coming up soon. If you’d like to be considered to apply, please reach out directly to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]).
(Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende Selected to First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore) Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 2 of 40 participants selected to the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Summit is designed for teens to explore leadership concepts including (1) building authentic relationships by developing awareness, (2) growing through challenge via positive risk taking, and (3) developing positive self-identity through dynamic outdoor and team-building activities. Set in the unforgettable backdrop of West Creek Ranch in Montana, each teen is challenged to build on their current strengths and values in an intimate setting which provides community building, inspiration and connection with their peers, adult mentors, and the outdoors. Activity-based workshops are facilitated by leaders from PGA TOUR Superstore headquarters, West Creek Ranch, and First Tee Headquarters. Both our participants were selected based on their performance in the First Tee Leadership Series at the PGA TOUR Superstore in Cupertino.
Meet our Leadership Summit Participants!
Meet Joshua Joo
Joshua Joo has been a participant in our program for more than 3 years now, and every season he continues to push himself above and beyond, impressing coaches and making a positive impact on the people around him. In class, Joshua speaks up in the life skill discussions, bringing his own perspective to the conversation and engaging his teammates. As a junior coach, he is working hard to make sure kids have fun and make friends, all while asking for feedback so he can continue to improve his leadership skills. He recently received the Presidential Service award for number of hours volunteered.
Meet Vikrant Bhende
Vikrant Bhende loves giving back to his community so much that he spends his entire Saturday at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course volunteering with FTSV. He is a friendly, smiling face at our check in table, welcoming in parents and participants, guiding kids to their classes and creating a professional and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone’s day goes more smoothly when Vikrant is there! He is organized and makes sure everyone working with him maintains that same organization. He is taking our Ace classes where he is a natural leader and elevates the engagement in our classes.
(Edwin Sanchez, Vian Tran and Marissa Wei Selected to First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore) Edwin, Vian and Marissa from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 3 of 48 participants selected from across the country to the First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Leadership Academy is set in Atlanta Georgia and provides selected teens insight on how successful teams perform. The curriculum explores leadership concepts focusing on (1) building a successful team by recognizing values and identifying strengths/weaknesses, (2) leading a team by developing authentic relationships and empowering others, (3) supporting the team by developing awareness and acting with humility, and (4) assessing based on comprehending and identifying the team’s need and supporting through innovation and advocacy. The academy provides an opportunity for teens to explore team dynamics that enhance their future performance as they collaborate with peers and adult mentors. Activity- based workshops are facilitated by leaders from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
UPDATE: Edwin Sanchez, Vian Tran and Marissa Wei attended the First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore
Marissa, Vian and Edwin all had a fantastic time at the Leadership Academy in Atlanta. All three participants left the event having learned something important about what it takes to be a leader, and they made friends and memories along the way. Here is what they had to say about their experience:
Edwin
For Edwin, his favorite part of the week was connecting with participants from across the country. “Being around people who have the same values as you really helps build strong friendships. Everyone there was interested in learning how to become a better leader, and how to work with others to become a strong team.”
Edwin also learned about the importance of sharing power and encouraging others to step up as leaders. “Letting others be the leader and sharing that power is a great choice. Other folks get a chance to show their personal strengths and contribute a new perspective, and it’s good to let yourself follow instead of lead sometimes.”
Besides the team-building and life skill work, Edwin’s favorite part of the experience was the zip-line course and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Vian
The Leadership Academy helps participants to find their own personal leadership styles, as well as to improve their skills in communication and teamwork. For Vian, the communication workshops stood out to her. “We went to the Alanta United FC for a team communication activity. One person was able to look at an image then had to pass on that information through the rest of the team so that the final person could try to recreate it. The activity was challenging and active, and we had to communicate clearly with one another to achieve our goal. I loved that game!”
Vian’s biggest takeaway was about stepping outside of her comfort zone. When she first got to the Academy, Vian actively pushed herself to communicate and work with new people. “It was different than school and group projects. Coming out of my comfort zone here was a big thing for me. I first started by talking with a chaperone, and when that went well, I started talking with new people, even those from outside of my group. It was amazing! The people were so nice.”
Vian plans to keep this up going forward and will continue to push herself to form new connections and continue to build her community.
Marissa
During the Leadership Academy, every day had a different theme, and this aspect really stood out to Marissa. “I had so much fun; it was amazing! Each day was something different, including Building a Team, Supporting a Team and Assessing a Team. All the different activities helped us to practice these different components of leadership.” By spending the time diving deep into these different important aspects of teamwork, Marissa feels like she better understands how all parts work together.
During the time spent at the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta United stadiums, Marissa learned about how professional teams practice leadership and teamwork within a sports setting. “The biggest take away for me was the importance of setting core values for the team. It keeps everyone on the same page, people can bring their ideas together, and it helps everyone work towards a common goal.”
