Helping youth prepare for success is at the core of The First Tee. We believe in encouraging youth to pursue their dreams and further their education. However, for many students today, a college education would not be possible without financial assistance. Thanks to our generous donors, The First Tee is proud to offer scholarships to help fund our participants’ educational success.
How We Support Academic Success
Through
The First Tee Scholars Program, we recognize our high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional achievement in academics, leadership skills, character development, and chapter and community involvement. The First Tee Scholars are eligible to receive scholarships as well.
Since 2003, The First Tee has designated 930 teens as The First Tee Scholars. This year, we recognized 82 junior golfers as
The First Tee Scholars – Class of 2016-2017. Through our scholarships program,
46 of The First Tee Scholars received financial aid this year alone. Many of our chapters also offer assistance to their youth participants.
Our Scholarship Descriptions
Over the past nine years, the home office and chapters awarded a combined $7 million in college scholarships to participants. But the best part isn’t the number of dollars; it’s what the youth are able to achieve.
The First Tee scholar and alumnus Adam Zakaria shares how his scholarship has impacted his life and his goals for the future.
Adam’s Story
My name is Adam Zakaria and I was awarded the generous David B. Epstein Scholarship in 2013. I recently graduated summa cum laude from UC Berkeley with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average and earned a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. I was highly involved in my local community throughout college, and volunteered with The First Tee of the East Bay and several health clinics that served disadvantaged communities, including The Suitcase Clinic and the Native American Health Center in Oakland. The First Tee has remained an integral part of my life, and this semester I was selected to represent The First Tee at National Golf Day in Washington D.C. due to my academic achievement and strong commitment to The First Tee organization. My successes both in and out of the classroom have earned me a spot at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where I will be beginning medical school this upcoming fall. I owe a large part of my success to the David B. Epstein Scholarship, and feel that a reduced financial burden enabled me to spend time exploring my interests and pursuing my passions. I am exceedingly thankful towards Mrs. Geri Epstein and The First Tee organization, and will continue to uphold The First Tee core values both in my personal and professional life. Thank you again!
Ways to Get Involved
The First Tee Scholars Program and scholarships are only open to participants of The First Tee chapters. You can become a part of our program by connecting with a chapter near you! Visit our locations map to start your journey.
Find a Chapter 
f you ask Taryn Yee what she learned as a participant at
The First Tee encourages all-around excellence. Our character education and life skills programs help young people prepare for success both on and off the golf course. 
