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Participant Spotlight: Eduardo Tapper

Meet Eduardo Tapper, this month’s participant spotlight. Eduardo began his love for golf with First Tee – Silicon Valley at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto when he was only six. Now a rising junior at Sacred Heart Prep, he is giving back by helping to raise funds to underwrite St. Elizabeth Seton’s participation in First Tee – Silicon Valley’s School Program, which includes equipment, games, training and field trip to Baylands so kids in East Palo Alto neighborhoods can experience the culture of mentorship and engaging lessons of First Tee. “I asked what else I can contribute and started funding an after-school event in addition to collecting more clubs for First Tee – Silicon Valley that will help later generations.”

Eduardo did amazing work to help to collect $7,900 for FTSV Adopt-A-Title 1 School Program and $100,000 for financial aid! He and his golf team also collected golf clubs for participants to use as part of our used club program to ensure all kids have proper equipment and feel included.

Through his efforts and accomplishments, Eduardo has learned valuable life skills that will serve him well for college and beyond. According to Eduardo, “I’ve learned an entire array of business skills like using Google Sheets, reaching out to people, writing formal emails, getting a glimpse into work life, updating calls, and working with a team.” In addition, his project has given him the ability to quantify his goals, treat his work as a step-by-step process, and improve his decision making as well as to become more efficient in his time management by scheduling out his upcoming tasks. All of which are part of the First Tee – Silicon’s Life Skills curriculum. However, maybe the most important perspective Eduardo has gained is that “It takes a community to drive a strong movement and to understand how such a small change like donating twenty dollars or a single small idea can legitimately change someone’s life.”

Preparing for the Future

One of the biggest goals of FTSV is helping to prepare the participants for the future. The fundraising that Eduardo is facilitating is not only helping provide resources to support other participants, it is developing his own transferable skills that will be valuable later. FTSV encourages our participants to push themselves into their “stretch zone” and take on extra challenges, go above an beyond, collaborate with others, and set specific short-term goals that lead to their biggest goals. Through our classes, and programs like the First Tee National Opportunities, FTSV Junior Council, volunteer coaching, and the ACE Program; FTSV participants have the framework necessary to not only to succeed in the future, but to thrive.

First Tee – Silicon Valley thanks Eduardo for all of his generous work for the program, and can’t wait to see his future plans come to fruition!

Learn more about how you can help!

If you would like to donate to FTSV, please click here. To read more about the opportunities available at FTSV, check out this page on our website.

Updated: 05-01-2025 / Published: 06-12-2024

Participant Spotlight: Nico Hernandez

In this month’s spotlight, we are highlighting participant Nico Hernandez, a rising sophomore at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He was first introduced to First Tee – Silicon Valley by a family friend as early as a kindergartener. Nico is now inspiring a whole new generation of young golfers as a volunteer coach.

Grateful for all that FTSV has done for him, Nico takes pleasure in giving back to the First Tee community, arriving early to help set up for the day’s activities, and staying late for tear down. Nico says, “I’m super passionate about doing whatever I can for our participants because I’ve been there myself. My goal is to become a future generation leader and understand anything they’re going through because I’ve experienced the same thing from my own time as a participant.”

Going beyond the golf course

Nico’s enthusiasm and dedication extends beyond the golf course. He excels in a variety of pursuits, putting the skills of setting and achieving goals that he’s learned from First Tee to work. Not only has he become the fastest swimmer on his swim team, Nico also turned a dream into reality by starring in his own weekly podcast at school. He explains, “Setting goals is like laying out a path to improve and achieve anything you want. When I set a goal, I can easily visualize my progress. It boosts my mental well-being and helps me move forward. Through my time with First Tee, I feel like I’ve not only gotten better at golf but also grown as a person. I’ve learned how to set short-term and long-term goals as steps to achieve my final goal along with my coaches and friends.”

No matter if it’s academics, social interactions, or golf, Nico feels confident to tackle any challenge. His positive attitude and mindful approach to his activities has helped him and the people he’s around to flourish. FTSV looks forward to hearing about your future achievements, Nico!

Nico is a shining example of the kinds of participants and junior coaches that FTSV has in the program.

Be a participant, coach, or mentor like Nico!

Registration for our Summer session opens on Wednesday, May 15^th. Please visit the website to learn more about how to register and how to apply as a volunteer coach.

This story was written by a member of the FTSV Junior Council. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about our FTSV Junior Council.