Great work FTSV participants for taking full advantage of this awesome opportunity, and representing our chapter so well!
We are very proud of you, Edwin, Vian and Marissa!
Meet our First Tee Leadership Academy Participants!
Meet Edwin Sanchez
Edwin has been an engaged participant for roughly 6 years. He spends most of his Saturdays at Rancho del Pueblo, taking classes and giving back as a junior volunteer coach. When he is not coaching and helping us he is organizing monthly neighborhood clean-up. Working with Beautify SJ, Edwin and other community members spend 3 hours every month cleaning and giving back to the neighborhood. When asked about the project, he said “I’ve been doing this for almost 8 months. It fills me with pride to help my community, the place I grew up. FTSV has helped me a lot with my time management and I use that skill regularly, especially on projects such as this one.”
Edwin is also a part of the San Jose Youth Commission, representing District 3. The Youth Commission is a group of young people committed to serving their community through legislation, service projects, and activism. Within this role, Edwin runs a Youth Advisory Committee, working directly with other teens from his district to provide input on policy and programs that impact the city.
Meet Vian Tran
Vian Tran is a long-time participant, a junior volunteer coach, and a member of our Junior Council. She is on her Evergreen high school golf team.
Vian is someone who always raises her hand to volunteer whenever something needs to get done, helping with a smile on her face. According to Coach Tanner, “Vian consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every participant feels truly seen, heard, and valued. From the very beginning, I had the privilege of coaching alongside her during her first season, and it’s been incredible to witness her growth. She has blossomed into a confident and compassionate leader not only uplifting our participants but also serving as a mentor and role model for junior volunteers.”
Away from FTSV she volunteers at a San Jose mobile park home supporting and coordinating events.
Meet Marissa Wei
Marissa started with FTSV when she was 6 years old and is now in her 10th year as a participant! During our classes, Marissa is engaged, dedicated and confident. She stands out as a participant with how well she embodies the Life Skills. She has been involved in our ACE classes, completing both the Education and Volunteer course work on her way to full ACE certification. Marissa is an exceptionally kind person and volunteer coach, making sure that the younger participants feel included and have fun. Coach Elias coaches with Marissa regularly, and had this to say, “It is great coaching with Coach Marissa. She is accountable and willing to learn, someone that takes feedback well and always striving to improve outside of her comfort zone.”
Last year Marissa was selected to represent our chapter in the Game Changer Academy in Minnesota.
(FTSV’s Participants Selected for Game Changers Academy) Li An Panfil and Nicolas Hernandez Lopez from First Tee — Silicon Valley have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 8-12, 2025. They are 2 of 72 teens from the First Tee network who have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity, empathy and inclusion. RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches. The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position the teens to be advocates for justice and social change in their current and future communities.
Meet FTSV’s Participants for the Game Changers Academy
Meet Li An Panfil
Li An has been a highly engaged participant with First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2013. She has participated in every class offered at FTSV including our four ACE seminar classes (Career, Education, Give Back, and Golf). Li An also volunteers regularly, giving almost 300 hours of her time back to FTSV. Between coaching Girls Golf, coaching our Life Skill program, and leading a subcommittee in our FTSV Junior Council, Li An is constantly going above and beyond and distinguishing herself as a respected leader.
After the event, Li An had this to say:
“During the week, we attended different leadership workshops and learned a lot about leadership and teamwork. On the final day, John Randle from the Vikings spoke with us about his own experiences in the NFL. He said that even if you’re not in a specific leadership position, you still have the responsibility to do what you can, and that you don’t need a designated title to be a good leader. This really resonated with me.”
Meet Nicolas Hernandez Lopez
Nicolas has been involved with FTSV for the past 10 years as a participant, a volunteer coach, and a Junior Council member. He is consistently pushing himself to become more involved and find ways to continue to give back. As a coach, Nico is patient and kind, making class fun and exciting for the young participants. As a participant, Nico engages deeply with the life skill discussions/activities and goes out of his way to make sure other participants are included. Additionally, he has been part of a group that helped plan community events for our chapter. He is going to be a wonderful representative of our chapter at the Game Changers Academy!
Nicolas ended up having a great time at the event...
“It was so much fun meeting new people and experiencing different perspectives. I was able to talk and collaborate with other kids about what they do in their chapters, and to hear about different ways to persevere through challenges.”
“The biggest takeaway for me were the experiences, the moments with my new friends and the conversations I had with mentors and speakers. It opened my eyes to different possibilities and taught me how to overcome different challenges. We really came together as a unit. For example, one kid forgot his golf clubs, so we lent him some. Another kid was homesick, and we comforted him. We built a lot of comradery and togetherness in a very short amount of time. It was really something special.”
The event was held at the University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017.
