Category: Year

FTSV Girl’s Golf Luau Play Day

On August 21st, First Tee – Silicon Valley welcomed our girl golfers to the Golf Luau Play Day!  Our 15 luau golfers came out ready to enjoy a day in golf paradise. The girls teamed up to play in a scramble format. Each aloha golfer wore their best leis and flower clips to feel like they were in paradise.  They had a fun and relaxing time as we played 9 holes and ended the day decorating Hawaiian-themed First Tee hats. The girls not only showcased their golf skills, but their art skills and creativity as well.  One of our golfers, Sahara, used glitter and stickers to create a bright and colorful Hawaiian landscape.  Our older participants assisted our younger players in decorating their hats. Girls Golf Play Days occur 4 times a year and are beneficial seasonal events where our female participants enjoy an all-female environment. Through golf games and activities our participants experience an environment that fosters empowerment, healthy habits, and an outlet to build positive self-esteem. Make sure to join us for the next girls golf event by visiting our youth opportunity page. Registration for the November 13th play day will open November 3rd.

FTSV Seasonal Tag Team Tournament

First Tee – Silicon Valley hosted our 2021 Tag Team Tournament at Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course on August 21st.  A full field of thirty-six players participated in a nine-hole alternate shot format. The Tag Team is a valuable event that helps our younger participants experience a first-time tournament while allowing our older participants to play the role of a mentor and compete. The goal of our seasonal tournaments is to promote confidence, working through adversity, and experiencing teamwork in a competitive tournament format. With many participants meeting their partner for the first time, they were encouraged to learn and demonstrate their Par core lesson in meeting and greeting skills to learn interesting facts about each other and practice the skills of asking open-ended questions and listening. “This First Tee Tournament was Tag-Team where each golfer was able to play with a partner. This time I was able to become a team with my older brother Joshua and compete in the tournament. The energy and chemistry that our duo had boosted us during the game. While playing, we strategized and cracked jokes to help our game go smoothly even through the rough holes. We ended the game happy to have this golf experience together.” shared First Tee Eagle participant, Joey Jang. Congratulations to all of our participants for cooperating with their partner and utilizing their nine core values to play fast, safe, and courteously.  A big thanks to all of our volunteers who helped regulate the rules and pace of play! Here are the 2021 Tag Team Winners: First place Par level:  Kelly Zhang & Justin Guo First place Birdie level:  Elsa Hsieh & Manuel Barron First place Eagle level:  Joshua & Joey Jang Long Drive Par level:  Benjamin Hughes Long Drive Birdie level:  Casey Huchim Velazquez Long Drive Eagle level:  Joshua Jang Closest to the Pin:  Joey Jang Make sure to join us for the next season tournament by visiting our youth opportunity page. Registration for the November 13th tournament will open November 3rd.

