Checking in on the First Tee College Scholarship Class of 2020

Checking in on the First Tee College Scholarship Class of 2020

By Sara Wright, Guest Blogger
PGA TOUR Staff

Beyond First Tee’s core programming, which focuses on empowering kids and teens to build strength of character through active learning experiences, First Tee has designed a college scholarship program to provide further life skill development and mentorship for alumni throughout their collegiate career.

The First Tee College Scholarship Program was relaunched this year to support deserving students across the country as they pursue their dreams of higher education. This program not only provides financial assistance, but professional development workshops, access to post-graduate employment opportunities, and pairs the scholars with dedicated mentors in their field.

On the heels of the recent announcement highlighting TruGreen’s partnership with First Tee and the expansion of the First Tee College Scholarship Program, we took the opportunity to check-in with this year’s nine scholarship recipients. Through the program, the scholars have attended a pre-college retreat and have been paired with their mentors who will help guide them through the next four years of their college experience. We wanted to hear what it’s been like for them navigating their freshmen year during a pandemic and how the lessons learned in First Tee have set them up for success.

“For me, the greatest skills and lessons from First Tee have all been surrounding perseverance,” said Sara Rintoul, First Tee — Central Florida alumna and University of Florida freshman. “Between COVID, moving to a new city, and actually beginning college classes, I have certainly encountered many learning curves. But often, when I face a challenge or just feel unsure about myself, I remember the countless First Tee classes I attended in which coaches and even my peers would encourage perseverance. I was prepared to face difficulties with a positive and tactical mindset. This mindset is what has made my college experience thus far successful – or at least manageable at times when it was trying.”

Luke Boldt from First Tee — Coastal Carolinas agrees with Sara regarding the power of perseverance. Boldt is attending East Carolina University where he is majoring in Public Health.

“Starting out in college has been tough and I have used perseverance to push through the hardships of classes and maintain academic proficiency, while also managing a social life,” Boldt said. “Perseverance is no doubt one of the most important traits I have learned from being involved with First Tee. I don’t know where I’d be without this program and all it has given me.”

Denise Wei of First Tee – San Francisco is currently studying Business Administration at the University of California, Irvine. She has also found a ton of value in First Tee’s perseverance lessons, as she’s currently taking all of her classes remotely, from home, and says that even though she took virtual classes during her last year of high school, online classes at the university level feel completely different.

“Each class is filled with more than 200 students and it’s hard to get that one-on-one interaction with my classmates as well as the professor,” Wei said. “Also, since classes are virtual, I have to rely on myself to get things done and keep track of the assignments that are due. Perseverance has been extremely important, as I have been flooded with homework the first two weeks of school and with perseverance, I was able to get through it. I realized that college isn’t as easy as I thought it was, but I will continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”

Kelly Low from First Tee — Fort Worth has had a good experience taking online classes through the University of Texas at Dallas, but says every week holds a new challenge.

“In the past, I struggled a lot, whether that was with my grades or playing golf,” she admits. “But First Tee taught me how to navigate through challenges, embracing that struggle, and most importantly to have confidence in myself and what I can accomplish.”

Ricky Lam started school this fall at Harvard University. He is also in a virtual learning environment, studying linear algebra, microeconomics and classical Chinese philosophy, while living in student housing in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“My college experience has been amazing,” Lam said. “Because of the pandemic, much of the rush for socializing has slowed down and become more inclusive, helping me feel less overwhelmed with the transition to college. I have been able to use First Tee’s focus on open-ended questions to become more vulnerable, caring, and curious to meet those around me, facilitating deeper and more enjoyable conversations.”

Lam, an alumnus of First Tee — Tri-Valley, went on to tell about how important it was to meet his mentor, James, who was able to give him practical insights into what his future in finance, private equity and financial advising could look like.

“We had such a fulfilling first conversation,” Lam added. “His story, his ups-and-downs and his immense perseverance throughout his career in finance was truly inspiring to me. I am so grateful to First Tee for this experience.”

