Uncategorized – First Tee

First Tee announces 80 teens selected to compete at PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship

The PURE Insurance Championship, held at iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links, pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions legends for a week of competition and mentorship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2026) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions today announced the 80 teens selected to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, set for September 15-20, 2026, at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on the Monterey Peninsula.

Hosted by PURE Insurance and Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the tournament is broadcast internationally on Golf Channel and pairs First Tee participants with PGA TOUR Champions professionals and business leaders for a week of personal growth. Participants age 15-18 will compete for the boys’ and girls’ pro-junior titles.

Representing 52 chapters, participants were selected based on both their golf ability and their growth through First Tee’s youth development program. Members of the 2026 field have been involved with First Tee for an average of 7.5 years.

“Having experienced firsthand the lasting impact of youth sports, I am proud to support such a worthy cause and help create opportunities for these remarkable young people to build relationships and confidence that will stay with them long after tournament week,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer at PURE Insurance.

The junior field was unveiled live on Golf Channel, where reigning girls’ champion Margaret Kerr of First Tee – Greater Houston and her pro partner, Steven Alker, joined the broadcast to discuss their experience competing in the 2025 championship. Kerr will begin her collegiate golf career next fall at West Texas A&M University.

Two members of the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship field earned exemptions into the tournament by finishing Top 5 at the First Tee National Championship, which was held at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club in June. Nakul Shrivastava of First Tee – Tri-Valley won the boys’ division, while Sadie Goodman of First Tee – Central Florida finished 4th, making her the top finisher in the girls’ division who has not previously played the PURE Insurance Championship.

“These 80 teens have put in years of work at their chapters to earn this incredible opportunity, and we are proud to have them represent First Tee,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are grateful to PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel for their continued investment in these young people and in this extraordinary event.”

Tournament play begins Friday, Sept. 18, on both Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Following Saturday’s rounds, the top 24 juniors will advance to Sunday’s final round at Pebble Beach, where one male and one female First Tee participant will be crowned champions.

The junior field for 2026 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com.

First Tee – Triangle’s Arianna Beverly reflects on the opportunities she’s earned through golf

When Arianna Beverly was six or seven years old, her dad signed her up for First Tee. She liked the little games well enough, but she wasn’t exactly serious about it. Then the world stopped, and golf became everything.

“COVID hit, and all we could do was play golf,” Arianna said. What started as a casual activity gradually became a lifelong passion.

Now a rising senior and member of the First Tee – Triangle community, Arianna just competed at the 2026 First Tee National Championship at Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill — the same course where she recently attended a skills session as part of the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression program. This week, she also stepped into a different kind of spotlight, moderating a conversation with player and golf personality Will Lowery at the championship’s welcome dinner.

A pathway opens

Arianna was invited to join Pathway to Progression at last year’s First Tee National Championship at the University of Notre Dame, where she played a practice round with Kenyatta Ramsey, vice president of player development at the PGA TOUR.

She won a qualifying tournament at Bally’s Golf Links in New York, “a very nice golf course, a different kind of experience,” she said. From there, the program brought her back to familiar ground: Finley Golf Club for sessions with coaches who helped with her swing, offered drills and talked through course management and the more technical aspects of the game. Through the program, she played her first AJGA tournament, a senior showcase in Las Vegas, and competed in a second AJGA event as well.

PURE Insurance Championship and Stewart Cink

If you ask Arianna about her favorite golf memory, there’s no hesitation.

“Playing at Pebble Beach. It was just the best experience of my life,” she said. “When I’m old and gray, I’ll still be reminding myself that I went to Pebble Beach and played with Stewart Cink.”

She competed at the 2025 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where she was paired with the PGA TOUR veteran. The experience left a lasting impression. “He still gives me little bits of advice,” she said. “I learned so much from him about course management. I was just pampered by everyone at that tournament.”

More than a golfer

Off the course, Arianna is vice president of her school’s Black Student Association, a National Honor Society member and a jewelry entrepreneur. She started making earrings during COVID as a creative outlet, inspired by a find on Pinterest and encouraged by her crafty family. As her skills improved, her dad convinced her to turn her hobby into a small business. Her Christmas gingerbread men and cupcake designs have been particularly popular.

Before she heads off to Japan on an upcoming school trip, Arianna is also looking ahead to the next chapter: college golf, ideally at an HBCU, and a degree in marketing.