Shivani Receives Joyce Taylor Award & $4K Scholarship at Invitational

The Joyce Taylor Eagle Award and $4,000 College Scholarship was presented to Shivani Patel at the First Tee – Silicon Valley 2021 Invitational fundraiser on Sunday, July 18th at CordeValle in San Martin, CA. Shivani was selected for consistently achieving academic excellence and exhibiting First Tee Nine Core Values and Life Skills. The purpose of the award is to provide a high school student the financial hope of attending college. For Shivani, she wants to major in bio-science. The scholarship was initiated by a very generous 9-year grant by PG&E several years ago by founding FTSV Board Director, Victor Arrañaga, Jr. Thank you to all our Invitational sponsors that help fund our programs:  The returning sponsors were: Anheuser Busch, Altria, HP, Intuit, PG&E, PhRMA, SDG&E/SEMPRA, Noteware, Pappas and the new sponsor was Uber. Shivani is a rising senior at Silver Creek High School. She joined FTSV in 2014 when she was in the 4th grade and is now a top-level ACE participant and Junior Coach.  In her speech to the Invitational attendees, she shared “I had no idea how much the organization would positively impact my life. First Tee is a place that teaches you golf, but also teaches you life skills and helps you build relationships that you will have with you for the rest of your life.” She went on to tell a story about her golf journey, “I vividly remember the first time I swung a golf club, in fact, it was at my first ever PLAYER class. I remember it feeling strange and my ball not getting far off the ground. Over time, First Tee coaches and participants guided me in turning my funky baseball-tennis-golf swing into a true golf swing. Because of them, I was able to play at many girls’ golf events and in the #1 spot for my high school’s varsity girl’s golf team. I know that without the FTSV’s support I would not have been able to make it to this point in my golf journey.” Aside from golf, Shavani stressed the importance of the relationships she has formed every season with her coaches, her peers, and other leaders. She acknowledged the coaches genuinely want to see me be the best version of myself and give me the tools and confidence to do just that. They instill core values in participants to set them on a path to be good people and great leaders.  She said, “First Tee has taught me values like perseverance and courtesy, but my favorite has to be integrity. I use integrity when keeping track of my score on the course and, especially now, when making decisions about my future. I believe self-integrity is about being true to your values and reflecting these principles through your actions.” Shavani was also selected for her active role in her high school and community. Her accomplishments include the following:
  • Varsity Swimmer at SCHS
  • Founding Member, Captain & MVP of SCHS Girls Golf Team
  • Founder & Secretary of SCHS Cognitive Science Club
  • Founder & Publicist of SCHS Girls Who Code chapter
  • Creative Commissioner of SCHS STEAM Lab Club
  • Volunteer at Kaiser-Permanente
  • Ambassador level Girl Scout
She concluded her speech by saying, “I am honored to be the one representing the First Tee of Silicon Valley with this award. Without the First Tee, I would not be the person I am today. I would not have the same skills, the same values, or have the same confidence in myself and even in those around me. I would also like to thank all those who sponsor this First Tee chapter. Your contributions and involvement impact many young lives, and for that we are thankful.” Joyce Taylor (1957–2010) was a woman known for her intelligence, warmth, and elegance. She graduated with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Oklahoma (OU) with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. Joyce became a highly successful and respected business woman and community leader with a long career in telecommunications. In 1997, she was promoted to Regional President, Bay Area, and then Senior Vice President, External Affairs-Northern California, AT&T, where she oversaw legislative, governmental and external affairs activities in Northern California. Joyce worked extensively with Bay Area business and community-based organizations. Her support of the Eagles at Rancho del Pueblo junior golf program was instrumental to its growth and success. In 2005, the program became First Tee — Silicon Valley to develop the character of youth through golf throughout Santa Clara County. Joyce’s support helped to build a solid program that has reached over 81,234 youth since 2005. The Joyce Taylor Eagle Award is given annually to provide financial assistance for college to a participant who has consistently achieved academic excellence and exhibited First Tee Nine Core Values and Life Skills.

Dimarco Awarded $4K Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship

The 2021 Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Dimarco Casillas, an ACE level participant of First Tee – Silicon Valley.  Each year golfers in the Dennis Kettmann Memorial Tournament raise funds to remember Dennis. Their generosity underwrites a special $5,000 college scholarship for a FTSV chosen participant. Dennis’s son and co-organizer of the Memorial Tournament, Matt Kettmann, learned the game from Dennis and knows that he must be smiling wherever he is knowing that his memory is now helping young people with FTSV pursue their college dreams. David Henningsen, who is also a co-organizer (featured in photo) shared, “It is so wonderful to have the recipient of the “Big D” scholarship play in our tournament and speak to the supporters about how FTSV has impacted him.” FTSV met Dimarco at a DRIVE school outreach event in Fischer Middle School located in San Jose. He began our program soon after the outreach event in the Spring of 2019. After taking several certifying and skills advancement classes, he quickly progressed to our top ACE level. Dimarco has excelled in the program, absorbing and exhibiting our core values and life skills. When he began our program, he had no golf experience yet after one year he made his high school golf team! He leads by example, shows up early to each class to practice, initiates conversations with his peers and coaches, and has a welcoming and positive approach to everyone he meets. We are excited to see Dimarco reach his goals and we are committed to being on his “Go-To-Team” as he continues his character-building and collegiate journey.

Fall Season Announced – Learning and Taking on Challenges

How do you make decisions and take on challenges? Are your decisions reactive, are they based on your gut instinct, are they based on emotion, or do you need time to process information before making decisions? Here at First Tee – Silicon Valley participants are exposed to a core lesson called S.T.A.R which stands for Stop, Think, Anticipate, and Respond. In the first level they are introduced to the Core Value, Judgment. And in our Eagle level, participants learn our acronym C.A.R.E which stands for Communicate collaboratively, Actively listen, Review all options, End with a win-win. All three core lessons assist our participants in taking on challenges using critical thinking.  Our goal is to encourage participants to listen first to better understand the challenge, then process and anticipate possible outcomes before making difficult decisions. This Fall season we are excited to present a myriad of engaging golf games that challenge our participants in a fun way, and create an environment where they work together and practice their decision making. We believe in teaching the core lessons, like the ones mentioned above, through games both on the golf course and in the practice areas. We are excited to announce registration for the Fall season will open at 10am on August 11th. The season itself will start September 7th and end October 30th and 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 everyone 2nd 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 Fall schedule. Hopefully we see you at the course!