First Tee — Miami alumna Nicole Monsalve is planning on majoring in economics at Duke University, and despite the COVID regulations that have been implemented on campus, she also has been able to get to see new faces (the top half at least) and make friends that have made this transition a little less challenging and a lot more fun.

“Courtesy is a big value that I am focusing on here in college,” Monsalve said. “I have made sure to learn the names of the cleaning crew in my building, the ladies and gentlemen in the cafeteria, the guys at the smoothie bar I go to, and those that oversee the gym, so that every time I see them I am able to give them a proper greeting and call them by their name. It may seem small, but you can see how happy they are when you go out of your way to recognize them. In doing this, the school feels more like a community and I feel more at home.”

Remi Shendell of First Tee – Metropolitan New York has been able to live on campus and take a couple of classes in person while studying Human Health and Biology at Emory University.

“Although it is different than what I imagined college would be like, I am enjoying the people, surroundings, and the new independence that I have,” Shendell said. “One of the most important skills I learned from First Tee was introducing myself and reaching out to people. Living at college in a pandemic can be isolating because there are a lot of new people and not that many scheduled opportunities to meet them in person. First Tee gave me confidence in my social skills, whether it be introducing myself to a fellow classmate or talking to a professor.”

Now, of course, not every scholar was able to attend their intended school this fall. Blake Brantley from First Tee — Triad was set to attend Yale University, but due to COVID limitations, decided to take a gap year instead. Brantley did still attend First Tee’s pre-college retreat and really appreciated all the speakers and information that was provided to keep him on track.

“One of my biggest takeaways came from the time-management portion,” said Brantley of the retreat. “Here we talked about building plans and schedules to help keep us on track every day which has helped me keep moving toward my goals. Everyone within the First Tee organization is very eager to help us all succeed and are happy to provide us with any tools we might need to reach our full potential.”

Jessica Jiao, who participated at First Tee —Metropolitan New York, is currently attending Georgetown University. She also felt the tremendous support from First Tee during the pre-college retreat.

“I had so many people supporting me and as the program goes on, I will always have a team of “go-to people” whom I can rely on for help during my college journey. Through communicating with my First Tee peers, working with my coaches and counselors, I’ve become comfortable with reaching out to others. May it be for help, guidance or support, communication has been one of the most important skills in my life and I’m thankful I was given the chance to collaborate with others through First Tee.”

Applications for next year’s First Tee College Scholarship Program will open to First Tee students in early 2021. For more information, visit firsttee.org.

First Tee Scholars Inspire Us to Reach for Our Dreams

Now, more than ever, change surrounds us. From the way we attend school to shopping for groceries, our way of life has changed in the last few months. But that was only just the beginning. Recent events have led to an outpouring of protests and advocacy demanding change – change for equality and an end to social injustice for the black community. While change can sometimes be hard, it’s our youth who inspires us. They’re resilient and adaptable as they reach for their dreams and work towards creating a better world. Today, we announced nine First Tee alumni who were selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program. This diverse group of young leaders were selected from an impressive applicant pool based on academics and community service. The Scholars include aspiring doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs, several of whom will be attending elite universities like Harvard, Yale and Duke, among others. We know they are the change-makers that this world needs. Throughout the College Scholarship Program, the Scholars will receive support and mentoring to encourage continuous personal growth as they set out to accomplish their dreams and make a difference in the world.

President George W. Bush Surprises the Scholars

The seven high school graduates received the news on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive with a surprise personal congratulatory message from President George W. Bush, Honorary Chair of First Tee. “Your hard work has paid off,” said President George W. Bush. “The coming years will bring new learning, new friendships, new challenges and new opportunities. Remembering the values you have learned through the First Tee will help you for the years to come. Laura and I join your family and friends and recognize you on this special occasion, and we send our best wishes.”

