To continue our spotlight on Military Families, we bring you two (2) of the most social kids we have in programs. They not only have never met a participant they couldn’t talk to, they actively recruit their friends to join them at The First Tee.
Olivia and Andrew Graham first exposure to The First Tee was during a Summer STEM Camp at Gates Four Golf and CC. Since then they’ve participated in every session – two years’ worth – show up with smiles on their faces, and are always ready to have fun.
When asked their favorite thing about attending programs at The First Tee, Olivia is quick to say she loves the coaches and getting to play with their friends, like her brother, Andrew.
The Graham Children, Olivia now in 3rd grade and Andrew 2nd grade, have lived in five (5) different states, meaning they’ve had five (5) chances to make new friends and share their fun-loving personalities.
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Olivia and Andrew. Here’s what we found out…
What is your favorite hobby?
Olivia: Art
Andrew: Putting rocks in my rock tumbler
What is your favorite thing about growing up in a military family?
Olivia: We have friends in lots of states we can visit
Andrew: Moving to new houses and states
What sports do you like other than golf?
Olivia: Basketball and gymnastics
Andrew: Basketball and soccer
What is your dream job?
Olivia: Veterinarian
Andrew: To be an artist
Who is your hero? Why?
Olivia: My dad. He helps people by being in the Army.
Andrew: My dad
What is your favorite thing about your sibling?
Olivia: He’s fun to play with and always happy
Andrew: She’s really funny and makes me laugh
Tell us something fun about you people do not know?
Olivia: I have lived in 5 states
Andrew: I’m a wolf scout with cub scouts
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Olivia: Hawaii
Andrew: Washington, so we could be by our family
Caison and Caleb Coleman joined our TFTS family in the Summer of 2018 – making a move from The First Tee of Louisville. While only in Kindergarten and 2nd grade, respectively, the boys have moved several times in their young lives, and they’ve perfected the art of Meeting and Greeting as they were quick to be the first to introduce themselves on the first day of class – including a nice handshake!
These two young gentlemen enjoy having FUN and can be counted on for a good joke before warm-up activities each week. Individually they are able to display Perseverance while always act with Integrity.
When not on the golf course with their older brother, they’re playing soccer or supporting their sister at a volleyball game.
This busy family is always on the move but is happy to have a second home at The First Tee. We sat down for a Quick 9 with Caleb and Caison. Here’s what we found out…
Hole 1:What is your favorite thing about The First Tee?
Caleb: That we learn about one thing like Respect and then we execute that topic on the Driving Range, Chipping Green and Putting Green.
Caison: I like hitting Full Swing shots!
Hole 2:What is your favorite hobby?
Caleb: I love playing soccer with my friends at recess.
Caison: Playing outside.
Hole 3:What is your favorite thing about growing up in a military family?
Caleb: I like that we get to watch my dad jump out of airplanes.
Caison: I like to watch my dad parachute.
Hole 4: What sports do you like other than golf?
Caleb: Soccer, Football, Baseball
Caison: Football
Hole 5: What is your dream job?
Caleb: Engineer
Caison: Firefighter
Hole 6: Who is your hero?
Caleb: My older brother Christian. He is strong!
Caison: Daddy. He is strong and protects me!
Hole 7:What is the favorite thing about your sibling?
Caleb: That they play with me.
Caison: That they are my best brothers.
Hole 8:Tell us something fun about you that people do not know.
Caleb: My favorite food is RICE.
Caison: I am a good hitter! (in baseball)
Hole 9:If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Caleb: Myrtle Beach, SC, because I was born there
Caison: Myrtle Beach, SC
Respect, Courtesy, and Sportsmanship all come to mind when Tv’yrian Praylo is mentioned.
A 5th Grader at Southern Pines Elementary – every time he speaks to someone, “Yes, Sir” or, “Yes, Ma’am,” are most certain to follow.
Tv’yrian somehow finds time to squeeze golf into his schedule that includes, baseball, basketball, and football. More importantly, he manages to excel in the classroom and complete his homework before heading to any of these events.
Tv’yrian can also be found at every one of our donor events, chatting away with any adult he can find. He has taken the Life Skills of Meeting and Greeting people and used it to help him become a social butterfly, even though he is naturally quiet and reserved!
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Tv’yrian. Here’s what we found out!
Hole 1: How many years have you been involved with The First Tee? This is my fourth year. I joined The First Tee in 2016 when I was in 2nd Grade.