The impact of First Tee

Through new environments and everything that comes with growing up, one thing has remained constant.

“First Tee has been the steadiest thing in my life,” Arianna said. “That’s something you need when you’re changing schools and meeting new people. I always know I have my friends at First Tee.”

She also credits the organization with something she didn’t expect when she first teed it up as a kid: social confidence.

As she prepares to graduate in 2027, Arianna sees golf not just as a sport but as the throughline of her life — past, present and future. “Through First Tee, I’ve fostered my love for the game. Everything I’ve done in the golf world has been because I found that love through First Tee. It’s going to get me into college, into the next chapter of my life, and I’m going to keep it throughout my adulthood because of what happened when I was six.”

Veronica Diaz shares how First Tee – Connecticut helped prepare her for a life of service

When Veronica Diaz joined First Tee – Connecticut around age 8, she found not only a sport, but a place to practice values like honesty, integrity and perseverance. Years later, those values are essential to her career in law enforcement.

Today, Veronica serves as an officer with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Police Department, where her work spans patrol, investigations and community service. It’s a career that demands composure under pressure, accountability and genuine care for the people around her — qualities she traces directly back to her time with First Tee.

“The values of honesty, integrity, respect and perseverance are things I use every day as a police officer,” she said. “Golf teaches you accountability because there is no one else to blame for your score, and First Tee reinforced that mindset.”

She credits her First Tee Coach, Coach Lindsey, for teaching her the importance of showing respect, making confident eye contact and offering a firm handshake — small things that turned out to matter enormously. “Those simple lessons have never left me,” she said. “They are values I continue to carry with me today and pass on to others whenever I can.”

Veronica’s path from First Tee participant to law enforcement officer saw her through four years of high school golf, Division III collegiate golf, summers coaching in the program and a serious car accident that reshaped how she thinks about time and the people she shares it with. “It reminded me how quickly time can pass and how important it is to spend time doing the things you love with the people you care about most,” she said.

Her nephew is now a First Tee participant through the Waterbury Police Activity League, the same PAL program that first connected Veronica to golf and the officers who inspired her career choice.

Reuniting at the Travelers Championship

This year, Veronica joined fellow First Tee alumni at a special meetup hosted during the Travelers Championship, made possible by the generous support of PGA TOUR Superstore. The gathering brought together alumni from across the First Tee network to reconnect, reflect and celebrate how far they’ve come.

“First Tee was such an important part of my childhood, so being able to reconnect with fellow alumni and see how everyone’s journeys have unfolded is special,” she said. “It’s also a great reminder of the impact the program has had on so many people.”

A message to the next generation

When asked what she’d say to a First Tee participant just starting out, Veronica’s answer was simple: Don’t be afraid if you don’t have everything figured out yet.

“The skills you’re learning through First Tee go far beyond golf and will help you no matter what path you choose,” she said. “Some of the experiences that shape your future may come from places you least expect. First Tee certainly did that for me.”

First Tee – Phoenix’s Ashley Shaw and First Tee – Tri-Valley’s Nakul Shrivastava claim 2026 First Tee National Championship

Shrivastava and First Tee – Central Florida’s Sadie Goodman earned exemptions into the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (June 25, 2026) – First Tee has crowned two new national champions: Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park, Arizona, and Nakul Shrivastava of San Ramon, California, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions respectively. The First Tee National Championship took place at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club, June 21-25, 2026.

The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped them build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.

Shaw shot 68-67-65 to finish 10-under for the tournament. A rising high school senior, she’s committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Georgia. Currently 67th in the AJGA rankings, she made her LPGA Tour debut at the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup after earning an exemption into the tournament. Shaw has been involved with First Tee – Phoenix for more than eight years and serves as a volunteer coach and ambassador.

“I’m so excited to be able to get the win,” Shaw said. “For me, staying patient and just knowing I could hit the shots and waiting for the putts to drop was the key, and I just let it happen and I was able to get quite a few birdies this week.”

Shrivastava shot 66-64-67 to finish 13-under for the tournament. He recorded nine birdies in the second round, including six on the back nine. Shrivastava began playing golf with First Tee – Tri-Valley when he was 6. Now a rising high school junior, he has multiple Top 10 AJGA finishes.

