Meet The First Tee Scholars

Please join us in congratulating Rhea, Noah, and Varsha for being designated as The First Tee Scholars for 2018-19! All three participants are Ace certified and have been heavily involved in The First Tee of Silicon Valley for over five years! The First Tee Scholars Program is a distinction awarded to teen participants who excel in academics, leadership, character development, and community involvement. Accepted Scholars are eligible for scholarship opportunities. Named Scholarships are funds received either in honor or memory of someone, or have been donated by individuals or corporations.  Most of these scholarships are worth $2,500 per year and are renewable for four years ($10,000 total) assuming the student continues to meet the school’s criteria for merit scholarships.  The funds are paid directly to the institution of the recipient’s choice. Rhea Advani joined TFTSV in 2014 and is currently an Ace certified participant! Rhea attended the Life Skills and Leadership Academy and the NorCal Life Skills and Leadership Academy. She also volunteers as a junior coach and has helped teach our participants STEM concepts during our STEM Stomp event. Rhea is currently a senior at Circle of Independent Learning Charter School in Fremont. She plans to attend Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL as a Public Health major under the Dual Admission 8-year medical program.  Noah Covarrubias joined TFTSV in 2011 and is currently an Ace certified participant! Noah has volunteered as a junior coach, attended the NorCal Leadership Academy, and volunteered at our fundraisers. He is currently a senior at Saint Francis High School and plans to attend Arizona State studying Chemical Engineering. Varsha Nekkanti joined TFTSV in 2011 and is currently an Ace certified participant! Varsha was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Participant Award and the 2018 John Deere Power for Good Scholarship. She also volunteers as a junior coach and implemented a program called “Dig Deeper” in which she teaches participants STEM concepts and she provides assistance with the Life Skills materials. She is currently a senior at Notre Dame high school. She has been accepted to UC Berkeley and plans to study Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology.