(Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende Selected to First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore) Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 2 of 40 participants selected to 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, and (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 which 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, 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!
Meet Joshua Joo
Joshua Joo has been a participant in our program for more than 3 years now, and every season he continues to push himself above and beyond, impressing coaches and making a positive impact on the people around him. In class, Joshua speaks up in the life skill discussions, bringing his own perspective to the conversation and engaging his teammates. As a junior coach, he is working hard to make sure kids have fun and make friends, all while asking for feedback so he can continue to improve his leadership skills. He recently received the Presidential Service award for number of hours volunteered.
Meet Vikrant Bhende
Vikrant Bhende loves giving back to his community so much that he spends his entire Saturday at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course volunteering with FTSV. He is a friendly, smiling face at our check in table, welcoming in parents and participants, guiding kids to their classes and creating a professional and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone’s day goes more smoothly when Vikrant is there! He is organized and makes sure everyone working with him maintains that same organization. He is taking our Ace classes where he is a natural leader and elevates the engagement in our classes.
(Edwin Sanchez, Vian Tran and Marissa Wei Selected to First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore) Edwin, Vian and Marissa from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 3 of 48 participants selected from across the country to the First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Leadership Academy is set in Atlanta Georgia and provides selected teens insight on how successful teams perform. The curriculum explores leadership concepts focusing on (1) building a successful team by recognizing values and identifying strengths/weaknesses, (2) leading a team by developing authentic relationships and empowering others, (3) supporting the team by developing awareness and acting with humility, and (4) assessing based on comprehending and identifying the team’s need and supporting through innovation and advocacy. The academy provides an opportunity for teens to explore team dynamics that enhance their future performance as they collaborate with peers and adult mentors. Activity- based workshops are facilitated by leaders from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
UPDATE: Edwin Sanchez, Vian Tran and Marissa Wei attended the First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore
Marissa, Vian and Edwin all had a fantastic time at the Leadership Academy in Atlanta. All three participants left the event having learned something important about what it takes to be a leader, and they made friends and memories along the way. Here is what they had to say about their experience:
Edwin
For Edwin, his favorite part of the week was connecting with participants from across the country. “Being around people who have the same values as you really helps build strong friendships. Everyone there was interested in learning how to become a better leader, and how to work with others to become a strong team.”
Edwin also learned about the importance of sharing power and encouraging others to step up as leaders. “Letting others be the leader and sharing that power is a great choice. Other folks get a chance to show their personal strengths and contribute a new perspective, and it’s good to let yourself follow instead of lead sometimes.”
Besides the team-building and life skill work, Edwin’s favorite part of the experience was the zip-line course and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Vian
The Leadership Academy helps participants to find their own personal leadership styles, as well as to improve their skills in communication and teamwork. For Vian, the communication workshops stood out to her. “We went to the Alanta United FC for a team communication activity. One person was able to look at an image then had to pass on that information through the rest of the team so that the final person could try to recreate it. The activity was challenging and active, and we had to communicate clearly with one another to achieve our goal. I loved that game!”
Vian’s biggest takeaway was about stepping outside of her comfort zone. When she first got to the Academy, Vian actively pushed herself to communicate and work with new people. “It was different than school and group projects. Coming out of my comfort zone here was a big thing for me. I first started by talking with a chaperone, and when that went well, I started talking with new people, even those from outside of my group. It was amazing! The people were so nice.”
Vian plans to keep this up going forward and will continue to push herself to form new connections and continue to build her community.
Marissa
During the Leadership Academy, every day had a different theme, and this aspect really stood out to Marissa. “I had so much fun; it was amazing! Each day was something different, including Building a Team, Supporting a Team and Assessing a Team. All the different activities helped us to practice these different components of leadership.” By spending the time diving deep into these different important aspects of teamwork, Marissa feels like she better understands how all parts work together.
During the time spent at the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta United stadiums, Marissa learned about how professional teams practice leadership and teamwork within a sports setting. “The biggest take away for me was the importance of setting core values for the team. It keeps everyone on the same page, people can bring their ideas together, and it helps everyone work towards a common goal.”
Great work FTSV participants for taking full advantage of this awesome opportunity, and representing our chapter so well!
We are very proud of you, Edwin, Vian and Marissa!
Meet our First Tee Leadership Academy Participants!
