(Juan Hernandez receives 2025 Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship – Published 08/8/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley participant, Juan Hernandez, was recently awarded the 2025 Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship. Each year golfers in the Dennis Kettmann Memorial Tournament raise funds to remember Dennis. Their generosity underwrites this special $5,000 college scholarship for a standout FTSV participant.
Dennis’s son and co-organizer of the Memorial Tournament, Matt Kettmann, learned the game from his father, Dennis, and knows that he must be smiling knowing that his memory is now helping FTSV’s young people pursue their college dreams.
David Henningsen, who is also a co-organizer shared, “It was 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.”
More About Juan Hernandez
Juan Hernandez first came to First Tee – Silicon Valley as a 6th grader. He was exposed to our program by our long-time youth partner, Redwood City Pal Center. Each season the Pal Center transports up to 13 participants in their van and takes them to our Friday classes at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto. As Juan aged into high school, he and his brother made the long trip to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course every Saturday to continue his classes. He is a unifying and positive force in our class and we are grateful to have him with us each and every season. This fall he will be attending Sacramento State University where he plans to study Civil Engineering.
“Including others and being more outgoing are some of my biggest take aways from FTSV. I sometimes see people at school that are by themselves or don’t have many friends, and I invite them to hang out with me and my friends. First Tee has helped me to be a Go-To person for others and realize who my Go-To people are. I have different Go-To people for different situations, people like my brother, my friends, and my coaches.”
“For other kids starting out, I’d say keep going. It’s good to keep an open mind, in the end, it’s worth it. The program will help you a lot. It will help you set your vision and teach you important life skills that will help you right now and for the rest of your life. Don’t knock it until you try it!”
This scholarship will go a long way towards helping Juan pursue his educational goals and more. Thank you to the Dennis Kettman Memorial Golf Tournament, and congratulations to Juan!
Listen to Juan’s Speech at the 2025 FTSV OPEN tournament to learn more about his time in FTSV
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(FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Supporters & Winners) FTSV’s 13th Annual OPEN tournament on June 6th was a great day for all. The weather couldn’t have been better at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for the 124 golfers including 10 top sponsors who came together for a great cause, raising a total of $140,000. Proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley’s financial aid program. We teach life skills and golf skills on-course, in-school, and after-school. Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
One of our teen participants, Juan Hernandez, shared the impact our program has had on him and his brother saying “I graduated from Highschool today and I will be going to Sacramento State to study Civil Engineering. I am going to be the first in my family to attend college. I know the skills I have been developing in First Tee – Silicon Valley will help me to make the most of it. Skills such as goal setting, collaborative communication and building a go-to-team full of people who challenge me and support me are going to make me successful.”.
We would like to recognize all the individuals behind our Sponsorships.
Presenting Sponsor: SAGA Foundation (David Bartoshuk)
Hosting PLUS Sponsors: PGA TOUR Superstores in Cupertino & East Palo Alto (Kate Nielsen & Brad Hanson)
Hosting Sponsors: Gallagher (Mike Gallagher)
Contributing Sponsors: Hallagan Huston Family Foundation (Ron Hallagan), PwC (Sarah Beelaard), Panera Bread (Jeff Burrill), Pinnacle Bank (Doug Moffat), Bill Powar, Ajinomoto (Max von Poelnitz), Luna Mexican Kitchen (John Lopez)
DGDG Car Hole-in-One – no winners but special thanks to Jeremy Beaver for their sponsorship.
Thank you to our Raffle Donors and Winners
La Rinconada Country Club – Derek Anderson
Almaden Golf & Country Club – Kevin Kelly
Silver Creek Valley Country Club – Alan Eustace
Boulder Ridge Golf Club - Tom Tate
San Jose Country Club – Bill Powar
The Peninsula Golf & Country Club – Lucas Wendt
Callaway Elyte Driver & Hyperlight Zero Stand Bag- Kathy Kwan
Scotty Cameron Putter – Steve Almassy
The Clubhouse in Fremont – John Turner
Total Wine Private Wine Class for 20 – Steve Baroni
Daytrip in Tesla Cybertruck – Rod Wade
Thank you to our Live Auction Donors & Supporters:
Eden Rift Vineyards ATV Tour & Tasting for 8 with Christian Pillsbury & Michelle Wei – Ken Miller
49ers 2-Game Package Plus Tailgate Parking x 2 – Gareth Hunt & Robert Carrillo/Mathew Turner
Special Day at Mayacama Golf Club with Mike Blach – Ron Hallagan
An Evening with San Jose Sharks with Randy Hahn – Steve Almassy
Spectacular Golf for 8 at CordeValle Golf Club x 2 – Ron Hallagan & Rod Wade
SF Giants Experience + Memorabilia – Steve Almassy
Warriors VIP Sandisk Courtside Lounge Experience x 2 – Steve Baroni & Ron Hallagan
Special Day at Olympic Club with Kolbey Moreno – Eric Arnold
Thank you to our MC & Auctioneer Randy Hahn – Emmy Award winning Sharks television broadcaster
Thank you to Board of Directors and Ambassadors who participated or helped with sponsors: Victor Arrañaga, Sarah Beelaard, Steve Almassy, Max von Poelnitz, Shawn Fox, Steve Guerrero, Andrea Brenholz , Dick Budelli, Don DeLorenzo, Ron Hallagan, Doug Moffat, Kunal Shalia, Alex Worbel.
Thank you to our Tournament Coordinators: Development Director Judy Dixon Deaton & Marketing/Events Coordinator Nicole Woodson
Thank you to our Staff: President & CEO George Maxe, Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, Operations Coordinator Julie Donnellan, Program Coordinators Manny Gallardo, Phoenix Jarrell-Desch, Tanner Riley, Austin Westly
Thank you to our Volunteers: Michael Freday, Joshua Joo, Diego Garcia, Gabe Garcia, Nico Hernandez, Sahara Huchim, Zoe Huchim, Kai Nishihara, Vian Tran, Norah Yang, Dharini Sitaraman, Jennifer Barrientos, Jerry Moore, Leonardo Villegas, Ben Hsu
Thank you to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club: Tournament Director Nick Starr, General Manager Adam Schiro, and Food & Beverage and Grounds Staff for a perfectly run tournament.
Proceeds from the Open will 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 growing our program so it is accessible to MORE kids.
Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected] to discuss sponsorship or underwriting opportunities for next year’s Open in June.