“I’m feeling pretty good, very excited that I got to win this, and it was a really good opportunity,” said Shrivastava. “No matter how nervous I got or doubted myself this week, I just remembered confidence is key, and I just persevered through that, and I played pretty well.”

Both winners were awarded the Tattersall Cup in honor of First Tee Trustee Fred Tattersall, who generously supports the event. Photos from the tournament are available here.

Based on their play, Shrivastava and Sadie Goodman of First Tee – Central Florida earned exemptions into the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that will take place at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in September. The event pairs golf legends with First Tee juniors for a week of mentorship and competition. Goodman was 4th in the girls’ division, making her the top finisher who has not previously played the PURE Insurance Championship.

“Congratulations to Ashley and Nakul on their outstanding victories at the First Tee National Championship,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “These young people demonstrated exceptional golf skills, sportsmanship and resilience. Thanks to the University of North Carolina for hosting this year’s event and Fred Tattersall for making this event possible.”

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at college golf courses across the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from around the country. The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.

The championship is part of First Tee’s full slate of national participant opportunities, which is designed to help teens grow while keeping them engaged with the program. In addition to competitive golf opportunities, First Tee headquarters offers leadership programs, a girls empowerment event and a community service workshop.

First Tee – Greater Akron Strengthens Development Team with Hire of Mark Gerberich

AKRON, Ohio (June 15, 2026) – First Tee – Greater Akron is pleased to announce the hiring of Mark Gerberich as its new Development Director, effective Monday, June 29, 2026.

Gerberich brings more than 40 years of business development, fundraising, and partnership-building experience to the role. He has served as President and CEO of the International Soap Box Derby, Commissioner of the Professional Bowlers Tour, and most recently as Director of Business Development at State and Federal Communications.

A longtime friend of the organization, Gerberich is a regular at Mud Run Golf Course and has volunteered with First Tee – Greater Akron in recent years. His familiarity with the organization’s mission and his deep roots in the Greater Akron community made him a natural fit for the position.

“Mark is a connector and a relationship builder, and that is exactly what we need in this role,” said Jeff O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of First Tee – Greater Akron. “He knows our community, he knows our organization, and he shares our passion for the work we do with young people every day.”

“I am excited to combine my passion for this organization with my purpose for serving the community,” said Gerberich. “First Tee – Greater Akron is doing something special, and I look forward to helping more people discover and support that work.”

Gerberich holds a Master of Arts in Sports Management from the University of Akron and is a PBA Hall of Fame inductee. He also serves on the Akron Roundtable Board.

Above: Mark Gerberich volunteering during a First Tee – Greater Akron class.

The Best Thing First Tee Is Teaching Kids Has Nothing to Do With Golf

Above: Matt Considine walking with a then eighteen-month-old Nora

More Than a Game

First Tee – Greater Akron board member and parent Matt Considine recently wrote a piece for NewClub that captures something we try to live every day at First Tee – Greater Akron: the real lessons happen between the swings.

Through the eyes of his five-year-old daughter Nora, Matt describes watching courage, creativity, collaboration, and compassion take root, one putting game at a time. From a shy little girl clinging to dad on day one, to walking a grandmother to her car in the rain, the transformation is quiet, genuine, and powerful.

“First Tee isn’t about that, not primarily anyway. They’re helping shape how kids move through the world.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Read Matt’s full article and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Read the Full Piece

First Tee announces 23 new Scholars selected for academic excellence, leadership and service

In addition to financial support, First Tee Scholars receive mentorship and professional development opportunities

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2026) – Youth development organization First Tee is proud to announce its incoming class of Scholars, welcoming 23 exceptional young leaders into the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Selected from chapters across the country, the incoming Scholars represent the organization’s highest ideals, demonstrating outstanding commitment to academics, community service and the values they developed through years of First Tee participation.

Young men and women from 20 First Tee chapters comprise this year’s Scholar class, including three collegiate golfers and four first-generation college students. They will arrive at universities across the country this fall, studying subjects including engineering, sports management, business, biology and more. On average, incoming Scholars have spent an average of 9.3 years with First Tee and boast a weighted GPA of 4.3.

“The exceptional participants who make up this year’s Scholar class represent the very best of what First Tee stands for: a relentless commitment to excellence in the classroom, in their communities and to their character,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “The First Tee College Scholarship Program exists to ensure that these exceptional young leaders have the resources they need to reach their full potential, and we are grateful to the donors and corporate partners who make this program possible.”