Hole 2: What is your favorite thing about attending The First Tee? Definitely meeting new friends! A bonus is the coaches are always nice!!
Hole 3: What is your favorite subject or class at school? Math! I can do math really fast and usually in my head. I’m in AIG Math Class. It’s really exciting.
Hole 4: Who is your hero? Why? All of my teachers. They really are helping me in the world!
Hole 5: Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names? I have a goldfish and a Dog named King.
Hole 6: What is your favorite hobby? Sports are my hobbies! In addition to golf, I love playing Baseball, Basketball, and Football.
Hole 7: What is your dream job? Does playing football count as a job? (Coach Matt responds, “If they get paid, it’s a job.”) … Tv’yrian “Then I want to be in the NFL.”
Hole 8: Tell us something fun about you people do not know? I think I have a really good personality. If someone needs help, I will help them. If someone is alone, I ask them if they want to be my friend.
Hole 9: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Arizona. My uncle lives there and it’s really beautiful.
Georgia Chivers, aka Blu, is a 5th Grader at Irwin Intermediate School in Fort Bragg, NC. She is a year into her participation with The First Tee of the Sandhills programs at Stryker Golf Course and has officially gotten ‘the bug.’
The golfing bug, that is.
At the age of 11, Georgia has lived in six (6) states and attended five (5) different schools – but seems to have found footing in Fort Bragg where she is already running a neighborhood dog walking business, and understands that the game of golf could lead her to getting a college scholarship. She seems to already have The First Tee Life Skill of Planning for the Future figured out.
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Georgia. Here’s what else we found out!
Hole 1: What is your favorite thing about The First Tee, so far? I am LOVING learning how to play golf!
Hole 2: What is your favorite hobby? Art, Golf and Making $$$
Hole 3: What is your favorite subject/class/club at school? The two M’s… Music and Math.
Hole 4: What sports do you like other than golf? Soccer and Football.
Hole 5: What is your dream job? To be an architect!
Hole 6: Who is your hero and why? My Mom and Dad. They sacrifice everything for me.
Hole 7: Do you have any pets? Yes! I have a Newfoundland named Torque, is is about to turn 2!
Hole 8: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Germany.
Hole 9: Tell us something fun about you people do not know? I want to learn to play the flute now that I’ve mastered the recorder. I belong to the Junior Beta Club at my school. I am hoping my passion for Golf will help me get a scholarship to college when I am older!
Samuel Nail aka. Sam is an Eagle Level Participant in The First Tee of the Sandhills and a Senior at Union Pines High School. Leading up to Sam’s senior year, he chose to forego applying for The First Tee’s National Opportunities in favor of summer school.
Yes, summer school!
But not what your thinking – Sam was accepted to attend Governor’s School of North Carolina! A six-week overnight program integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses.
He lives by the Healthy Habits of School and Community, is highly successful in the classroom and always finds time to volunteer at our Life Skills Curriculum Programs.
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Sam. Here’s what else we found out!
Hole 1: How many years have you been involved with the First Tee? This is my sixth year participating in The First Tee.
Hole 2: What is your favorite thing about The First Tee? My favorite thing about The First Tee is not only getting to play golf with friends and making lifelong connections with other participants but also getting to give back to the community through community service projects that The First Tee has participated in whether it be teaching younger kiddos in TFTS classess, serving food to local members of the community during the holidays, or helping build a house for a Habitat for Humanity home build.
Hole 3: What is your favorite subject/class/club at school? Math
Hole 4: What sports do you like other than golf? Basketball, Tennis, Baseball. Frisbee Golf. Really any sport that I can play with friends.
Hole 5: What is your dream job? An Aerospace Engineer for SpaceX
Hole 6: Who is your hero? Why? Elon Musk is my hero. Not only is he one of the pioneers for space travel and colonizing Mars but he is also trying to solve real-world problems, especially transportation issues. He is the CEO of Tesla, where he makes electric cars, but he is also helping to design and build rapid-transportation tunnels in big cities to reduce traffic.
Hole 7: Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names? I have two dogs. One of them is a white German Shepherd named Edel (short for Edelweiss) and the other is a spotted shelter dog (unknown breed) named Yogi.
Hole 8: Tell us something fun about you people might not know? I used to live in Kansas City, Kansas for 12 years and I am the youngest of five children in my family with two older brothers and two older sisters. I also just made it into my #1 choice school, NC State’s Engineering College.
