Dedication and Hard Work Pays Off for 24 Participants Who Earn their Ace Certification, the Pinnacle of First Tee

Achieving Ace certification is the pinnacle of the First Tee program. For 24 First Tee participants, they put their life skills and core values to the test, earning the highest level of certification this year. These teens completed four major projects to earn the certification – Community Service, Career, Educational Opportunities and Golf – which were then submitted and reviewed by a national committee. It is a notable feat and the honorable culmination of hours of volunteering, goal-setting, preparation and practice. Gavin Hogan from First Tee of Fort Worth is one of these participants. Gavin was a member of his chapter’s Junior Advisory Committee, serving as Secretary of the group. He was in the program for more than 10 years and while in high school, was one of the chapter’s most frequent volunteers. He even designed some of the committee’s volunteer guidelines and policies. Gavin attended a number of the participant opportunities including the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship. He is currently a freshman at New Mexico State University, studying in the Professional Golf Management Program. Take a look at a few of the other Ace honorees who will continue their education at colleges across the country. Victoria Ladd, First Tee of the Triad Victoria is a freshman on the golf team at Western Carolina University Blake Brantley, First Tee of the Triad Blake will move on to play golf at Yale University Ayana Boyd, First Tee of Tennessee Ayana will attend University of Michigan Marlee Claassen, First Tee of Tennessee Marlee will attend Lipscomb University Gabrielle Edmonds-Andrews, First Tee of Tennessee Gabrielle will attend Xavier University Lincoln Haymaker, First Tee of Tennessee Lincoln will attend Manhattan College Justin Reed, First Tee of Tennessee Justin will attend Middle Tennessee State University Brandon Sudbury, First Tee of Tennessee Brandon will attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Emilie Williams, First Tee of Tennessee Emilie will attend The University of Arizona Click Here to learn more about how you can begin the path to success with the Ace certification.