Franky Chosen as SCVCC Junior Honorary Member

Franky Sumcad, was chosen to be a Silver Creek Valley Country Club Junior Honorary Member. SCVCC created this program to support young, prominent, local golfers as well as grow the game of golf.  Franky will have access to the club to practice, work at junior clinics, and be a role model for the club’s youth. She has been in the First Tee Silicon Valley since 2012 and has progressed to our Ace level. Additionally, she has been an volunteer coach for several years coaching our younger participants. “My favorite LPGA player is Yuka Saso because she’s a trailblazer.” said Franky. “She’s young but she won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines in the Asian Games and she recently won the U.S. Women’s Open. As a young Filipino golfer myself, it’s always encouraging to see representation.” Franky aspires to make the LPGA or find a career that involves golf, be that as an instructor or something different. Outside of golf, English and writing have always interested her.  She is very busy this summer with competing in many golf tournaments. Past: May 29-30 – JTNC Rooster Run June 2-4 – California Women’s Championship Ojai Valley Inn June 9 – CCS June 10 – USGA Junior Girls Qualifier June 14 – JGANC Junior world Qualifier Corica June 21-25 – NCGA CWAC June 28 – USGA women’s amateur qualifier July 5-7 – NCGA 17th Women’s Amateur Championship July 12-13 – NCGA junior Lake Merced July 21-22 – JGANC Lincoln Park July 26 – Corena Green Classic August 2-3 – JGANC Diablo Creek Franky is one of the three females that are honorary members.  Franky is in high company as the other two are Katherine Zhu and Sabrina Iqbal.   Katherine Zhu is the #1 player and Captain of the Cal Women’s team and former AJGA All American.   Sabrina Iqbal plays at TCU and has won the CIF State Championship, NCGA Junior Amateur, CA State Amateur, and SF City Championship. SCVCC is going to be hosting a Skins Game featuring its Junior Honorary Members on November 27th.  All the proceeds with go to the First Tee and Youth On Course. Congratulations Franky!

Take the challenge – Be a volunteer coach!

First Tee — Silicon Valley is looking for high quality caring people that are interested in making a positive impact on youth. Volunteer coaches make the core lessons come to life by finding and using coachable moments. They also work together to make the classes fun and engaging and build a space where mentoring relationships can be formed and grow. Coaching makes a big difference. When we ask and survey our advanced participants about their experience in First Tee, them overwhelmingly credit their coaches for improving their communication skills, and their ability to overcome challenges. Additionally, they say they are appreciative of the relationships they formed and the confidence they gained from having their coach believe in them. In a national study across the First Tee network, 87% of First Tee alumni said their relationships with their coaches were meaningful and grew stronger over time. These relationships were based on empathy, high positive expectations, and advocacy (e.g., open doors and eyes to new experiences). According to our participant surveys over the last year, on average:
  • 86% said their life skills have improved.
  • 95% said their golf skills have improved.
  • 97% said their coaches made the classes fun
  • 93% said they felt part of the group.
When participants have a group of coaches who care about them and work to make learning fun, it results in increased acquired skills and positive youth development. Coaching is fulfilling and beneficial!
  • Coach Matt – “FTSV has introduced me to wonderful people and helped me form indispensable relationships. FTSV helps me better the lives of my students and myself!”
  • Coach Misa – “Coaching has given me the opportunity to strengthen my skills as a coach and learn how to navigate and create new relationships with each student and point them in the right direction to help them achieve their short and long-term goals. I am reminded every week of the inclusivity that FTSV has and am proud to be part of this organization.”
  • Coach John – “I get to see players achieve their goals for golf, school, and careers. This helps me with my personal goals in my life and to continue to persevere through my own obstacles.”
  • Coach Robby – “FTSV has become a family to me, both accepting me as who I am and encouraging me to develop further.”
  • Coach Gabby – “Coaching boosted my confidence in my communication skills and gave me a platform to be a role model for the youth.”
  • Coach Jack – “FTSV encourages personal growth and responsibility in a FUN way among friends and caring coaches in a sport that can last a lifetime.”
  • Coach Rob – “Understanding how much the juniors look up to the coaches and how much of an effect we have on their lives is impactful.”
What if I am not an expert coach or golfer? Our coaches come from all walks of life with different life and golf experiences. We provide life and golf skill training as well training on coach strategies, techniques, and on our coach philosophy. Our goal is to make sure every coach feels supported. Additionally, we have lesson plans created so everyone is working together and supporting one another in the content and delivery. There will always be a lead coach for each class coordinating the group of coaches. What is the time requirement?
  • Volunteer coaches can choose from several class options by location, day of the week and time.
  • Time commitment is 2.5 hours a day, once a week for an 8-week season. 2.5 hours include a pre-class meeting, 1.5-hour class, and a post-class debrief.
How do I get started? 
  • Visit our volunteer page and click on the volunteer form.
  • Or contact Julie Donnellan at 408-508-4882 or [email protected]
  • Click here for our volunteer tri-fold for more information
  • We are accepting volunteers year-round, but to be able to coach in the next season you will need to complete the on-boarding steps by 8/15 for Fall, and 11/15 for Winter, 2/15 for Spring, and 5/15 for Summer
Join our team, learn/develop coaching skills, make a difference in the youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our youth.