Published: 05-03-2024

Coach Spotlight: Joe Stuban

In this month’s coach spotlight, we highlight Joe Stuban.

Easy doesn’t change you. For one to grow, there needs to be a challenge to push the change. This is true of our participants, and it is also true of our coaches. Program Coordinator Joe Stuban faced a unique business situation and shared his experience growing through challenges.

Coach Joe began as a participant in First Tee – Silicon Valley and returned as a part time coach before finally becoming a Program Coordinator. He coaches all age levels, including most of the 9^th-12^th grade sessions. When he isn’t on the course, you can find Coach Joe in the office, hard at work coordinating the School Program, among other things. This outreach partner program is important to FTSV as it shares the Life Skill curriculum with large numbers of students at their school, introducing them to our organization and the wonderful game of golf.

Challenge Accepted!

In 2019, FTSV engaged 19 schools to take part in our School Program, but in 2020 the growing School Program came to a screeching halt due to COVID. Schools closed down and many of the school staff that we developed a partnership with left, leaving uncertainty about future collaboration with us. On top of those concerns, the school curriculum had to be adapted to accommodate the changing landscape, including safety protocols. Challenge is where one pushes themself to grow, to learn from mistakes, and to adapt, and that is what Coach Joe set out to do.

Coach Joe shared some of the ways that he feels he grew during this transformational time.

“I learned a lot about myself during this time – how to make adjustments, and how to see progression as a journey and not a straight line. I learned how to be more organized, something that was absolutely necessary during this transition. I learned how to collaboratively communicate with school staff of all levels and picked up new skills in project management, communication, facilitation and delegation During this time, I worked harder than I had ever worked before, determined to turn a challenge into success. What started out as an intimidating, looming challenge ended up being the perfect fuel, just what I needed to push me to be my best self, to rise to the occasion.”

Growing through Challenges

At First Tee – Silicon Valley, the participants are taught how challenge is necessary for growth. We teach tips regarding how to show perseverance, how to see adversity as informative and an opportunity to learn, and how to learn from others. Having the proper positive perspective is necessary to not just overcome a challenge, but to improve from it. These life skill tips are critical for the development of youth, and is just as important as someone gets older. Coach Joe is a testament to how we can make positive outcomes through challenges. By addressing a business challenge – and growing personally in the process – the First Tee – Silicon Valley School Program is in a better place. We now have over 25 schools with strengthening partnerships!

Thanks Coach Joe!

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.

Read More about becoming a coach and mentor. Download the volunteer brochure HERE.

Published: 4-10-2024

Mentor Spotlight: Meet Jeffy Chang

The mentors in First Tee – Silicon Valley are the most important part of the program. It is because of their care, time and effort that we are able to make an impact on our participants. This month, we would like to highlight one of our amazing mentors, meet Jeffy Chang.

Jeffy Chang is a shining example of the role models we are proud to call our coaches at FTSV. For Jeffy, respect is everything. For others, for surroundings, and for one’s self; respect is the foundation that we build our character upon. This foundation is what’s key according to Jeffy, and that “this foundation is how [our participants] are going to approach life…it’s what they build on as a person.” Helping to establish that foundation of respect is an emphasis of Jeffy’s. Talking to the participants lucky enough to work with him, it is clear he is having a very positive impact.

Jeffy started volunteering in 2017

After seeing the impact FTSV was having on his children in their first couple seasons, Jeffy wanted to help make that same impact on others. He noticed, “For my kids, it was a safe haven, and a place that was familiar.” Jeffy began volunteering and never turned back, accumulating over 1800 hours of service to date. He coaches up to 4 classes a week and serves on our Board of Ambassadors, while also working and being there for his family. Once his kid’s started high school, they also joined as volunteer coaches, so now the Chang’s coach 2-3 classes every Saturday. First to arrive and last to leave on program Saturdays, the entire family puts all First Tee life skills on full display, positively impacting the supportive environment that exists at Rancho del Pueblo.

When asked about why they come back week after week, Jeffy said:

“When we were here on the weekends, I could sense more confidence in my kids. Saturday was their place; they knew how to interact and what to do. School is very different; you don’t see bullying at First Tee and it gives kids the space to grow and push themselves. When you push to challenge yourself, that’s that growth mindset.”

When talking to Jeffy, it’s clear that he sees the learning opportunities of First Tee going beyond what happens on the golf course. The learning doesn’t stop once the participants leave their session. These Life Skills will continue with them into all other aspects of their lives.

