Elise NJ and Li An Panfil from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 2 of 40 participants selected to attend 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.
(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. This 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, located in 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!
Elise NJ is a rising Junior at UPA in San Jose. She has been an excellent First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) participant for over 4 years. Elise has taken classes every season including Zoom classes during the COVID-impacted year in 2020. She started volunteering as a junior FTSV coach this year. In addition to volunteering at FTSV she teaches STEAM classes to elementary students and volunteering at the African American Community Service Agency, she coordinates senior citizen dances and community outreaches.
“I attribute my progress to the values instilled in me by First Tee,” says Elise. “The program’s emphasis on teamwork motived me to help others, not by telling them what to do, but by guiding them towards their own solutions. As a volunteer, I get to practice these skills regularly.”
Li An is a rising Junior at Christopher High School in Gilroy. She has been an outstanding participant with FTSV for over 10 years and a FTSV Coach for 2 years. She completed all 5 of our previous levels including all 4 of our ACE (now known as Future Planning) class projects. Outside of First Tee she is the captain of her school’s golf team and started a few clubs including the Chemical Society Club and the Journalism Club. “First Tee has provided me with tools for success,” said Li An, “to set goals that I can strive for and attain.”
We are grateful for the contributions Elise and Li An have made to our chapter,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “They both are outstanding role models for our participants and we are excited for them to continue to develop their leadership skills at the leadership summit. Congratulations to you both!”