Meet Edwin Sanchez
Edwin has been an engaged participant for roughly 6 years. He spends most of his Saturdays at Rancho del Pueblo, taking classes and giving back as a junior volunteer coach. When he is not coaching and helping us he is organizing monthly neighborhood clean-up. Working with Beautify SJ, Edwin and other community members spend 3 hours every month cleaning and giving back to the neighborhood. When asked about the project, he said “I’ve been doing this for almost 8 months. It fills me with pride to help my community, the place I grew up. FTSV has helped me a lot with my time management and I use that skill regularly, especially on projects such as this one.”
Edwin is also a part of the San Jose Youth Commission, representing District 3. The Youth Commission is a group of young people committed to serving their community through legislation, service projects, and activism. Within this role, Edwin runs a Youth Advisory Committee, working directly with other teens from his district to provide input on policy and programs that impact the city.
Meet Vian Tran
Vian Tran is a long-time participant, a junior volunteer coach, and a member of our Junior Council. She is on her Evergreen high school golf team.
Vian is someone who always raises her hand to volunteer whenever something needs to get done, helping with a smile on her face. According to Coach Tanner, “Vian consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every participant feels truly seen, heard, and valued. From the very beginning, I had the privilege of coaching alongside her during her first season, and it’s been incredible to witness her growth. She has blossomed into a confident and compassionate leader not only uplifting our participants but also serving as a mentor and role model for junior volunteers.”
Away from FTSV she volunteers at a San Jose mobile park home supporting and coordinating events.
Meet Marissa Wei
Marissa started with FTSV when she was 6 years old and is now in her 10th year as a participant! During our classes, Marissa is engaged, dedicated and confident. She stands out as a participant with how well she embodies the Life Skills. She has been involved in our ACE classes, completing both the Education and Volunteer course work on her way to full ACE certification. Marissa is an exceptionally kind person and volunteer coach, making sure that the younger participants feel included and have fun. Coach Elias coaches with Marissa regularly, and had this to say, “It is great coaching with Coach Marissa. She is accountable and willing to learn, someone that takes feedback well and always striving to improve outside of her comfort zone.”
Last year Marissa was selected to represent our chapter in the Game Changer Academy in Minnesota.
(FTSV’s Participants Selected for Game Changers Academy) Li An Panfil and Nicolas Hernandez Lopez from First Tee — Silicon Valley have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 8-12, 2025. They are 2 of 72 teens from the First Tee network who have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity, empathy and inclusion. RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches. The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position the teens to be advocates for justice and social change in their current and future communities.
Meet FTSV’s Participants for the Game Changers Academy
Meet Li An Panfil
Li An has been a highly engaged participant with First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2013. She has participated in every class offered at FTSV including our four ACE seminar classes (Career, Education, Give Back, and Golf). Li An also volunteers regularly, giving almost 300 hours of her time back to FTSV. Between coaching Girls Golf, coaching our Life Skill program, and leading a subcommittee in our FTSV Junior Council, Li An is constantly going above and beyond and distinguishing herself as a respected leader.
After the event, Li An had this to say:
“During the week, we attended different leadership workshops and learned a lot about leadership and teamwork. On the final day, John Randle from the Vikings spoke with us about his own experiences in the NFL. He said that even if you’re not in a specific leadership position, you still have the responsibility to do what you can, and that you don’t need a designated title to be a good leader. This really resonated with me.”
Meet Nicolas Hernandez Lopez
Nicolas has been involved with FTSV for the past 10 years as a participant, a volunteer coach, and a Junior Council member. He is consistently pushing himself to become more involved and find ways to continue to give back. As a coach, Nico is patient and kind, making class fun and exciting for the young participants. As a participant, Nico engages deeply with the life skill discussions/activities and goes out of his way to make sure other participants are included. Additionally, he has been part of a group that helped plan community events for our chapter. He is going to be a wonderful representative of our chapter at the Game Changers Academy!
Nicolas ended up having a great time at the event...
“It was so much fun meeting new people and experiencing different perspectives. I was able to talk and collaborate with other kids about what they do in their chapters, and to hear about different ways to persevere through challenges.”
“The biggest takeaway for me were the experiences, the moments with my new friends and the conversations I had with mentors and speakers. It opened my eyes to different possibilities and taught me how to overcome different challenges. We really came together as a unit. For example, one kid forgot his golf clubs, so we lent him some. Another kid was homesick, and we comforted him. We built a lot of comradery and togetherness in a very short amount of time. It was really something special.”