Isabella Chosen for YOC-TaylorMade DRIVE Club

FTSV participant Isabella Herrera was one of 55 members chosen for the Youth on Course (YOC) + TaylorMade DRIVE Club. Selected members are outstanding kids who participate in community service, are academically strong, and are committed to making the game of golf more inclusive.  YOC partnered with TaylorMade Golf Company to provide further access to the game along with mentorship and support from industry professionals with the ultimate goal of increasing diversity amongst the golf industry at large.

Isabella has been involved in the FTSV program with her entire family for over 5 years and is currently an Eagle participant.  She shared her sentiments, “Diversity, inclusion and equity is really important to the game of golf. It is something it lacks and I am glad to see more of it because of this program.” “We are thrilled for Isabella.” says First Tee Silicon Valley Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt, “She has excelled in our program with her interpersonal communication and through her hard work. In addition to participating in all of our seasonal classes, she also caddies at local country clubs. She is a natural leader, and will make an outstanding DRIVE club participant. We are so proud of her!”

The newly-minted initiative, known as The DRIVE Club (an acronym for Diversity. Respect. Inclusion. Voice. Equity.), highlights a special subset of the YOC membership that will earn additional benefits through their commitment to play. The YOC and TaylorMade partnership aims to inspire its members through camaraderie and an all-encompassing team-like atmosphere.

The 55 members of the DRIVE Club, who reside in select markets for phase one of the initiative, will have access to play YOC partner facilities for just $1. Club members can also earn TaylorMade equipment and gear simply by playing a game they love. The more they play, the more they earn. Additionally, this partnership aims to help DRIVE Club members hone their skills on the course, with complimentary lessons provided by TaylorMade staff professionals at various locations, including the acclaimed Pebble Beach Resort.

“DRIVE Club is important to TaylorMade for many reasons,” says TaylorMade CEO David Abeles. “The betterment of the game is central to who we are, and we fully embrace that responsibility. It goes beyond engineering the highest performance equipment to help people play better golf. There’s a human and social element that we lean into, intrinsically with how the game brings people together and allows us to bond over a shared experience. DRIVE Club embodies those values, and we’re proud to partner with Youth on Course to bring it to life.”

The 100 Hole Hike is YOC’s marquee fundraising effort, with over $1M raised annually from individual and collective efforts that take place nationwide.  FTSV’s own Board Director Ron Hallagan braving participated and raised over $26,000 plus an additional generous matching gift to FTSV.

“The formation of the DRIVE Club, in partnership with TaylorMade, will help us continue to identify young people who are passionate about golf, education, and giving back, and create additional support systems to help them achieve their goals on and off the course,” says Michael Lowe, VP of Programs for YOC and FTSV Volunteer Coach.

Committed to making the game more appealing, inclusive and accessible to nurture the next generation of lifelong players and lovers of the game, YOC gives its members opportunities to grow on and off the course. Offering subsidized rounds of golf, YOC members can play at more than 1,400 courses across the country for $5 or less. First Tee of Silicon Valley is proud to partner with YOC to provide memberships through our program. Participants can register for Youth on Course cards through our registration page on our website. Additionally, we partner with YOC to promote their paid internship, scholarships, and caddying opportunities to our participants. For more information, please either visit our youth opportunity page, or go directly to the youth on course page.  www.youthoncourse.org/join.