Hole 9: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I would live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My family used to vacation there when we lived in Kansas City and I fell in love with that city. The mountains are by far my favorite and I love snow so that is the place for me.
Carmen Monge, a 4th Grader at New Century International Elementary in Fayetteville has been attending The First Tee of the Sandhills for a year and a half via our programs at Gates Four Golf & CC. When asked to reflect on The First Tee, her answer is short and sweet: I LOVE IT!
It’s not often you can mention words like patient, coach-able, and determined when discussing someone of her age, but these are the words we use to describe Carmen from our experiences during Curriculum Programs.
However, after learning more about her in preparation for our latest Participant Spotlight, we’d add humble and intriguing to the list.
Carmen is another great example of the incredible kids that participate in The First Tee of the Sandhills.
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Carmen. Here’s what we found out!
Hole 1: What’s your favorite school day activities? Science! It’s cool learning about rocks and minerals. I also enjoy Beta Club and Science Olympiad.Hole 2: Favorite Hobby? Scrap booking, art, playing with my dog, and collecting rocks.Hole 3: What sports do you like other than golf? Baseball, Football and Basketball.
Hole 4: What’s your favorite thing about The First Tee? I love going to the Driving Range because I love to see when I improve on my golf swing.
Hole 5: Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names? I have a dog and a cat. The dog’s name is Rocky, he is a miniature Dachshund which is German for Badger Dog. The cat’s name is Sonny, he is a Turkish Van, he has some gray fur on the top of his head. They both like to wrestle a lot! Hole 6: What is your dream job? Being a Veterinarian. Helping animals is my passion. Hole 7: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I would live in France because I love to eat all kinds of bread and the sights are so beautiful.Hole 8: Tell us something fun about you people may not know. I speak Mandarin Chinese very well. Hole 9: We know you’re only 10, but, do you have a hero? Yes! The Jackson 5. Their music inspires me to be creative!
Allison Robinson has been actively attending The First Tee of the Sandhills since 2014, following in the footsteps of her older sister and brother. She is in 10th grade via a home school program where she is active in the National Honors Society. When studying, her favorite subject is American History!
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Allison. Here’s what we found out!
Hole 1: Nickname? Yes! Alli or Allig
Hole 2: Any pets? Yes! I have a Shih Tzu Yorkie named Gracie and a Jack Russell mix named Mollie.
Hole 3: Favorite hobby? Crafting
Hole 4: Sports other than golf? Bowling. I am a part of a bowling league that has local competitions and my team has qualified for statewide events.
Hole 5: Dream Job? A Fashion Merchandiser, Fashion Marketing OR work for the Walt Disney Company!
Hole 6: What is your favorite thing about The First Tee? I love to do things with friends outside of school, and I personally love when we do special non-golfing events like bowling.
Hole 7: What is your Five (5) Year Goal Plan? My plan is to finish high school with honors, choose the college that best fits my profession and educational standards and continues to further my business.
Hole 8: Who is your hero? My hero would be Walt Disney, he took his passion and made it into a successful business that is recognized worldwide.
Hole 9: Tell us something about you that people may not know. When I was 14, I started my own business. I saw a great opportunity and went for it! So now, after 2 ½ years of making Disney themed ears, I’ve had almost 500 sales and I have a growing platform on Instagram for marketing with over 11K followers. Check it out at @itsaearworldafterall
Thanks for taking a Quick 9 with us, Allison.
Have a question for Allison? Leave it here!
The final words from Jaclyn Kenzel’s week at The PURE Insurance Championship in Pebble Beach, California were, “I can’t emphasize enough how much this trip has meant to me! It has been the most amazing week of my life and I will never forget it! I’m beyond thrilled to have had this opportunity! I have not only gained friends but created memories that will last a lifetime!”
So, now that you know the conclusion, how did she get there? Let’s take a look at the highlight reel!
The entire week included a long list of firsts – from flying across the country, staying in private housing, eating an omelet, playing golf in fog, paddle boarding, seeing new wilderness, and attending a concert!
On Day 1 all the participants gathered at Poppy Hills GC for the PURE Welcome Party and Pairings release. Each junior went onto the putting green to find an oversized flag adorning their name and chapter they are representing. Underneath the flag was a brand new golf bag with their name on it and inside the bag they found the name of their pro.