The event was held at the University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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.
(FTSV Participant Accepted for the 2025 First Tee National Championship!) First Tee – Silicon Valley participant Brian Yu was selected to compete in the fifth annual First Tee National Championship held at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana on June 22nd to 26th. The First Tee National Championship brings together First Tee’s elite players for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped them build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate or next level. The winners of each male and female division will be awarded with the Tattersall Cup named after First Tee Trustee, Fred Tattersall. Each winner will earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
First Tee National Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play event at the Warren Golf Course featuring a Girls and Boys division for high school participants. The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who are selected based on their golf skill, competitive golf experience and handicap. Last year, FTSV participant Norah Yang took first place in the Girls division, bringing back the National title for our chapter (click here to learn more about last year’s tournament).
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Brian will be unable to attend this event. It was an honor to have him selected, and we wish him luck in future tournaments.
Meet Brian Yu
Brian started with FTSV back in 2017. He attended classes regularly, building his love for the game alongside an incredibly strong work ethic. In middle school, Brian took a break from FTSV while beginning to hone in his tournament golf skills and truly developing himself as a strong player. Now, he is back, working hard as a junior coach and a member of the First Tee junior council, giving back to the same program he first started with. Just recently, Brian shot a -4 66 at the Stanford Golf Course to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Congratulations Brian and good luck!
First Tee National opportunities are fantastic experiences for our participants. Attendees get to meet new people, create lasting memories, and challenge themselves in unique and interesting ways. Here are the opportunities happening this fall.
First Tee Drive Your Future Academy presented by John Deere
Participants Natalie Kiatsupaibul and Sophia Tang will be representing FTSV at the Drive Your Future Academy this year. Held in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, the DYFA is a female empowerment event recognizing young women who are motivated to influence positive impact at their chapters, schools and communities. The five-day academy experience focuses on the importance of (1) building a strong network and how to approach mentorship opportunities, (2) navigating post-graduation and career planning, and (3) appreciating the value/impact of volunteerism. Over the years, this has been an awesome event where our female participants meet other great FT participants and leaders from across the country, and build connections and networks that they can rely on into the future. Have fun Natalie and Sophia!
First Tee Innovators Forum
Participant Dakota Chang is going to be attending the upcoming Innovators Forum, this year held at the First Tee National Network Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. First Tee Innovators Forum equips and empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities focused on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability. Selected participants have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders through interactive workshops and small group breakout sessions. By bringing together passionate participants from across the chapter network, First Tee Innovators Forum provides a distinctive enrichment experience, engaging teens who share a similar desire for learning and generating changes in their communities. Dakota has been a stand out participant and volunteer for many years. We have no doubt that she will positively represent our chapter at this national First Tee event.
The Power of Opportunity
When FTSV participants attend National Opportunities, they meet participants, coaches and mentors from across the country. Through collaboration and teamwork, First Tee teens make lasting friendships, learn more about their strengths, and push themselves to be their best selves. These opportunities are available to those who have demonstrated their ability to go above and beyond in the program, and who continue to become involved in the many different sessions FTSV has to offer. Most of the opportunities occur during the summer, so applications are due in the spring. If you would like to learn more about applying for National Opportunities, please reach out to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]) or visit our website.
(National Opportunity Recap) – This summer, four fantastic First Tee – Silicon Valley participants returned from across the country after participating in First Tee National Opportunities. Isabella Herrera and Marrisa Wei attended the Game Changers Academy held in Minneapolis, MN while Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang represented FTSV at the Leadership Academy in Atlanta, GA. Both of the events provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn from industry leaders, engage in leadership-building activities, meet participants from across the county, and build lifelong memories. If you would like to learn more about the National Opportunities and how to qualify and apply please visit click here or reach out to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]).
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow Jr. July 9th – 13th
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is a five-day learning and empowerment academy. Attending participants participate in important conversations embracing topics of self-awareness, inclusivity, and community building. First Tee invites its partner, RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice, to facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches.
The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position our teens to be Game Changers in their current and future communities. The academy is the ultimate tribute to Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a fearless champion of change.
