Year Archives - Page 22 of 52 - First Tee

Nancy Selected to First Tee College Scholarship Program

Nancy Rivera is one of 25 high school graduates selected to the First Tee College Scholarship Program based on academic performance, length and involvement in First Tee programs, financial need and commitment to volunteerism. She joins a class of 25 Scholars in the First Tee College Scholarship Program’s Class of 2022. This is the largest class to date and a significant milestone as the youth development organization celebrates 25 years of helping young people build their strength of character through golf.

Meet our scholar!

Nancy Rivera, First Tee – Silicon Valley

Graduating from University Preparatory Academy in San Jose, CA

18-year-old incoming college freshman at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she plans on pursuing the pre-med track
Nancy has been involved with First Tee Silicon Valley for five years. She attended the 2021 First Tee Leadership Summit and 2021 First Tee Innovators Forum.
At the 2021 First Tee Innovators Forum, Nancy developed the idea to provide educational support and workshops for her community. The workshops are offered in Spanish and include resources on how to effectively support their child as they pursue post-secondary education, such as the process of completing the FAFSA, SAT/ACT and scholarship opportunities, how to navigate online resources, and more.
She is a first-generation college student.
Founder of her high school’s LatinX club
Nancy volunteers every weekend preparing and serving meals for her community, having been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the number of volunteer hours she had in 2021.
Aspires to become an OBGYN.
3.6 GPA
“My parents taught me the importance of superación, which has two meanings: to overcome and to improve oneself. My parents exemplified it and First Tee – Silicon Valley helped me exhibit it. I am driven by superación, to overcome challenges and help create a future for myself and family. Through my experiences with various First Tee coaches, I realized I did not have to face challenges alone.”

First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to First Tee alumni across the U.S. by providing support throughout their post-graduate careers. Nancy will be paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide her throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in person throughout the year, and up to $5,000 per year toward tuition.

“I offer congratulations and a warm welcome to our Class of 2022 First Tee Scholars,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee. “With the support of our donors, we’re able to provide this ongoing support as they matriculate through college and prepare for future careers. These outstanding young leaders have bright futures ahead, and we believe the skills and values developed through First Tee will empower them throughout their collegiate journey and beyond.”

Applications for the Class of 2022 were received from participants across the First Tee network. Following an online application process, Nancy participated in one-on-one interviews and was selected by a national committee. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, volunteerism, and other criteria.

Congratulations Nancy on your well-deserved honor! We are fortunate to have you in our program. Thank you for giving back and being a role model for us all! We are excited for your academic future.

Parent University – A Smashing Success

May 14^th, 2022. Alum Rock School District (ARUSD), Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course (RDP) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (TFTSV) partnered to deliver a community resource event hosted at RDP. Over 425 participants and families from across the ARUSD community came out to join the festivities. We set up games on the entire facility and each venue was packed with families learning how to play golf, and experiencing our games and activities.

The day began with speeches by ARUSD Board of Trustees, Superintendent, Dr. Hilaria Bauer, and our First Tee participant. Everyone then made their way out to the various stations around the golf course and rotated stations. Each station had a life lesson and golf skill for the families to engage in. Afterwards families enjoyed lunch together.

The last time we were able to partner and deliver a Parent University was in 2019 before COVID. This year exceeded attendee expectations by over 200% and set a record for highest attended Parent University ever.

The Alum Rock School District Salutes “The First Tee – Silicon Valley” and “The Rancho Del Pueblo” team, says Norma Flores, Director of Student Service at ARUSD. Alum Rock kids have now embraced the Game of Golf and now see both organizations as true community partners. The most important shot in golf is the next one we are truly looking forward to that next shot with First Tee – Silicon Valley!

“FTSV is committed to serving the ARUSD community,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Rancho Del Pueblo is situated in the heart of ARUSD and we want families to see our program and Rancho Del Pueblo as a safe and welcoming space for all families and participants. We have been committed to delivering our outreach in-school program to surrounding ARUSD schools over the years, including organizing several school fieldtrips to RDP. Parent University is an exceptional example of a community coming together to serve its residence and we are grateful for the opportunity.” “A special thank you to Norma Flores, Student Services Director for ARUSD and Dr. Bauer for their continued support and belief in what our First Tee – Silicon Valley Life Skill program can bring to their schools and students.”

Are you interested in having your school or youth development program partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley? Please contact our Program Coordinator, Joe Stuban at 408-508-4885, [email protected], or visit our outreach page

Baylands Update — Palo Alto City Council’s Unanimous Approval

On Monday, May 9^th, Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously to a “Approve and Authorize City Manager to Execute Non-Binding Letter of Intent with First Tee Silicon Valley Towards Establishing a Public Private Partnership for Practice Facility Infrastructure Improvements at the Baylands Golf Links and Long-Term Facility Use Access for the First Tee Silicon Valley’s Youth Development Teaching Program.”