For Jaclyn, it was Brian Henninger. Mr. Henninger immediately came up to Jaclyn for introduction and a chat. She was beaming from ear to ear about the week getting started!
Day 2 brought Jaclyn’s first practice round – at Poppy Hills GC with fellow junior participant, Vivian Guite from The First Tee of Naples. The highlight of their day on course included sharing the fairways with deer and ‘bumping’ into Bernard Langer.
Wednesday evening participants attended a very special event called ‘Legends and Leaders’ where nine special guest spoke on the Nine Core Values, each highlighting a unique Core Value that carries special interest in their lives.
While every guest had an amazing and inspiring story to tell – the two that resonated with Jaclyn the most were from Jeremy Poincenot and Victoria Arlen – speaking on Perseverance and Confidence.
Oh, and she ‘bummed’ into Tom Watson at dinner!
Thursday was Day 3, bringing many more special experiences for Kenzel. Not only did she get to play Pebble Beach Golf Links, she played with the 2016 tournament winner, Paul Broadhurst, who her Pinecrest High School golf teammate, Mara Hirtle, played with in 2017!
When Kenzel reflected on the experience, she remembered how incredible the undulation changes were, both beautiful and challenging to play. She determined it’s completely impossible to become upset when you’re surrounded by the visual art Pebble Beach Golf Links provides.
At the turn, she decided to apply good Judgment and began ‘clubbing up’ as her shots were coming up 10 yards shorter than they typically do in Pinehurst. This gave her some putts for birdie, resulting in made birdies on Holes 11 and 17!
Also, while practicing on the 12th green, Paul Broadhurst pulled Jaclyn aside and gave her a few chipping pointers to work on when she gets home. Double score for the day!
During the first and second rounds of the PURE Insurance Championship, Kenzel and Henninger would play Poppy Hills GC and Pebble Beach GL, each day with a different pair of amateur partners.
Kenzel’s personal golf highlights including make a birdie on Hole 18 at BOTH courses! How cool!
While #TeamHenninger didn’t make the Pro-Junior cut, it was truly an experience of a lifetime both on and off the course.
And to cap off a week of excitement, as all the juniors were gathered around the 18th green of Pebble Beach GL watching the final groups come in, they witnessed Ken Tanigawa make a bomb of an eagle putt to win the tournament by one!
What an ending to a dream week for Jaclyn Kenzel.
Recently, Mara Hirtle, a rising junior at Pinecrest High School, joined 95 other teens from around the country at The Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills and Leadership Academy hosted on campus at Michigan State University.
Annually, this week-long Academy provides participants golf and leadership instruction that incorporate The First Tee’s Nine Core Values while enhancing skills that will help teens on and off the golf course.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to develop and hone skills to become leaders in their chapters, schools and communities while experiencing championship golf, career exploration and dorm living.
We asked Mara to provide us a few highlights from her week at Michigan State University. When reflecting, she said, “Not only was it an enlightening experience as we worked through what it means to be a leader, while also succeeding as a team, our event leaders made sure to include all 96 of us in fun activities like mini golf and bowling on campus.”
She noted that one of their leadership seminars was led by RISE, Michigan State University’s Residential Initiatives on the Study of the Environment. Mara said the leaders inspired The First Tee Teens to reach for their goals which others may believe are unreachable, or impossible.
RISE’s learning outcomes for those engaging in their year round program include the ability to form an opinion, demonstrate leadership, enact social change, value collaboration, describe strengths, and engage in sustainability work – essentially growing a community of learners committed to stewardship and sustainability.
After arriving home, Mara expressed that the week long experience was inspiring! It build her up as an individual and encouraged her to strive for things she thought were unreachable before. Returning rejuvenated to take on personal goals.
Way to go, Mara!
To apply for the Life Skills & Leadership Academy, participants must have reached, at a minimum, Birdie Level status in The First Tee, complete a school and community activities chart, answer four questions in essay format, provide a letter of recommendation from a mentor, teacher or school administrator, and receive recommendation from The First Tee of the Sandhills. As with all National Participant Opportunities, selected participants enjoy the trip free of charge.
Ready to get involved in The First Tee? Make sure to sign up for one of our Fall Programs in the Sandhills before registration closes. Visit firstteesandhills.org or call us at 910.255.3035.
As Mark Twain once said, ‘plan for the future, because that’s where you are going to spend the rest of your life.’