Jeffy has advice for parents of First Tee participants, saying:

“There are parents that think we need to just teach them golf, but all of our Life Skill behaviors/tips are things that should start at home; First Tee coaches just reinforce them. I encourage parents, if they aren’t going to volunteer, to please be involved in what we are trying to help their kids learn. It’s going to be that much more effective if you can talk with your kids at home about what they are working on in class and help continue that learning.”

Here at First Tee, we love talking with parents about the Life Skills that we are sharing in our sessions and how we would love to work more directly with them on ways to continue their kids’ learning outside of the golf course. All of the coaches are more than happy to check in. Let’s get to know each other better!

If you too would like to become more involved and make a positive impact on the kids in our community, please visit our website to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available. It is our mentors that make what we do possible. As the significant commitment of our awesome coaches like Jeffy reveal, the greater the involvement of high quality mentors, the greater the positive impact on kids.

Thank you, Jeffy, for all that you and your family give to our First Tee – Silicon Valley community, and thank you to all our First Tee – Silicon Valley mentors!

PUBLISHED: 03-14-2024

Participant Spotlight: Meet Natalie Chen

For this spotlight, meet FTSV participant Natalie Chen!

First Tee – Silicon Valley believes that challenges faced in life present the perfect opportunity for personal growth and development. Golf, like life, is full of challenges. Learning how to react to and work through these challenges is what allows players to excel at the game. FTSV believes that the same principles apply to our lives outside of golf, that when faced with difficult and unique circumstances, maintaining a growth mindset allows us to persevere and continue to develop. Our participants have internalized these values and find success as they apply them to challenges on and off the course.

Natalie Chen is one of our participants who thrives in challenging situations. She began taking our classes in the 3^rd grade, coming from a family that wasn’t very familiar with golf. From the beginning, Natalie has felt right at home, saying “First Tee was very welcoming…[they] set the stepping stones for me to build the confidence to walk on to a golf course and know what to do”. After many seasons with FTSV, Natalie earned a spot on her school’s varsity golf team. On the team she even has friends who she met through FTSV, other people who she knows she can rely on, both on and off of the course.

Natalie on Volunteering

Natalie began volunteering with FTSV the summer before her freshman year of high school, the earliest possible season a junior can begin coaching. It has been a year and a half now, and she has thrived in her position. According to Natalie, “I love it so much. Coaching has helped me build my relationship with golf even outside of my school team. I really like teaching the little kids, they are like little brothers and sisters to me”.

Being involved with FTSV as both a participant and volunteer has provided Natalie with the tools and mindset to work through and grow from challenges. As a participant, Natalie has worked on the FTSV curriculum with her coaches for many seasons, practicing and developing her perseverance, her positive growth mindset, and her ability to reflect on her mistakes and successes to learn what works and what to do differently. When asked about the challenges she faces in golf, Natalie said “Golf is a process, it isn’t quick fixes. I am always dealing with internal struggles, but knowing that my practice is having an impact and that I will make progress helps me to just keep at it.” She says that she uses the ideas of “process over outcome,” focusing more on improving her process than getting caught up on the particular outcome. She credits her success in golf to this particular mindset.

What do Natalie’s Coaches have to say?

Even Natalie’s coaches have taken note of her growth during her time with FTSV. When asked, Program Coordinator Manny Gallardo said “I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Natalie since 2018. With each passing season, she has grown more confident. She’s often the first to participate in our group discussions and has often taken the initiative to help her fellow peers understand our life skills at a deeper level. Whenever Coach Alex and I gave her a responsibility, we were confident that she would go above and beyond to complete it. Natalie has been a fantastic participant and I’m excited to see the next step of her journey”.

Translating Natalie’s FTSV Skills to school and beyond

In school, the attitude and skills she has developed surrounding challenges continue to support her growth. Here she highlights her leadership as one of the most influential aspects of her personality. According to Natalie, “First Tee has helped me build on my leadership in the program and at school, such as taking the lead and initiating conversations. I have learned how to manage a group of people, open up to others, and make space for everyone to share ideas and feel included”. As she encounters challenges in her academic life, Natalie is confidence that she can face them head on. She is armed with specific skills to help her succeed and she knows that facing challenges is where she is able to grow the most.

Outside of golf, Natalie is also a piano accompanist in her school choir and is a percussionist in the California Youth Symphony. She believes that music, like golf, helps to build her patience and enjoyment of challenge. Great work Natalie!

PUBLISHED: 02-05-2024