(FTSV Participant Accepted for the 2025 First Tee National Championship!) First Tee – Silicon Valley participant Brian Yu was selected to compete in the fifth annual First Tee National Championship held at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana on June 22nd to 26th. The First Tee National Championship brings together First Tee’s elite players for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped them build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate or next level. The winners of each male and female division will be awarded with the Tattersall Cup named after First Tee Trustee, Fred Tattersall. Each winner will earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
First Tee National Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play event at the Warren Golf Course featuring a Girls and Boys division for high school participants. The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who are selected based on their golf skill, competitive golf experience and handicap. Last year, FTSV participant Norah Yang took first place in the Girls division, bringing back the National title for our chapter (click here to learn more about last year’s tournament).
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Brian will be unable to attend this event. It was an honor to have him selected, and we wish him luck in future tournaments.
Meet Brian Yu
Brian started with FTSV back in 2017. He attended classes regularly, building his love for the game alongside an incredibly strong work ethic. In middle school, Brian took a break from FTSV while beginning to hone in his tournament golf skills and truly developing himself as a strong player. Now, he is back, working hard as a junior coach and a member of the First Tee junior council, giving back to the same program he first started with. Just recently, Brian shot a -4 66 at the Stanford Golf Course to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Congratulations Brian and good luck!
(Li An and Isabella selected for First Tee Scholarship) First Tee Silicon Valley participants Li An Panfil and Isabella Herrera have been selected by FT Headquarters to become a part of the 2025 College Scholar Program. Congratulations!!!
The First Tee College Scholarship Program…
Providing valuable, life-changing opportunities for the youth of First Tee. Helping them prepare for success is at the core of our mission. We believe in encouraging youth to pursue their dreams and further their education.
This program awards participants who excel in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement. Thanks to generous donors, First Tee is proud to offer up to a $20,000 scholarship, mentoring throughout the college experience, professional development workshops and assistance in securing internships and jobs through the First Tee College Scholarship Program.
Applications are accepted once per year from seniors in high school who meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
If you are interested in learning more about the College Scholarship Program or are interested in applying, please email Coach Phoenix at [email protected]
Meet Isabella Herrera
Isabella has been a standout participant with FTSV for the past 13 years. With over 300 hours of volunteer service, not only is she a wonderful addition to any class she is in, but Isabella is also constantly looking for ways to give back and support her community. As a participant, Isabella has taken every kind of class FTSV offers and continues to come every Saturday for the high school classes. She comes to class with a positive and inclusive attitude, bringing up those around her while pushing herself to grow in both golf and with the life skill curriculum.
Isabella began volunteering with FTSV back in June of 2021 and has been a consistent coach ever since. In addition to coaching, she assists us as an admin volunteer, which includes preparing class bins and materials, and communicating with parents about class announcements and policies. She also is an outreach volunteer and assists our staff in school community outreach where she connects with Spanish speaking families, translates, and helps them sign up for our program. As a result of her many contributions, she recently received the Presidential Service Volunteer Gold Award.
Her dedication and contributions resulted in her representing our chapter in the Drive Your Future Female Empowerment Academy as well as the Leadership Summit in Montana. Outside of First Tee, Isabella is on the Youth on Course (YOC) Leadership Council, and in the YOC DRIVE Club (Diversity Respect, Inclusion, Voice Equity). Both roles include increasing diversity into the game of golf, something Isabella is very passionate about.
Isabella will be attending USC next Fall. Congratulations Isabella!
Meet Li An Panfil
Li An was selected for this program because of her stand-out participation during the First Tee Leadership Summit, her academic excellence, her community service, as well as her long track record of hard work and success within First Tee – Silicon Valley. The leadership summit is one of the National Opportunities available to our participants who go above and beyond, and it provides workshops and learning experiences aimed around developing leadership skills. Li An was at home as a leader here, rising to the occasion as a top performer, attracting the attention of facilitators and eventually being selected for the scholarship. We are so proud to have Li An representing us on a national scale.
As a junior volunteer coach, Li An has been one of our most influential coaches. She has been coaching since 2021, and is trusted to lead her groups. She also is one of the lead coaches in our Girls Golf Program. Her attitude and kindness shine through the work she does, as she passes on the life skills First Tee has taught her down to the next generation. Not only does she work to help bring up others, Li An also gets personal fulfillment out of coaching. When asked, she said “[the participants] put me in a good mood. Seeing people I know and them remembering things about me, and people showing that they care brings me up. It’s a big community feeling, showing that I am making a big impact, spreading knowledge and helping people to improve and be their best self.”
LiAn is planning on attending UCLA in the Fall. In the future, she wants to pursue a career in healthcare, a field where her perseverance, positive attitude and innate care for others will definitely play a role. Congratulations again Li An!