About Youth on Course

The core purpose of Youth on Course is to help young people grow and succeed both on and off the course by providing opportunities to play, learn, grow, and build relationships through affordable, inclusive access to play. More than 100,000 members play more than 1,400 golf courses for $5 or less, benefit from career opportunities through the caddie and internship program and receive college scholarships. Headquartered in Pebble Beach, Youth on Course is a 501(c)3 organization that began as the charitable arm of the Northern California Golf Association. Since 2006, more than one million subsidized rounds have been played by Youth on Course members and more than $2 million has been awarded in college scholarships. Across North America, Youth on Course serves all of the United States of America and parts of Canada.

About TaylorMade

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade Golf is a leading manufacturer of high-performance golf equipment, golf balls and accessories with industry-leading innovative products like SIM2 metalwoods, SIM2 irons, P•Series irons, TP5/TP5x golf balls and Spider putters. A major force across the world’s professional tours, TaylorMade has an unrivaled athlete portfolio that includes Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, Collin Morikawa, Harry Higgs, SH Park, Charley Hull, Maria Fassi and Sierra Brooks.

Classic Tournament Sept. 20th – Register Now!

The Classic fundraising tournament returns to Baylands Golf Links on Monday, September 20th, 12:30pm Shotgun. 144 players will compete in a 2-person Best Ball Tournament. Invite your friends and colleagues for a great day of golf and camaraderie including lunch, post round awards dinner, prizes & auction! Registration is now open for sponsors and players. Support First Tee — Silicon Valley’s Fundraiser! Help us impact the lives of youth by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. We believe that all kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to building programs that are accessible, welcoming, and as impactful as they are fun. Sponsor Levels: $20,000 Presenting Sponsors (2) – co-branded logo on website, socials, newsletters, flyers, signage; full page ad in program plus three foursomes $10,000 Hosting Sponsors (2) – signage on 3 holes, logo on website, newsletter and program plus two foursomes $5,000 Contributing Sponsor (4) – signage on 2 premium contest holes, program logo  plus one foursomes $1000 Hole Sponsor – signage on one hole and program listing $800 Twosome or $1600 Foursome Sponsor – 18-holes golf, cart, practice range balls, box lunch, on-course beverages and snacks, tee prize, awards dinner for each player. Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected]  to discuss custom sponsorships or underwriting opportunities. Click Here to Register

Summer of Opportunity!

Every year participants from our Ace level are selected to apply for the First Tee National opportunities. Competition for the opportunities is high and spaces are limited. To be selected, applicants must meet the requirements set forth by First Tee National, and must write several short essays, add in their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and include their letters of recommendations. Applicants from across the country apply for the limited spaces and recipients get to experience opportunities of a life time. This year we are thrilled to announce the acceptance of 9 of our Ace participants: Kelly, Borina, Rachel, Sophie, Jonathan, Nancy, Rachana, Athina, and Calvin (pictures shown left to right) to various First Tee National opportunities. Borina Sutikto and Sophie Thai were accepted to the inaugural First Tee National Championship held at Clemson University Golf Course June 20-25. They tied for 2nd place with a three-day total of 1 over par! Congratulations to Sophie and Borina for their outstanding golf accomplishment. Click here to learn more. In June, Athina Chen, Rachana Ajjarapu, and Kelly Yu were all accepted to the Game Changers Academy to be held July 20th-24th in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout the four days they will take part in workshops exploring topics that encourage personal growth and promote understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community. Click here to learn more. Last week we received word that Nancy Rivera and Jonathan Tessmann were accepted to the First Tee Leadership Summit in West Creek Montana. The weeklong event in August will include collaborative workshops as well as dynamic outdoor team-building activities that will explore concepts of relationship building, positive risk taking, and identifying character strengths. Click here to learn more. Earlier this season, Borina Sutikto was one of 12 high school graduates selected from around the country (over 250 program locations nationwide) to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. The Scholarship Program supports alumni throughout their college career in an effort to further their life skill development and mentorship. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. The program also provides professional development workshops, and access to internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. Click here to read the full story and to watch the surprise video. Lastly, we learned earlier this week that four of our FTSV Ace participants were selected to the PURE Insurance Tournament supporting First Tee at historic Pebble Beach Golf Course in Monterey, CA. Rachel Troung, Calvin Kong, Sophie Thai, and Borina Sutikto were 4 of 81 top First Tee golfers from around the country selected to participate in this prestigious event. Acceptance to the PURE Insurance Championship is based heavily on their golf acumen and resume coupled with their demonstration of strong character. Each participant is paired with a top senior professional tour golfer and the tournament is televised on Golf Channel. Click here to learn more. “We are proud and excited to have Borina, Sophie, Nancy, Jonathan, Athina, Rachana, Kelly, Calvin, and Rachel represent our chapter at these national opportunities,” says First Tee – Silicon Valley Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are fortunate to have had all 9 in our program over the years and be able to watch them develop their self-management, interpersonal, and resiliency skills. They all have a positive demeanor, show care for others, and work extremely hard to be successful. What more can you ask for!” Please join us in congratulating our participants for their outstanding achievement. Acceptance to these opportunities is a product of the work they put in and the commitment they demonstrated to progress through our program. To find out more regarding our local, regional, and national opportunities please visit our youth opportunity page.

