Teaching Kids Values that Last a Lifetime.
SUCCESS!
The First Tee of Greater Austin significantly impacts the lives of local youth. A small sampling of our graduates: Elena Warren was eight years old when she first entered a program at The First Tee of Greater Austin. An intelligent girl and a gifted athlete, Elena learned self-respect, confidence and goal setting through the First Tee curriculum. In 2003, Elena was awarded the Lifeskills Excellence Award from The First Tee of Greater Austin and was chosen to represent Austin at The First Tee Leadership Academy in 2007 at Kansas State University. She has become a formidable player, qualifying twice for The First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, partnering in 2008 and 2009 with World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Kite. At last count, Elena has won 19 golf tournaments on University Interscholastic League, Southern Texas PGA, Texas Legends, and American Junior Golf Association Tours. Along the way, First Tee has provided key financial aid, allowing Elena to travel across the country to compete. Graduating ninth in her class at Del Valle High School, Elena was awarded a scholarship to Mississippi State, where she will be competing in the Southeastern Conference, one of the strongest in women’s golf.
Preston Shaub was in the seventh grade when he first enrolled in a program at The First Tee of Greater Austin (TFTGA). He excelled at both the golf and life skills lessons learned from TFTGA and won acceptance to the 2003 First Tee Life Skills Academy in Tennessee, played in the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in 2004 and 2005 (winning $10,000 for The First Tee of Greater Austin with his partner, Gary Player!), attended the Life Skills and Leadership Academy in 2005 and was named First Tee Scholar of the Year in 2006. With the help of scholarship funds from The First Tee of Greater Austin, Preston graduated with honors from Texas State University and is currently the founder and principal of NuReach Marketing. “There are so many things I have learned through the First Tee that I have applied to my life now”, says Preston. “Setting goals, having a positive attitude, decision making, taking initiative, leadership, confidence in my abilities and leadership all prepared me for college and the business world I’m in today. My decision to pursue a career in business and marketing was influenced by the First Tee through the opportunities I had to meet, work with and learn from business leaders and entrepreneurs. I can honestly say I have found my passion, thanks to the First Tee!”
These Austin area kids won the opportunity to participate in the National First Tee Leadership Academy Allie Agrella Ashton Allen Aliesha Allen Garrett Duran Nick Janss
Andrew Leigh Jennifer Payton John Toungate Daniel Walton Blayne Williams … and so many more amazing kids!
Isabel Shelton recently graduated from Arizona State University, with assistance from a First Tee RBS Achievers Award scholarship and is heading to Washington D.C. to work for a non-profit organization. Ariel Leigh won a First Tee scholarship and is attending Olin College in Boston, where she has been chosen for their study abroad and internship programs in Europe.
SUCCESS!
Parents testify to the positive change the First Tee of Greater Austin brings to their children’s lives. “My kids are participants at the First Tee and since joining the First Tee, they are both doing well in school and our 9yr old daughter has a 99 average in all of her classes. They both love their coaches, mentors and instructors. I am a Disabled Veteran … and although we are struggling financially, the First Tee gives our family a way for our kids to learn the game of golf. You don’t know how much your dollar will help unless you really come out here. Every dollar that’s given to this program is well spent. I would say that if there’s anything you would like to do that would have a long term effect, not only for the child, but also for the parent, that will teach a child values, not only in golf, but also in life, then this would be a great program to donate to.” — Sgt. Robert Rocha,TFTGA Parent “We’ve got a huge history with First Tee, and it’s all because our son John [enrolled] in an after-school program. John also has ADHD, and … kids would pick on him, kids wouldn’t understand him. When he came out on this golf course, he learned to focus and he learned to play and play well. He learned in First Tee, that if you want something, you go after it, you work towards it.” — Connie Toungate,TFTGA Parent “I love my grandson, and I love what he’s doing. And I love the program that he’s in, and I’ll do anything to back him and carry him as far as I can.” — Bill Spakes,TFTGA Grandparent
5-15-11