New Scholars will be invited to attend a Pre-College Retreat in Ponte Vedra Beach this summer, where they will meet their peers, network with professionals and attend workshops to help them prepare for their first semester of college.

Launched in 2020, the First Tee College Scholarship Program provides selected alumni with financial support, mentorship and professional development opportunities designed to help them succeed in college and beyond. Scholars participate in workshops, gain access to an expansive professional network, and receive ongoing guidance as they navigate their college journeys.

Candidates are selected based on academic achievement, dedication to service and commitment to their First Tee chapter and community. The program reflects First Tee’s broader mission of using golf to teach young people life skills that develop character, extending well beyond the course.

In April, leaders from Chevron, a supporter of the First Tee College Scholarship program, surprised Carlie Matengula (left) and Aarya Shewale (center) with invitations to the program during The Chevron Championship.

The full list of incoming First Tee College Scholars is below.

Name	Chapter	University	Major
Riley Albright	Central Ohio	Ohio State University	Sports Management
Natalie Chen	Silicon Valley	Stanford University	Business
Noelle Gagnon	New Hampshire	Connecticut College	International Relations
Lilyanna Hathaway	Colorado Rocky Mountains	Colorado Mesa University	Marketing
Justin Hsieh	Raritan Valley	Rutgers University	Aerospace Engineering
Nick Huang	Greater Seattle	Northwestern University	Electrical Engineering
Riley Jamison	Tennessee	Palm Beach Atlantic University	Communications
Joshua Ju	Tennessee	Vanderbilt University	Pre-Medicine
Carlie Matengula	Greater Austin	Howard University	Political Science
Jasmine McGhee	Greater Chicago	Cornell University	Psychology
Colby Palacio	Raritan Valley	Rutgers University	Accounting
Ishani Patel	Metropolitan Oklahoma City	University of Oklahoma	Biomedical Engineering
Kailyn Peterson	Idaho	Boise State University	Nursing
Jack Polansky	Greater San Antonio	Berry College	Environmental Science
Lula Rivera	Greater Wilmington	North Carolina State University	Engineering
Alexis Roth	Greater Charlotte	University of South Carolina	Sports Management
Isabella Russo	Florida Gold Coast	University of Central Florida	Engineering
Aarya Shewale	Greater Houston	Texas A&M University	Aerospace Engineering
Sydney Socha	Toledo	University of North Florida	Business
Anabella Van Cotthem	San Diego	University of California, Irvine	Biology
Weston Wakefield	Central Arkansas	Southern Nazarene University	Kinesiology
Ashton Washington	Tampa Bay	Florida A&M University	Finance
Bailey Webb	Colorado Rocky Mountains	Ohio State University	International Business

Since its inception, 120 First Tee Scholars have benefited from this comprehensive support system. The First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of individual supporters and corporate partners. Learn more about supporting First Tee.

From participant to coach: Libby Chamberlin’s First Tee story

This First Tee Week, we’re celebrating game-changing coaches like Libby Chamberlin.

The youngest of three siblings, Libby watched her older brother and sister take classes at First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky for as long as she can remember. She wanted in. The moment she turned 7 and was old enough to join, she was ready.

“I was ecstatic,” she said.

Her siblings eventually found passions elsewhere, but Libby kept coming back, through middle school, high school and eventually into a coaching role she’s now held for six years. What started as a little sister tagging along has become a career shaped by First Tee’s values and the coaches who modeled them.

Ask Libby what kept her coming back year after year before she even fell in love with golf, and she’ll tell you: the coaches.

Tom and Mellisa Briner helped found First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and helped shape Libby’s path. Swing instructor Bill Donaldson has been a constant presence throughout both her years as a participant and now as a fellow coach.

“I want to give kids the same great experience with the program that I had,” she said.

Game-planning for the future with Ace

During her time as a participant, Libby was selected for two First Tee participant events: Game Changers Academy and Drive Your Future Academy. At both, she connected with participants from across the country and first learned about Ace.

The seed was planted.

In the spring of her junior year, Libby and her friend Abigail Laake decided to go for it together. They became the first participants at their chapter to complete Ace, meeting regularly with then-executive director Alicia Lawrence to work through it side by side.

