At First Tee, we believe that helping young people build strength of character is fundamental to success in life. Our active learning experiences are all about ensuring young people build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience, so when they face new challenges they are equipped to overcome them.
Higher education continues to be a critical factor in unlocking opportunities for young people to thrive. The forty-six alumni selected for this program receive up to $5,000 annually for four years, mentoring throughout the college experience, professional development workshops and assistance in securing internships and job placement. The 25 alumni who have been added this year marks the largest class to date, a significant milestone as we celebrate 25 years of helping young people build their strength of character through golf.
Workshop Highlights
The Winter Workshop provided another opportunity for our scholars to come together to build on their summer experience. While staying oceanside, they enjoyed Jacksonville beaches and bonding in friendly competition through ax throwing and go-cart racing. The PGA TOUR Global Home was our host as they heard from community leaders on topics such as Company Culture, Public Speaking, Leadership and Resume & Cover Letter writing.
Pre-College Retreat
We hosted our 2022 scholars for a Pre-College Retreat, which offered personal and professional development. This retreat was strategically designed to prepare scholars for their first year of college by sending them to campus confident in their abilities, motivated to make a difference, and inspired to take on any challenges they will face. Scholars also heard from leadership within the First Tee and PGA TOUR. Scholars bonded through social events at Topgolf and The Yards while also being challenged at a ropes course.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this program and I know that everything I learned as well as the connections I made will serve me well as I attend college this fall.” - Zara Karim, 2022 Scholar
Scholar Updates
The 2020 and 2021 classes completed the academic year with an average 3.7 GPA with over 400 hours of volunteer service. They are involved in extra circular activities with leadership positions in Greek Life, clubs, and community projects. We saw two all-conference selections and a NCAA Division I regional appearance on the course.
Scholars experienced summer internships with companies such as the PGA TOUR, First Tee, Lockheed Martin, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, and UNC Neurosurgery. They researched sustainable Nanotechnology and Biomedicine and returned to their local First Tee chapters as coaches.
Becky Jones, 2021 Scholar, Rose-Human Institute of Technology
“This summer I moved to Iowa to work on a 66 turbine wind farm as a Project Engineer Intern for Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives. IEA focuses on renewable energy, power delivery, and heavy civil projects. I got to see the excavation process, the construction of foundations, electrical work, and the installation of towers. My favorite parts of the internship were climbing a wind tower, operating equipment, and organizing a charity golf tournament that raised $21,640 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. I would like to thank the First Tee for helping me develop the skills I needed to succeed during my internship and for connecting me with my mentor, Dr. Roger May. Dr. May helped me during my interview process, gave me incredible advice, and supported me throughout my internship. I am incredibly grateful for this experience.”
Claire Alford, 2021 Scholar, Santa Clara University
"During my first year at Santa Clara University, I became the President of the Native American Coalition for Change (NACC) student organization. Through NACC, I also developed the club’s first-ever Hygiene Item Distribution event. I have also been involved in public health as the Advocacy Lead of Partners in Health Engage, where I met with the staff of Members of Congress to support public health infrastructure. In addition, I am a hospice volunteer".
"At SCU, I have had the chance to pursue my long-time goal of scientific research! In the Wheeler Lab, we study how nanoparticles interact with proteins in organisms to create a protein corona. I was accepted for a research position at the University of California, Riverside this summer! I studied in Dr. Juan Pablo Giraldo’s lab, where I developed technical skills and continue a partnership between his lab and Dr. Wheeler’s lab. These opportunities will allow me to learn and grow in ways that will support my goal of making healthcare more accessible throughout the world".
Luke Boldt, 2020 Scholar, East Carolina University
"In last year, I was able to earn my EMT license, attend the John Deere Classic as one of three First Tee participants selected for the national opportunity, become a founding father of a new fraternity and intern with the Brody School of medicine and UNC Department of Neurosurgery. Throughout these experiences I completed my clinical rotations for EMT school shadowing and assisting EMTs and paramedics in day-to-day operations. I helped our new fraternity become the fastest growing fraternity on campus while hosting an event that raised $54,000 for our philanthropy affiliation, Juvenile Diabetes Research. We were awarded our charter making our chapter of Delta Tau Delta the fastest colony to charter in fraternity history in just 6 months. I was able to intern with the Brody School of Medicine assisting with Biomedical Research on cancer oncology. The internship with the UNC Department of Neurosurgery explored topics related to neurosurgery and helped hone my suturing techniques and creating presentations about surgical techniques. Without First Tee, I would have never been able to take on so much responsibility and become such an impactful leader in my community".
Scholars Class of 2022
Breonna Boyd, First Tee – Tennessee | University of Michigan, Business Administration
Nicholas Canales, First Tee – Greater Houston | University of Nebraska, Business Management
Antonio DelCastillo, First Tee – Orange County | University of Alabama, Biology
Srishti Dhurandhar, First Tee – Metropolitan New York | New York University, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Vivian D’Orazi, First Tee – Metropolitan New York | York College of Pennsylvania, Marketing
Dylan Ebs, First Tee – Greater Austin | George Washington University, Journalism
Esther Etherington, First Tee – Indiana | Franklin College, Elementary Education
Maleyna Gregorio, First Tee – Coachella Valley | University of California, Riverside, Business Management
Raiyan Johnson, First Tee – Savannah | Georgia Tech, Biology
Lea Han, First Tee – Greater Sacramento | Harvard University, History
Zara Karim, First Tee – Greater Washington DC | George Mason University, Computer Science
Nelia Leong, First Tee – Upstate South Carolina | University of Florida, Public Health
Myles Manor, First Tee – Greater Washington DC | North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Chemistry
Abigale Morris, First Tee – Phoenix | Biola University, Cinematography
Hannah Newell, First Tee – Greater Houston | LeTourneau University, Chemical Engineering
Sabrina Poole, First Tee – Greater Seattle | St. Martins University, Psychology
Nancy Rivera, First Tee – Silicon Valley | Middlebury College, Biology
Ahmad Raoul, First Tee – Greater Chicago | Winston-Salem State University, Computer Science
Daniel Sears, First Tee – Massachusetts | Franciscan University of Steubenville, Philosophy & Finance
Connor Shooks, First Tee – Benton Harbor | Loyola University Chicago, Sports Management
Kenneth Treece, First Tee – Pine Mountain | University of Alabama | Engineering & Political Science
Alexa Vela, First Tee – Greater Houston | Rice University, Psychology
Jaylon Wilson, First Tee – Metro Atlanta | North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Finance
Iris Xue, First Tee – Greater Washington DC | Columbia University, Computer Science & Engineering
Jacob Zakaria, First Tee – Central Coast | University of California Berkeley, Biology
Thank you!
We are grateful for the individuals and organizations who support the incredible young people of First Tee, and partner with us to help these Scholars reach their goals.
3M Company
A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
Astros Golf Foundation
Brendan & Shay Cavanagh
Chevron Corporation
Jonathan C. Clay
David & Geri Epstein Private Foundation
Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund
Timothy W. Finchem
Paul and Ruth Flowers
Peter and Mary Foss
Nelson and Michele Carbonell Family Foundation
PURE Insurance
Charles Schwab
Benjamin and Sally Sutton
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Peter A. Bonanni Scholarship Fund
Syl Maloney First Tee Scholarship Fund
TruGreen
USSGA Memorial Fund
Zotec Foundation
“I had an amazing experience at the First Tee Pre-College Retreat. It’s an honor to be one of the 25 scholars honored with this scholarship. I learned a lot from this opportunity and I am excited to apply the new skills I have learned in college and beyond.” – Dylan Ebs, 2022 Scholar
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