This is fantastic news for FTSV, which has been working to make Baylands its long-term home and serve more than 1,000 youth there every year. FTSV has been conducting classes at Baylands since 2009 with a 2-year hiatus while Palo Alto Muni was being rebuilt. Facility constraints, including practice spaces and high demand from public golfers, has capped FTSV’s classes at 250 youth annually despite high demand and waiting lists. This project would quadruple our capacity and open the pipeline for FTSV to greatly increase outreach to Palo Alto and youth throughout the region, especially kids in lower income areas including East Palo Alto, North Fairs Oaks, and Redwood City.

What Does the Partnership Entail?

In short, the partnership is for FTSV to make infrastructure improvements in exchange for long-term use access. The predominant use access would be of a new “youth area” along Embarcadero Road in which FTSV would conduct more than 65% of its programming. Higher range nets would be installed to protect the youth area AND to open the unused short game hole on the course side of the range to the public. The youth area, which was part of the course re-design vision, would be completed for use by FTSV as well as by other youth golf programs and for private instruction. The partnership is a big win-win for everyone.

What’s Next?

Council’s unanimous vote and support of City staff shows a level of commitment for FTSV to begin fundraising to obtain at least $4.2M for the improvements. FTSV will reach out to local donors — both individuals and organizations — and collaborate with First Tee HQ to raise the requisite resources. In addition, FTSV and City staff will negotiate terms of a partnership agreement in which FTSV expects long-term access of 15 to 50 years.

“I am thrilled to have Palo Alto City Council’s unanimous support of FTSV and for proceeding with this creative and model partnership agreement.” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “We’re in this to build the character of all youth (regardless of background or ability to pay) through the game of golf. We hope for many donors to join us by seizing this refreshing opportunity for the public and private sectors to partner and to achieve significant results for literally thousands of kids for decades.”

Contact George Maxe at [email protected] or 408-288-2937 if you have any questions.

Caddy Club Majors Continues with PGA Championship on May 19th

Join the Caddy Club as a way to support our Financial Aid Program and meet the needs of providing a nurturing environment for the young people in our community.

All Caddy Club members receive invitations to our free Donor Appreciation events which includes our Caddy Club Majors Competition. It kicked off with the Masters on April 7^th – but it is not too late to join in the fun for PGA Championship May 19-22 (pick deadline is May 19th 4am Pacific). The competition continues with the US Open June 16-19 and Open Championship July 14-17.

Every $240 donation allows FTSV to offer financial aid to a new under-served, at-risk youth participant to attend an 8-week program.

Become a Caddy Club member by making a minimum $20 monthly donation for at least 12 months or a one-time donation of a minimum of $240. Click Here to Join!

CONGRATULATIONS to Caddy Club Majors MASTERS WINNERS:

1st Place VINMONEY – Vincent Lam

2^nd Place SBUESNEL – Simon Busesnel

3^rd Place MARYWALKER15 – Mary Walker

4^th Place JDGET – James Gettelman

5^th Place RICHROWLEY – Rich Rowley

Together, We are Building Game Changers!

Our kids and teens are facing challenges unseen by previous generations. Many lack access to safe opportunities that foster a culture of acceptance and provide mentorship. They live in a world where social pressures are always on, calm and confidence are hard to access, and perseverance is a required superpower every day.

Youth Development through Golf

FTSV exists to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, we create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids carry in everything they do. With the belief that ALL kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to building golf programs that are accessible, welcoming, and as impactful as they are fun.

Who You Will Be Helping:

(FTSV on-course participants)

90% racially diverse
100% certifying youth graduate from HS
100% Ace top level teens go to college
80% achieve all A’s and B’s in school

Class Participant Surveys Reported:

97% Had fun
96% Said Coaches were fun and cared
94% Like golf and improved golf skills
90% Felt included as part of the group
88% Want to continue with FTSV classes
84% Learned new life skills to improve their character

Youth Leaders Share Impact of Outreach

According to an outreach youth leader at Franklin Elementary, “FTSV Outreach gave us the opportunity to have impactful conversations about the core values. The early childhood education setting does not allow for these types of crucial conversations. These core value conversations and using the values in the games led to more positive behaviors in our classroom setting as well in their day-to-day lives. Our staff and the parents noticed a drastic improvement socially and emotionally with participants. First Tee’s outreach program truly has a lasting impression and has been a platform that helps the participant perform the best on and off of the golf course.”

When in-person learning was postponed due to COVID there was a void in peer-to-peer interactions. At our golf course program, we noticed a difference when we resumed in-person classes in the summer of 2021. Participants were more reserved, and hesitant to be themselves. When schools came back so did after school programs and enrichment programs. Students were back interacting face-to-face. However, social wellness through healthy communication is a skill that needs to be practiced consistently. The long hiatus prevented those skills from being practiced. When we relaunched our outreach program at 10 sites this academic year, we hoped that our games, Nine Core Values, and curriculum would help promote social and emotional wellness.

“First Tee outreach program has been incredibly fun to get off the ground again after two years of COVID,” says City Year Leader, Uma Reddy. “The program has been incredibly rewarding from start to finish. I see the greatest improvement in their respect for their peers, their awareness about safety, and in their expression of sportsmanship. I add points to their game when they show sportsmanship which allows students to get just as excited about practicing good sportsmanship as having fun and learning golf.”