Planning for the future is one of the six Core Lesson’s focused on through Eagle Level Curriculum programs at The First Tee of the Sandhills. During this portion of the curriculum, participants are engaged in self-exploration, academic and career exploration, and implementation.
Throughout these exercises, we work to expose the high school age participants to various aspects of development including diversity, finances, scheduling and futures opportunities across many industries.
Thanks to the support of Methodist University, Eagle Level participants were able to spend a full day on campus where they learned about the admissions process, financial planning for college, what the Professional Golf Management program is and career doors it can open up after college, as well as touring the facilities and getting to play at little golf at the on campus course.
Here’s a little glimpse into their day on campus.
Jamie Legg, the Dean of Admissions, spoke about GPA, SAT, and ACT scoring – explaining what the University looks for in student performance. He stressed the importance of making good grades throughout High School and how they weight GPA above ACT & SAT.
Why? Because it shows which students put work in daily to succeed!
Mr. Legg also discussed the finances of attending college and in turn how to prepare to apply for scholarships and financial aid.
Next up was Kyle Fera, the PGM Program recruiter. Kyle spoke about the expansion of the golf industry and the vast variety of career opportunities that continue to develop, how these careers are becoming more specialized and the importance of aligning your career interests with internships throughout college.
As part of the Professional Golf Management program, college students are required to complete a minimum of four internships. Kyle shared a map of all the locations across the United States that Methodist PGM students have completed internships over the last seven years and the variety of exposure opportunities that were apart of these assignments.
PGM students can plug into learning opportunities that range from facility management and operations, teaching, club fitting, tournament operations, youth programs, and much more!
After lunch, Brock White, PGM Director, gave participants a tour of the University’s golf facility. In addition to the outdoor golf amenities, Methodist University has built indoor hitting bays, a putting lab and club fitting studio. All aspects of the industry that students will be engaged in to learn how to be successful in the future.
The on campus experience at Methodist University provided participants an opportunity for both college and career exploration.
As a follow up to this hands on experience, participants then utilized tools provided in their Eagle Curriculum Yardage Books to complete self-assessments on their interests, personality, skills and values – aiding in the process of determining the right campus and career fit, as well as next steps for future planning.
Thanks to the Methodist University staff, our local participants left engaged, excited and enthusiastic about their next steps.
Wednesday afternoon, I arrived at Orlando International Airport, ready to attend The First Tee’s 20 Year Anniversary as one of the 28 participants of The First Tee’s Outstanding Participant Summit. Where I met the other participants and our lovely, energetic instructors Al and Ted.
Thursday
Early Thursday morning, the breakfast hall featured booths that each displayed different programs that were related to The First Tee.
Later on that day we had many guest speakers at General Session. During our Outstanding Participant classes, Mr. Joe Louis Barrow Jr. spoke to us about the importance of “keeping golf alive at a young age.”
Friday
We had an interesting early morning General Session with guest speakers such as Mr. Ken Blanchard of the Blanchard Institute, Stedman Graham, and Rayshon Payton.
That afternoon we went to the Dare 2 Escape’s Escape Room. My group was assigned the creepy room, which was filled with evil spirits and crazy puzzles we had to solve. After that we traveled to Disney Springs where we were able to have a fun time and shop.
Saturday
At General Session, our guest speaker Dan Pallotta gave an in-depth speech about the consumer market and about charities net worth. That afternoon, the Outstanding Participants were able to meet Annika Sorenstam and ask her questions, then take pictures with former president George W. Bush and also ask him questions. At the ending Gala, eight of the Outstanding Participants gave speeches about each of the Core Values and former president George W. Bush spoke about the last one.