Libby remembers those meetings vividly — not just for the work, but for what they meant during a stressful stretch of senior year.

“It was so helpful to have a mentor to consistently check in with,” she said. “I loved the way that the Ace experience encouraged me to create a game plan for life after graduation in all aspects of my life, like exploring ways to invest in my community and deciding how golf will fit into my life after I stop playing on a team. It provided me with an opportunity to explore who I am, what I want and what my long-term goals are.”

A coach is born

It was through volunteering in First Tee classes and serving as a role model for younger participants that Libby discovered her love for coaching.

Alicia encouraged her to pursue it, and six years later, she’s still at it. Coaching part-time through college deepened her passion for working with young people and pointed her toward a career in youth development and education.

She graduated from Transylvania University where she played golf while studying education and social change, developing a particular passion for literacy and learning outside traditional classroom settings. She’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in library sciences with a focus on public libraries and youth services.

The thread running through all of it traces back her First Tee chapter and the coaches who showed up for her. Now a Level 3 coach herself, Libby is certified to teach the Ace curriculum.

For any First Tee alumni thinking about getting involved again, Libby has a simple message: Reach out to your local chapter.

“I know it can be hard to meet people post-grad,” she says. “Helping out with a First Tee class is a great way to dip your toes back in while also giving back to the community — and it’s a fun way to get back into golf yourself.”

According to research from The Harris Poll and First Tee, 90% of parents believe coaches are the “unsung” heroes of youth development. But most parents also agree there’s a shortage of high-caliber coaches today. That’s why we’re honoring impactful coaches during First Tee Week, May 23-30, 2026. Learn more.

Coach Shayna: First Tee coaches are ‘building the future of the game and the character of the kids who will carry it forward’

Some people find golf. Golf found Coach Shayna before she could even see over the top of the flagstick. Growing up in Unionville, Missouri, Shayna was just 3 when her grandparents cut down a putter and packed her into their three-wheel Harley-Davidson golf cart, heading to their nine-hole course with sand greens.

“My grandparents were intentional about teaching me the game the right way,” she said. “They made sure I understood both the mechanics and the integrity behind golf.”

By 11, Coach Shayna was playing on real grass greens for the first time. By 13, she shot a 79 at the Timber Ridge Junior Golf Tournament in Memphis, Missouri — the best score of the day — with her Grandpa Gary, affectionately known as “Schoonie,” walking every hole beside her.

Blazing her own trail

Golf wasn’t always easy to access, especially for a girl growing up in rural America in that era. There were no First Tee programs nearby, no girls’ golf team at her school and no shortage of moments that tested her resolve. When she was excluded from a Father’s Day tournament because organizers believed there should be “no girls,” she didn’t walk away from the game. She found another way in.

Shayna earned a spot on her high school boys’ varsity golf team — and held her own in the top five all four years, competing weekly for the number one position. Golf was just one chapter in a standout athletic career that earned her 16 varsity letters across golf, softball, basketball and track. Her softball team was later inducted into the Missouri State Hall of Fame.

Finding her way back to golf

Coach Shayna stuck with softball through college, where she earned a degree in psychology before becoming a cosmetologist. Golf took a backseat as she moved to Florida and became a mom of five, but the love of the game never left.

“For years, I mostly daydreamed about it and occasionally hit balls in the yard,” she said. “But the desire to compete and be part of the golf community never left me.”

When Shayna began working with Dixon Golf, a tournament consulting company, the golf world started pulling her back in. The more she played, the more one organization kept coming to mind: First Tee.

“I knew firsthand how transformative starting young in golf could be,” she said.

About three years ago, she met First Tee – Gulf Coast executive director Marty Stanovich and signed on as a volunteer. In the fall of 2025, she achieved her goal of becoming head coach at Fort Walton Beach Golf Club.

The joy of coaching

Coach Shayna’s background is uniquely suited for the work. Her degree in developmental psychology, combined with raising five kids of her own, gives her a nuanced lens when working with young people.

“I know they are constantly growing,” she said. “They are resilient, perceptive and capable of more than they realize.”

With support from First Tee partner, Morgan Stanley, Coach Shayna recently reached another milestone – she attended First Tee’s Level 2 coach training in Tampa, where she learned more about the youth development organization’s Coach Philosophy.

“Being surrounded by others who care deeply about youth development and the game itself was energizing,” she said. “Learning together reinforced that coaching doesn’t have to be done alone.”