Meet the Scholars

Luke Boldt First Tee – Coastal Carolinas East Carolina University
  • Luke has been an active member at his chapter since he was four years old, a grand total of 14 years. In that time, he has grown with the chapter into a leader on and off the course. He has founded a special needs golf program with his twin brother called Buddy Tee.
  • He is an Ace-certified participant and Eagle Scout, and will attend East Carolina University, majoring in Public Health with his concentration in Pre-Health Professions.
  • He is an East Carolina Scholar, a merit-based scholarship program offered to the University’s top incoming freshmen students.
  • When he is not spending time in the classroom, Luke enjoys fishing with his brother and golf and was a participant in the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship.
“When I first started at First Tee fourteen years ago, I could have never imagined the opportunities available to me to contribute to my community. The key learnings from First Tee have served as pillars for my moral character and are what I credit my success as a student, athlete and citizen. Because of the First Tee I feel obliged to give to this world more than I ever expect to receive from it.” Blake Brantley First Tee – Triad Yale University 
  • Blake, who has been a participant at his chapter for eight years, will continue to pursue golf at Yale while majoring in Economics and Pre-Law.
  • He earned Ace certification, the highest level in the program, and volunteers as a coach and mentor to the participants of the chapter in the summer.
  • He was the captain and MVP of his high school’s varsity golf team and served as the captain of the Academic Team.
  • He credits First Tee with inspiring him to give back to members of his community. He co-founded a charity called Golf For Life in which he a ran a fundraiser to collect equipment and monetary donations for scholarships for the First Tee of the Triad participants raising $50,000 to date.
“Without First Tee’s values that set the standard for my personal par of excellence, I would have never been able to take on these responsibilities and gained the confidence and leadership experience to execute my plan.” Jessica Jiao First Tee – Metropolitan New York Georgetown University
  • Jessica has been a member of the First Tee of Metropolitan New York for more than eight years and has taught golf in the City Parks Foundation over the last two years.
  • An Ace participant and first-generation college student, Jessica will attend Georgetown University with a focus in Business Administration and Social Justice/Responsibility.
  • Jessica has played golf since the age of nine and earned several awards including: National Science Honors Society, Honor Roll, First Tee A/B Honor Roll, and AP Scholar with Distinction.
  • Jessica has a passion for philanthropy. She aspires to help children and has recently started a non-profit organization, The Jessica Jiao Children’s Foundation.
“Growing up in the First Tee program made me aware of one large philosophy the First Tee and I have, and strive to follow; helping children. The First Tee found me at the mere age of nine, only a year into playing golf and still not able to hold my finish with confidence. I was taken under the First Tee’s wing and nurtured to become a stronger golfer and person.”  Ricky Lam First Tee – Tri-Valley Harvard University  
  • Ricky has been a member of the First Tee of Tri-Valley since 2017. An Ace participant, he volunteers as a coach and mentor to the youth participants at his chapter.
  • Ricky is a first-generation college student, and will attend Harvard University, majoring in Economics. Always working hard to continue to support his community, Ricky aspires to become a leading financial advisor and entrepreneur.
  • He is the Salutatorian of the Oakland Technical Class of 2020, and a National Merit Commended Scholar. He is a boy scout and a peer tutor for AP Statistic students while also playing on the varsity golf team.
“My definition of success is my ability to impact the lives of others. At Harvard, I plan to be a go-to person by not only using perseverance to uplift myself but by making it my responsibility to provide others with adequate guidance and support to achieve their dreams.” Kelly Low First Tee – Fort Worth University of Texas at Dallas
  • Kelly has been a participant at the First Tee of Fort Worth for five years and has been involved as a junior coach and active member of the chapter’s Junior Advisory Board.
  • An Ace participant and first-generation U.S citizen, Kelly will attend the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in computer science.
  • Kelly has a passion for all aspects of the science field and was a member of the Rocket Science Club as well as an AP scholar and member of the varsity golf team. She also was an intern at Lockheed Martin during her time in high school.
    “Dealing with challenges was something I used to avoid before being a part of First Tee. Remembering the life skills taught by First Tee, I was able to continue to pursue challenges without losing confidence. First Tee taught me to have confidence in my decisions as I go through life.” Nicole Monsalve First Tee – Miami Duke University
  • Nicole has been a participant at the First Tee of Miami for more than five years, serving as a junior coach and counselor while also an active member of the First Tee Junior Advisory board.