Four High School Seniors Earn National Designation as The First Tee Scholar – Class of 2017 Joshua Hirtle, Alaina Malcolm, Elizabeth Nguyen and Caroline Rea – all participants of The First Tee of the Sandhills, have earned the national designation of The First Tee Scholar – Class of 2017. An exceptional feet considering only 82 high school seniors across the country were selected to this designation. The First Tee, a youth development organization that introduces young people to the game of golf and its inherent values, recognizes participants for exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement through The First Tee Scholars Program.Applications are accepted once per year from seniors in high school who meet the minimum requirements and are scored by an independent committee.Joshua Hirtle, a Senior at Pinecrest High School, has been a chapter participant since 2013 after moving from The First Tee of Clarksville. In addition to regularly attending Eagle Level programs, Joshua is a staple in our administrative office where he has spearheaded the organization of our equipment donation program, helping the chapter turn unusable donations into around $4,000 in revenue to purchase additional equipment needs. When Joshua is not at The First Tee, you can find him tinkering on his car, tutoring students at West Pine Middle School or working at Roberts Golf. Joshua credits The First Tee for teaching him how to persevere through the every changing landscape as a member of a military child. Joshua will attend UNC Charlotte this fall where he plans to become a mechanical engineer and one day hopes to get plugged into car development for motorsports. Alaina Malcolm, a Senior at Robeson County Early College, has been a chapter participant since 2012. In addition to traveling 50 miles each way to attend Birdie Level programs in Moore County, Alaina has provided her time as a volunteer with PLAYer Level programs in Lumberton, and donor events throughout the year. When away from The First Tee, Alaina spends time golfing with her brother and friends, practicing for and attending dance competitions and preparing for her future endeavor as a member of the Coast Guard. Alaina has signed a letter of intent to attend Pembroke University where she will be a student-athlete on the golf team. Elizabeth Nguyen, a Senior at Pinecrest High School, has been a chapter participant since 2012. In addition to her high level of involvement in Ace level programs, Lizzy generously donates her time through junior coaching and public speaking on behalf of the chapter. Elizabeth has signed a letter of intent to attend Georgetown University where she will be a student-athlete on the golf team. She has big dreams of one day being on the forefront of the innovative transition from oil and gas to renewable energy that would contribute to a cleaner world for our children to inherit. A goal she hopes to accomplish by working in the energy sector upon graduation from college.Caroline Rea, a duel enrolled Senior through her home school program and Sandhills Community College, has been a chapter participant since 2006. In addition to her high level of involvement in Ace level programs, Caroline is a dependable and enthusiastic junior coach at our TARGET and PLAYer programs as well as special events and fundraisers. Caroline has signed a letter of intent to attend Pfieffer University where she will be a student-athlete on the golf team. Post College, Caroline wants to work in the health industry as a Physician’s Assistant, specifically in Pediatric Care. “We are truly humbled to be able to showcase four local seniors on the national stage in this way. It’s a great honor to be recognized for your academic achievements and community involvement at such a young age. These kids are prepared to do big things and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for them,” expressed Courtney Stiles, Executive Director of The First Tee of the Sandhills. Board President, Jay Biggs, chimed in saying, “Congratulations to a wonderful senior class. We look forward to calling them Alumni for many years to come.” With this designation, these four honorees have the exclusive opportunity to apply for educational scholarship programs offered through The First Tee to attend a participating college or university. Announcements regarding these scholarship opportunities will be made later this spring.
When asked their favorite thing about attending programs at The First Tee, Olivia is quick to say she loves the coaches and getting to play with their friends, like her brother, Andrew.
The Graham Children, Olivia now in 3rd grade and Andrew 2nd grade, have lived in five (5) different states, meaning they’ve had five (5) chances to make new friends and share their fun-loving personalities.
What is your dream job?
Olivia: Veterinarian
Andrew: To be an artist
Who is your hero? Why?
Olivia: My dad. He helps people by being in the Army.
Andrew: My dad
What is your favorite thing about your sibling?
Olivia: He’s fun to play with and always happy
Andrew: She’s really funny and makes me laugh
Tell us something fun about you people do not know?
Olivia: I have lived in 5 states
Andrew: I’m a wolf scout with cub scouts
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Olivia: Hawaii
Andrew: Washington, so we could be by our family 
Caison and Caleb Coleman joined our TFTS family in the Summer of 2018 – making a move from The First Tee of Louisville. While only in Kindergarten and 2nd grade, respectively, the boys have moved several times in their young lives, and they’ve perfected the art of Meeting and Greeting as they were quick to be the first to introduce themselves on the first day of class – including a nice handshake!
Caleb: I like that we get to watch my dad jump out of airplanes.
Caison: I like to watch my dad parachute.
Hole 4: What sports do you like other than golf?
Caleb: Soccer, Football, Baseball
Caison: Football
Hole 5: What is your dream job?
Caleb: Engineer
Caison: Firefighter
Hole 6: Who is your hero?
Caleb: My older brother Christian. He is strong!
Caison: Daddy. He is strong and protects me!
Hole 7: What is the favorite thing about your sibling?
Caleb: That they play with me.
Caison: That they are my best brothers.
Hole 8: Tell us something fun about you that people do not know.
Caleb: My favorite food is RICE.
