First Tee is honored to be supported by our Trustee, Accenture, in our mission to empower young people through the game of golf. Through our partnership, we can share the success stories of the program participants and acknowledge the impact First Tee alumni have on their communities.
Through the Drivers of Change program select First Tee alum are featured across multiple PGA TOUR and LPGA tournaments in both print and digital mediums. In conjunction with The Chevron Championship, Accenture is recognizing two alumni from First Tee – Greater Houston as Drivers of Change. Read their stories below and learn more about First Tee – Greater Houston and how you can get involved.
We congratulate these Drivers of Change and encourage you to support First Tee with your time and treasure. If you’re interested in supporting First Tee – Greater Houston, click the button below.
Alumni Changing the Game
Stephen Boyd was a member of First Tee for nearly a decade before graduating as an ACE level participant in the program in 2018. His journey through the Greater Houston chapter was filled with great experiences, and forged by the friendships he made over the years. In 2016, Stephen played in the First Tee Nature Valley Open at Pebble Beach, now known as PURE, where he was paired with hall of famer Mark O’Meara. Along the way, he also had the opportunity to participate in other great events like the Leadership Academy in Richmond, VA.
Aside from the First Tee, Stephen was a four-year varsity golfer in high school and went on to play Division I golf at Prairie View A&M University. During his time at Prairie View Stephen was a member of 2 SWAC Championship teams and graduated with a 3.7 GPA in Digital Media.
Today, Stephen is the Communications Manager at Westwood Golf Club in Houston, TX. Along with his work at Westwood, Stephen recently founded “WiNLHO Media Productions”. A media company specializing in social media content with a focus on highlighting the legacies of athletes.
Annika Clark was destined to be a golfer from the moment she was named after one of the greatest female golfers of all time - Annika Sorenstam. As her dad’s little sidekick, her introduction to the golf world started at the tender age of three, when she stepped foot on the golf course for the first time.
Annika is a proud alumnus of First Tee of Greater Houston, whose journey started in 2004, when she was 7 years old. Throughout the next 11 years, First Tee instilled in her the Nine Core Values and Life Skills and she learned how relevant they are to all facets of her life. Annika earned ACE level certification and was selected to participate in many extraordinary opportunities including the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, the PLAYer Academy, America’s Future Coca-Cola Scholars, and the Auntie Anne’s Leaders & Entrepreneurs Forum.
Annika earned a scholarship to play golf at Texas Christian University. Throughout her collegiate career, she competed on the team all four years, which consisted of 41 tournaments and 120 rounds of golf. Annika was named the Big XII Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2019. Upon graduating with her B.A. in Journalism that same year, she decided to pursue a career playing professional golf. She is currently competing on the Epson Tour, which is the developmental tour for the LPGA. In addition to chasing her dream of becoming an LPGA tour player, she is working to earn her Class A PGA certification. Annika truly believes First Tee helped to mold her into the confident, outgoing and capable woman who is able to achieve her goals and take on new challenges. Her participation as a member of First Tee taught her invaluable lessons that she will use for the rest of her life.
Mariana Montemayor Perez joined First Tee – Greater Houston in 2017 after her family discovered the program at The Houston Open. First Tee made it easier for her to enjoy golf with her family. After being involved in First Tee for the past 8 years, Mariana now serves as a coach at her local chapter and enjoys building lasting relationships with her coaches, participants, and staff.
Today, Mariana is a Junior in College, majoring in General Science from Lonestar College-University. Her goals are to become a registered nurse specializing in Pediatric Oncology. Driven by her passion to give back and the impact that First Tee had on her life, Mariana works as a family coordinator at her church in The Woodlands in her free time.
Alexa Vela, a student at Rice University is pursuing a degree in Business and Sport Management, specializing in Finance and Sport Law with aspirations to eventually go to law school and receive a law degree. For the past 12 years, First Tee has provided Alexa with a welcoming and inclusive environment where she made lasting friendships and gained the confidence to become a leader who is confident and authentic.
Through First Tee, she has had incredible opportunities, including playing golf with professionals like Mark O’Meara and most recently being named a First Tee National Scholar. As a student at Rice University, located in her hometown of Houston, Texas Alexa aspires to use all that has been taught at First Tee to continue serving others. Her devotion to creating inclusive spaces is the result of the community and friendships that she has been granted through First Tee. The program has allowed her to recognize the importance of using her voice as a means to embrace her authenticity and create a space that encourages others to embrace theirs.