Our school and community partners in East San Jose, Santa Clara, East Palo Alto, and Redwood City are currently delivering our golf and life skill curriculum at their schools with plastic clubs, velcro targets, and tennis balls. Each week the youth leaders at each school teach a core value together with a golf skill using games that promote friendly peer-to-peer interaction.

Recently our staff began hosting field trips where participants at each school leave their campus (for the first time in 2 years) and go on a group trip to our affiliate golf courses.

“Kids need to be kids,” says Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are thankful to work collaboratively with school partners and offer their participants a sport that is mostly new to them, games that are engaging, and a space where they can safely interact with each other.”

Are you interested in having your school or youth development program partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley. Please contact our Program Coordinator, Joe Stuban 408-508-4885, [email protected], or visit our outreach page

Emotional and Social Well-Being – Register Now For Summer Classes

Registration for the summer program opens 5/12 at 10am. Summer begins June 7^th and ends August 6^th.

Is happiness a choice that is under our control, or is it a product of our surroundings and constantly shaped by external factors? Maybe it is a bit of both, and although our surroundings are not under our control, how we think and act is. We have control over our awareness and practice of social and emotional well-being, which is a foundation for happiness.

Emotional well-being involves identifying and operating from our strengths rather than focusing on our weaknesses. It involves reflecting and recognizing how we are feeling, why we are feeling that way, and then choosing the appropriate way to react to that situation. When participants hit a bad shot the tendency is to dwell on their mistakes, which hinders their ability to see the positives and be in a head space necessary to successfully make adjustments.

It is important to learn from mistakes, and there is a distinction between learning and dwelling. Dwelling decreases the confidence in oneself, which negatively impacts the ability or desire to persevere. On the other hand, learning involves self-reflection which gives us the tools to persevere. Our program encourages participants to make a conscious choice to self-reflect and identify what they did well, what they enjoyed, and how to manage their frustrations so that they are having fun while learning through challenges. How they feel after a bad shot is not a choice, we feel what we feel, but what we do with that feeling is a choice.

If emotional wellness involves internal reflection, social well-being involves mutually respectfully and compassionate interactions with others. In our classes we teach participants to “Ask, Listen, Respond” as a tool for engaging conversations. Social well-being also includes surrounding oneself with positive and supportive individuals. If one does not feel included or supported, it is more difficult to feel happy. Our coaches enjoy using the time in our games, on the course, in our warm up, and during transitions to get to know each other.

By better understanding ourselves and those around us, we set the stage for a more empathetic, and compassionate community.

In our most recent survey over 79% of our participants said they made friends in their class and 95% said they felt their coaches cared about them. We believe having a supportive and inclusive environment, coupled with learning how to manage our emotions and build confidence will lead to increase happiness. If participants are happy, then we are happy. This summer we look forward to building emotional and social well-being. This summer we look forward to having fun. Come join us!

Registration for the Summer season opens Thursday, May 12^th at 10am. The actual season will start June 7th and will end August 6^th. Our break week is June 27^th to July 3^rd. The classes will take place at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose, and Gavilan Golf Course in Gilroy. We encourage youth 2^nd grade and above to join our program and help spread the word. For more information on our programs please visit https://www.firstteesiliconvalley.org/. and click here for the summer schedule. To register please click here

We hope to see you at the course!

Participant Spotlight – Itzel Espino

Itzel Espino is a Birdie participant at First Tee — Silicon Valley. She joined our program in 2018 from our school outreach event in San Jose. When she started in 8^th grade she was brand new to golf, but since then she worked hard to catch up with those her age. She progressed through our program, took part in our tournaments and Girls Golf program, and is now applying to volunteer and give back to the younger participants in our program.

Itzel is a junior at Cristo Rey High School in San Jose. In addition to being a high school junior and Birdie participant, she interns for Silicon Valley Bank where she researches and provides analysis of fund information for the investment team, and summarizes SVB private bank’s quarterly capital market insights for team markets among other responsibilities. She recently was accepted into the Youth on Course caddie academy where she will earn scholarship money towards her college tuition.

“Ever since I became a participant in First Tee it has made a positive impact in my life, says Itzel.” I have personally used goal setting skills in my daily life which has helped me create a clear understanding when making decisions and also makes me feel motivated. I appreciate all of the opportunities that First Tee has given me.”

“Itzel is an extremely compassionate participant who always shows care for the class as a whole and for each of her fellow students individually,” says Program Coordinator, Robby Keith. “She comes to class with a smile and a joke to improve everyone’s mood and makes class more fun.”

Itzel demonstrates high character and a desire to consistently improve. She maintains a great demeanor regardless of the challenge and contributes to the supportive environment that we promote. We have no doubt she will be successful in anything she decides to pursue.

Are you interested in joining other participants like Itzel? Please click here for our Youth Classes page. Our summer season will begin June 7^th and end August 6^th. Registration will begin, May 12^th at 10am.