Caison: I am a good hitter! (in baseball)
Hole 9: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? 
Caleb: Myrtle Beach, SC, because I was born there
Caison: Myrtle Beach, SC
A 5th Grader at Southern Pines Elementary – every time he speaks to someone, “Yes, Sir” or, “Yes, Ma’am,” are most certain to follow.
Tv’yrian somehow finds time to squeeze golf into his schedule that includes, baseball, basketball, and football. More importantly, he manages to excel in the classroom and complete his homework before heading to any of these events.
Tv’yrian can also be found at every one of our donor events, chatting away with any adult he can find. He has taken the Life Skills of Meeting and Greeting people and used it to help him become a social butterfly, even though he is naturally quiet and reserved!
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Tv’yrian. Here’s what we found out!
Hole 1: How many years have you been involved with The First Tee? This is my fourth year. I joined The First Tee in 2016 when I was in 2nd Grade.
Hole 2: What is your favorite thing about attending The First Tee? Definitely meeting new friends! A bonus is the coaches are always nice!!
Hole 3: What is your favorite subject or class at school? Math! I can do math really fast and usually in my head. I’m in AIG Math Class. It’s really exciting.
Hole 4: Who is your hero? Why? All of my teachers. They really are helping me in the world!
Hole 5: Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names? I have a goldfish and a Dog named King.
Hole 6: What is your favorite hobby? Sports are my hobbies! In addition to golf, I love playing Baseball, Basketball, and Football.
Hole 7: What is your dream job? Does playing football count as a job? (Coach Matt responds, “If they get paid, it’s a job.”) … Tv’yrian “Then I want to be in the NFL.”
Hole 8: Tell us something fun about you people do not know? I think I have a really good personality. If someone needs help, I will help them. If someone is alone, I ask them if they want to be my friend.
Hole 9: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Arizona. My uncle lives there and it’s really beautiful. 
Georgia Chivers, aka Blu, is a 5th Grader at Irwin Intermediate School in Fort Bragg, NC. She is a year into her participation with The First Tee of the Sandhills programs at Stryker Golf Course and has officially gotten ‘the bug.’
It’s not often you can mention words like patient, coach-able, and determined when discussing someone of her age, but these are the words we use to describe Carmen from our experiences during Curriculum Programs.
However, after learning more about her in preparation for our latest Participant Spotlight, we’d add humble and intriguing to the list.
Carmen is another great example of the incredible kids that participate in The First Tee of the Sandhills.
We sat down for a Quick 9 with Carmen. Here’s what we found out!
Hole 1: What’s your favorite school day activities? 
Hole 2: Favorite Hobby? 
Hole 7: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? 
Hole 3: Favorite hobby? Crafting
Hole 4: Sports other than golf? Bowling. I am a part of a bowling league that has local competitions and my team has qualified for statewide events.
Hole 5: Dream Job? A Fashion Merchandiser, Fashion Marketing OR work for the Walt Disney Company!
Hole 6: What is your favorite thing about The First Tee? I love to do things with friends outside of school, and I personally love when we do special non-golfing events like bowling.
Hole 7: What is your Five (5) Year Goal Plan? My plan is to finish high school with honors, choose the college that best fits my profession and educational standards and continues to further my business.
Hole 8: Who is your hero? My hero would be Walt Disney, he took his passion and made it into a successful business that is recognized worldwide.
Hole 9: Tell us something about you that people may not know. When I was 14, I started my own business. I saw a great opportunity and went for it! So now, after 2 ½ years of making Disney themed ears, I’ve had almost 500 sales and I have a growing platform on Instagram for marketing with over 11K followers. Check it out at @itsaearworldafterall
Thanks for taking a Quick 9 with us, Allison.
Have a question for Allison? Leave it here! 
Wednesday afternoon, I arrived at Orlando International Airport, ready to attend The First Tee’s 20 Year Anniversary as one of the 28 participants of The First Tee’s Outstanding Participant Summit. Where I met the other participants and our lovely, energetic instructors Al and Ted.
We had an interesting early morning General Session with guest speakers such as Mr. Ken Blanchard of the Blanchard Institute, Stedman Graham, and Rayshon Payton.
That afternoon we went to the Dare 2 Escape’s Escape Room. My group was assigned the creepy room, which was filled with evil spirits and crazy puzzles we had to solve. After that we traveled to Disney Springs where we were able to have a fun time and shop.