FTSV Participants Borina and Sophie Tie for 2nd at FT National Championship!

First Tee – Silicon Valley Ace participants, Borina Sutitko and Sophie Thai tied for 2nd at the First Tee National Championship, June 20-25, 2021 at Clemson University. The first-ever event with a total of 48 players brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate or next level. Both participants are excellent golfers, who are ranked nationally and play competitive tournaments in California and all around the country. Borina practices out of Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose and Sophie practices at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto. “We were proud to see Borina and Sophie compete in this inaugural event, which provided them with a college level experience on and off the course” said George Maxe, President & CEO of FTSV. “Both participants have been part of our chapter for 9 years. We have been delighted to see them grow in character over the years and play at such a competitive level.” Clemson University’s The Walker Course hosted the inaugural Championship. During the event both Sophie and Borina had the opportunity to hear from PGA Head Golf Professional Steve Scott on how his values intersected with his experience of finishing Runner-Up to Tiger Woods in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship. Additionally, First Tee National Championship provided the participants with the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-19, who were selected based on their golf skill, competitive golf experience and handicap. Sophie scored 71, 71, and 75, while Borina scored 72, 74, 71 over the three rounds. Congratulations Sophie and Borina for their outstanding play and character throughout the tournament. FTSV is proud of you!

FTSV’s Athina, Rachana and Kelly Selected for Game Changers Academy

Athina Chen, Rachana Ajjarapu, and Kelly Yu from First Tee — Silicon Valley have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 20-24, 2021. They are three of 48 teens from the First Tee network who have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in critical conversations around issues of identity, racism, equity and empathy. Athina is a rising Senior at Henry Gunn High School and has been part of FTSV for 9 years and volunteered for 2 years. She is an Ace participant which is our top level. She has also finished her Ace project work and is pending review from First Tee National to become Ace certificated which only a handful of participants from around the country achieve each year. She is the founder of the Socially Responsible Investment Fund club at her school and wants to contribute towards transforming the world of finance to make it more diverse and inclusive specifically for women of color. Rachana is a rising Junior at Monta Vista High School and has been in our program for 8 years. She is an Ace participant and an active volunteer coach for our chapter since 2018. Outside of our program she is a member of Athletes Against Assault with the goal of promoting change within her school and community culture around safety, especially women’s safety. Kelly is a going to attend Boston College in the Fall and is Ace certified (our top honor and level). She has been in our program for 10 years and has volunteer coached for our chapter since 2017. At school she is the Director of Outreach at Coalition Z which is working to engage youth in politics and social justice. All three FTSV participants are leaders in and outside of our program and are taking action in their communities to be positive difference makers,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Acceptance in the Game Changers Academy will provide valuable lessons and experiences which will equip them with the tools to give back and make positive change. We are proud of who they are and how they want to make this world a better place, and we are excited to see them pursue their goals in order to shape the future.” “Diversity, equity and inclusion have been part of the fabric of First Tee since the beginning, and we are proud to provide an event that allows teens from across the country to go deeper on the subject,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “First Tee is about empowering these young people to be game changers in their community. Congratulations to Athina, Rachana, and Kelly for being selected from a national pool of candidates to represent First Tee — Silicon at this event.” The event will feature engaging and interactive workshops facilitated by RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations. The workshops will explore a multitude of topics that encourage personal growth and understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community. The workshops will be paired with reflections led by nationally trained First Tee coaches, team building activities such as a scavenger hunt in the city of Philadelphia and a community outreach project, and keynote speakers from the sports industry including Vice-President, Community & Inclusion for the PGA TOUR Marsha Oliver. First Tee – Greater Philadelphia will host the teens for golf outings at John F. Byrne Golf Course where they will continue to build upon their connections with other participants from around the country and hear different perspectives from their peers. 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. Congratulations Athina, Rachana, and Kelly!