A message to future coaches

“My favorite part of coaching is all of it,” Coach Shayna said. “I love showing up, maximizing our time and creating an environment that is both fun and challenging. I see kids as intelligent, capable and full of possibility. My goal is to draw that potential out of them and empower them.”

For anyone on the fence about getting involved with First Tee, her advice is direct: Don’t wait.

It’s rewarding to impact not only children, but the broader community, she said. Almost every class, an older club member stops her or another First Tee coach to thank them for introducing the next generation to the sport they love.

“And that is what First Tee is really about — building the future of the game and the character of the kids who will carry it forward,” she said.

First Tee coaches shape character, build confidence and create supportive environments where every participant feels inspired to grow.

In collaboration with The Harris Poll, our research shows parents believe trained coaches are better equipped to teach new skills, demonstrate a dedication to safety and adapt to the needs of individual children.

Morgan Stanley donates $5,000 for each Eagle recorded at THE PLAYERS Championship to support First Tee’s coach training efforts. Over the last five years, First Tee has been able to send hundreds of coaches to valuable, in-person trainings, where they learn to teach golf and serve as crucial mentors for the next generation.

From the golf course to the spotlight: First Tee participant Cienna Collado brings her passion to TGL

First Tee – Florida Gold Coast participant Cienna Collado aspires to a career in entertainment, and she’s found a unique way to boost her resume that incorporates her love of golf.

Through her First Tee chapter, Cienna earned the opportunity to serve as a ball runner for TGL, professional golf’s newest innovation. Her responsibilities include handing players their golf balls, announcing club selections and retrieving balls after they’re hit. But it’s the unexpected moments that make the experience truly special.

“My most memorable moment was when I was working one of the L.A. matches and Shonda Rhimes was sitting behind me the whole time,” Cienna said. “I was absolutely freaking out because I love her show ‘Scandal.’ After the match I actually got to meet her and she was the sweetest person. It will definitely be a memory I remember for a long time.”

A First Tee journey rooted in values

Cienna’s path to TGL began with her family’s decision to join First Tee. When her private golf instructor joined the organization, her family was drawn to First Tee’s values and mission. “It has come to be one of the best decisions we have ever made,” she said.

Through the program, Cienna has learned lessons that extend far beyond the golf course. “First Tee has taught me the importance of integrity,” she explains. “Especially on the golf course, no one is there to hold you accountable except for yourself. Through golf I’ve learned how much the game is a reflection of life. No one is standing by me all the time to hold me accountable, I have to do that myself.”

Breaking barriers in entertainment

While golf plays a significant role in Cienna’s life, her true passion lies in TV and film production. She’s heavily involved in her school’s production academy, competing at district, state and national levels. In her own time, she creates vlogs, produces and directs content, acts, anchors, reports and even hosts a podcast.

Looking ahead, Cienna has a clear vision for her future: pursuing a career in the entertainment industry while using her platform to inspire the next generation of female golfers.

“There is a severe shortage of female golf representation for young girls to look up to,” she said. “Even if I don’t play on the LPGA Tour, golf is a part of me and my story. I plan to be in a position where I would get to share that story and make an impact on the younger generation of female golfers.”

From the SoFi Center to the golf course and behind the lens, Cienna is well on her way to creating the representation she wishes to see in the world.

Actor, avid golfer Michael Peña joins First Tee as Brand Ambassador

Peña will support First Tee’s efforts to bring its game-changing golf and life skills curriculum to young people from all backgrounds

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2026) – Youth development organization First Tee is proud to announce that actor Michael Peña has joined the organization as a Brand Ambassador. As a longtime golfer, Peña is enthusiastic about bringing the sport and its inherent values to families across the globe.

Known for roles in films and television series including “Ant-Man,” “A Million Miles Away” and the recent hit series, “All Her Fault,” Peña has been a dedicated supporter of First Tee since 2023, when he first attended the organization’s annual Leadership Summit as a guest speaker. The Summit brings together teen participants from First Tee chapters across the country for leadership development, networking and golf.

As a Brand Ambassador, Peña will support First Tee’s efforts to reach kids from all communities with programming that uses golf as a vehicle to help young people build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience. Through First Tee’s network of 150 chapters, the organization serves young people ages 5-18 with programs that extend beyond the golf course and into participants’ homes, schools and communities. First Tee also offers robust scholarship and alumni programs.