  • Nicole, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a National Hispanic Scholar will attend Duke University, majoring in Pre-Med, Biology. She aspires to be an NFL team doctor.
  • A two sport athlete in both golf and track, during her time in High School she directed the First Tee of Miami High School Prep Bootcamp, a camp that focused on young athletes providing help with schoolwork, time management organization and prioritization; Nicole offered guidance and served in a mentorship role.
  • She also serves as the founder and director of “Box It Tournament,” a tournament that Nicole put together to raise money for a local homeless shelter; she was responsible for fundraising, sponsorship and advertising and helped raise $6,000
 “First Tee has cultivated my prowess as a student and a golfer, and the skills I learned through the program will propel me forward as I pursue my endeavors and allow me to stand out in the classroom, the sports world and my career.” Sara Rintoul First Tee – Central Florida University of Florida 
  • Sara has been a member of her chapter for the past seven years she will attend the University of Florida, and major in Health Sciences and International Studies.
  • Sara attended First Tee’s national participant event, the Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills and Leadership Academy, in 2018 where she was awarded the Renee Powell Outstanding Female Leader Award.
  • The captain of her high school golf team, she is also a Recipient of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth Scholarship to study Arabic abroad as a representative of the U.S.; traveled to North Africa to learn Arabic in 2019.
  “My experiences with First Tee have inspired me to make a positive impact specifically by creating positive change worldwide through cross-cultural connections. I have had opportunities that have changed my life, and those memories can be attributed to First Tee.” Remi Shendell First Tee – Metropolitan New York Emory University
  • Remi has been a participant of First Tee of Metropolitan New York for nine years and served as an Ace Scholars Tutor and junior coach.
  • An Ace participant, she will attend Emory University, majoring in Biology and Human health. She aspires to attend medical school and become a doctor dealing with infectious diseases at the CDC or WHO
  • An AP Scholar with honors, Remi is the team captain of the golf team and dances Ballet Modern and Jazz in her free time. She also is the Director of Public Relations for high school’s Girls Learn International chapter, empowering middle and high school students to advocate for human rights, equality and universal education in the U.S. and around the world.
“First Tee’s self-management skills will help me in college to maximize my education and extracurricular experience. I have learned here of my passion for learning and helping others and hope to now teach others to love golf, too.” Denise Wei First Tee – San Francisco University of California, Irvine
  • Denise has been a member of the First Tee of San Francisco for the past eight years and has served as a junior coach over the last two years. She also had the opportunity to play in the First Tee Regional Cup when she was in 6th grade.
  • Denise played golf competitively in high school and local tournaments and earned several awards including: Future Grads Award, AP Scholar and Bronze Medal AAA for the CIF SF Section Girls Golf.
  • Denise is a first-generation college student and first-generation high school graduate. She will attend University of California, Irvine, and will major in Business Administration.
  • She is very excited to pursue a career in accounting. Denise plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration-Accounting and Finance, an MBA and then aspires to work with PwC.
“When the First Tee of San Francisco introduced me to the game of golf at the age of 10, it was a great opportunity for me to be introduced to a game that I thought was not available to me. The program taught me about character and career opportunities. I felt so privileged through the years because of the benefits the program gave to me.”

About the Program

The First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to alumni by providing support throughout their post-graduate career. Each of the scholars will be paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year for four years, plus professional development workshops held in-person throughout the year. In addition, scholars will receive assistance with internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. First Tee is a youth development organization dedicated to providing active learning experiences that empowers young people to build their character through the game of golf. The First Tee College Scholarship Program is open to active participants of First Tee chapters graduating from high school who meet the minimum requirements. Applications were received from participants at 32 chapters in 24 states across the nation. Following an online application process, 10 finalists were selected by a committee for one-on-one interviews. Applicants were considered based on financial need, academic performance, chapter involvement, volunteerism, community service and other criteria.