During the week, FTSV participants Isabella and Marissa attended workshops, met inspirational people, and completed group activities all based around building leadership and teamwork skills. For Isabella, one of the most memorable actives was when she played golf with Victoria Arlen. Victoria is a four-time paralympic medalist in swimming, an ESPN sportscaster, and even performed on Dancing with the Stars, all after having to re-learn how to walk after losing the ability to eat, speak, walk and even more. Victoria developed two different rare conditions that completely changed her life, leaving her in a coma for four years. Her recovery journey taught her how important setting progress goals are to staying motivated while working towards something big.
Isabella was able to play with Victoria, and said this…
“It was incredible what she knows about sports. Whenever I talk with a guy about sports outside of FT, I’m not taken seriously, like I don’t know what I am talking about. When I was talking with her, she affirmed me. She knew all about sports, even more than me, and it made me feel so good to talk with her about it.”
For Isabella, her biggest take away was about herself identity. “My self-identity isn’t something casual I brush past, it’s something I should fully embrace and be proud of. The more pride I have, the more connection I have to myself and that strengthens my self-identity. Putting myself out there when I play golf is what makes me special. Golf is traditionally a white male sport, so being able to not only represent girls but also Latinas when I am playing hopefully can help inspire others to do the same, not just in golf but in sports in general. Representation matters!”
Marissa also had an impactful and memorable experience at the Game Changers Academy. For Marissa, one of her biggest takeaways was learning about the different traits that go into a good leader.
Marissa had this to say…
“Being inclusive is a really important part of being a good leader. It not only starts with understanding who you are as a person, but also by taking the time to understand others values and using that to make a stronger team. Making sure you are listening to everyone is really important, along with having the confidence in yourself to go above and beyond to make a difference.”
Marissa says that her experience during this academy will help her to be a better junior coach with FTSV. “It helped me to become a lot more aware of my actions and for me to make sure that I am listening to my participants, making sure they feel like they belong and are being included. This is a good example of how I can be a leader for the younger participants.”
Thank you, Isabella and Marissa, for representing our chapter in such a positive way!
First Tee Leadership Academy, June 17th – 22nd
FTSV participants, Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang recently returned from the PGA TOUR SuperstoreFirst Tee Leadership Academy. The Academy builds on the 5-week local Leadership Series and provides selected teens insight on how successful teams perform. The curriculum explores leadership concepts focusing on: (1) building a successful team by recognizing values and identifying strengths/weaknesses, (2) leading a team by developing authentic relationships and empowering others, (3) supporting the team by developing awareness and acting with humility, and (4) assessing based on comprehending and identifying the teams need and supporting through innovation and advocacy. The academy provides an opportunity for teens to explore team dynamics that enhance their future performance as they collaborate with peers and adult mentors. Activity-based workshops are facilitated by leaders from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
Both of our participants had fun and meaningful experiences that they will remember for a lifetime. During their week, they heard from many guest speakers, including the president of the PGA TOUR Superstore, Jill Spiegel. She spoke about the importance of leadership and a strong work culture, and different strategies for bringing teams together.
They also learned about the important traits of good leaders. For Dakota, her biggest takeaway was “Good leaders don’t get caught up on failures. Instead, they take it as a lesson and learn from it, asking ‘what could I have done differently?’. They aren’t afraid to step back and let others take over, and that allows for more diversity and improvement through reflection.” She knows that constructive leadership comes from always striving to do better without putting yourself down for making mistakes.
When asking Ashely about what she learned during the Leadership Academy, she focused more on teamwork. “In a team, communication and relationship building are the fundamental basis of making a team work. Trust is really important in communication, and being able to apply that value with people I didn’t even know was really special. By the end, we had formed teams and lifelong friends! Remember, challenge breeds innovation.”
The Academy was a great opportunity for Ashely and Dakota to apply the leadership skills they learned in their FTSV Grades 9-12 classes, and in their ACE classes. This Academy and the other National Opportunities are part of what makes First Tee special as they help shape the leaders of tomorrow.
This particular national opportunity became available to participants who excelled during the First Tee Leadership Series that took place at our own local Cupertino PGA TOUR Superstore. If your participant is in high school and is interested in being a part of next year’s Leadership Series, please reach out to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]) or have them tell their coach next time they see them!
Join our Program
Join our program by clicking here. The 4 participants have been in our program since they were in grade school and have been models of consistency throughout the years. It is no wonder they are leaders amongst their peers and we are glad their hard work and dedication paid off.