An accomplished golfer himself, Peña regularly competes in pro-am events and has witnessed firsthand how the game can positively impact its players.

“Golf has been an important part of my life, teaching me patience, discipline and how to handle both success and failure,” Peña said. “I’m honored to become a Brand Ambassador and help First Tee reach even more young people with programs that will help them succeed on the golf course and beyond.”

“Michael’s genuine passion for golf and his commitment to empowering young people make him an ideal Brand Ambassador as we work to reach more kids with our life-changing programs,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Michael has inspired teens at our Leadership Summit with his authenticity and his message about the power of perseverance. We are grateful he is taking his valuable time and energy to support First Tee.”

First Tee reaches more than 3 million young people annually through programming at chapters, schools and community centers. Peña joins three existing First Tee Brand Ambassadors: Actress and First Tee alumna Kathryn Newton and PGA TOUR players Alex Smalley and Austin Smotherman, who is also a First Tee alumnus.

First Tee’s 2026 national events connect teens with mentors, experiences that shape their futures

Signature programs bring young people face-to-face with business leaders, professional athletes and life-changing opportunities

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2026) – First Tee is pleased to announce its 2026 lineup of national participant events, offering teens powerful opportunities to grow as leaders, athletes and changemakers. Through partnerships with leading companies, organizations and generous individuals, First Tee provides experiences that challenge young people to step outside their comfort zones and discover their potential in supportive environments.

These national events are part of First Tee’s broader commitment to keeping teens actively engaged during the critical adolescent years, a need underscored by research from First Tee and The Harris Poll showing that nearly 90% of parents believe character development deserves greater emphasis in today’s society. Through First Tee’s Ace capstone program, junior coach opportunities and immersive national events, First Tee builds essential life skills and creates lasting mentor connections that help teens navigate this pivotal stage of development.

2026 Participant Events include:

Leadership Series (March 2026): In partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, this five-week program guides participants through discovering their unique leadership values and strengths. It is held at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country.

National Championship (June 21-25, 2026): The University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club will host First Tee’s top high school golfers as they demonstrate their character and competitive skills developed through the program.

Game Changers Academy (July 18-22, 2026): Now in its 26th year, this signature event returns to Minneapolis, challenging teens to celebrate their unique perspectives and create positive change in their communities.

Leadership Summit (Aug. 3-7 and 10-14, 2026): Leadership Series graduates can apply for this adventure-based learning experience at West Creek Ranch in Montana, where PGA TOUR Superstore executives mentor participants through activities like horseback riding and whitewater rafting, designed to strengthen their leadership capabilities.

PURE Insurance Championship (September 15-20, 2026): At the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links, teens compete alongside PGA TOUR Champions players and connect with business leaders in an event broadcast on Golf Channel, blending elite golf with career mentorship.

Drive Your Future Academy (Oct. 8-12, 2026): In partnership with John Deere, this event brings young women to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to connect with accomplished female mentors from John Deere and other leading organizations and explore pathways for continued involvement in golf and leadership beyond high school.

Innovators Forum (Nov. 15-19, 2026): Participants collaborate with seasoned business and nonprofit leaders in Amelia Island, Florida, to design and launch community service initiatives that make a difference in their hometowns.

First Tee participant events provide opportunities for teens to pursue their interests, expand their horizons and grow as people. For some, these events represent their first time on an airplane, visiting a college campus or traveling on their own. This freedom gives teens the opportunity to use good judgment, grow through challenge and build positive self-identity.

“These events represent some of the most meaningful moments in our participants’ First Tee journey,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We consistently hear from teens, parents and coaches that these experiences help crystallize what is possible for their futures. We are deeply grateful to AWS, John Deere, PGA TOUR Superstore, PURE Insurance, Topgolf and countless individual supporters who invest in these life-changing opportunities.”

First Tee’s national participant events serve more than 300 teens annually. Interested teens and parents should reach out to their local First Tee chapter for application information. The First Tee National Championship, Game Changers Academy and PURE Insurance Championship are currently accepting applications through March 18. High school seniors can also apply for the First Tee College Scholarship Program.

First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization that empowers young people through the game of golf, helping them develop inner strength, confidence and life skills they’ll use on and off the course.