Growing golf in Houston is especially important to Alexa, considering that It is where she learned to love the game, but also where she was able to witness firsthand the impact that having access to the game of golf can have in the lives of many.
Alexa looks forward to using her law degree as a means to represent nonprofits like First Tee, as well as other sports organizations, to continue the growth of sports and subsequently create positive change in communities throughout the country. Alexa is forever thankful to First Tee for granting her the community, people, and lessons that have transformed her into who she is today.
Past Drivers of Change
Jakari Harris was no stranger to playing sports growing up, but the mental challenge of golf led her to stick with it and invest in her game. She started playing golf at 7 years old in 2006 with the Project One Junior Golf Academy and joined First Tee – Atlanta the year after. Once she transferred to Charles R. Drew Charter School, she switched to First Tee – East Lake. The program played a huge role in her personal development, and she holds the Nine Core Values near and dear to her heart. Specifically, perseverance and integrity are her personal favorites. Jakari received both a golf and academic scholarship at Hampton University. She played all four years, receiving MVP and being the lowest scorer three out of her four years. She received the George A. Christenberry Award, which is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA in the Big South Athletic Conference. After graduating in 2020 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, she enrolled in a joint Biomedical Engineering PhD program at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. She is currently working on her thesis project, which involves 3D printing a heart model. Jakari aspires to help bring more research resources to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and get more minority college students involved in STEM research. Teaching is also a passion of hers and is evident as she is currently an LPGA Apprentice and teaches First Tee – Metro Atlanta classes year-round. Being a professor is in her sights as she knows first-hand how much of an impact the right mentors can have on students. Ultimately, she is all about giving back to her communities: First Tee, HBCUs, and many more.
Mia Bishop is a dedicated individual with a passion for community service, coaching, and mental health. Their journey began in 2003 when they joined the First Tee – Metro Atlanta. During their time in the program, Mia not only honed their golf skills but also actively volunteered and served as an assistant coach, sharing their knowledge and inspiring other young minds to reach their full potential. Mia graduated from Cumberland Christian Academy in 2015, where they laid the foundation for their future pursuits. Later, they pursued higher education and achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Gender Studies and Community Engagement from Stetson University in 2019. Driven by a deep desire to support others in their mental and emotional well-being, Mia continued their education journey and obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University in 2021. Currently, Mia is making a meaningful impact as a Psychotherapist at Atlanta Center for Self Compassion. In this role, they compassionately work with children, teenagers, and adults, helping them navigate life’s challenges and fostering personal growth and resilience. Mia has also returned to First Tee — Metro Atlanta, where it all began. They are now proudly serving as a coach at John A. White golf course, the very place that nurtured their passion for golf and mentoring. With a heart dedicated to making a positive difference in their community, Mia continues to inspire and uplift others through their coaching, counseling, and unwavering commitment to self-compassion and personal growth.
Raquel Simpson told her parents at the age of 9 that she wanted to play a sport that was “fun” and “exciting”. Her father, who is an avid golfer, thought the game of golf would be the perfect sport for her relaxed yet competitive demeanor. Raquel started her journey with First Tee — Greater Chicago and quickly excelled in the program. She loved the engaging activities and sense of community she felt amongst her peers and coaches. After a successful four years playing on her high school’s varsity team at Walter Payton College Prep, leading the team to win four consecutive city championships, Raquel would find herself playing collegiately at Howard University’s brand new Division I program supported by NBA superstar Stephen Curry. As a player on the inaugural women’s team, Raquel had and continues to have a unique experience on the team — she witnessed the program build up and live up to the hype that was created around it. Passionate about her teammates and amplifying the story around the Howard Golf program, Raquel utilized her photography and post-production skills and took up the role of being a content creator and social media manager for the program. Currently, the program is the most followed sports account (11k) at Howard University and achieved verification under Raquel’s management. As Raquel is a graduating senior this school year, she plans to work in the golf space in the marketing/content creation realm, as storytelling is her passion. Her team also has a brand new docuseries airing on ESPN+’s Why Not Us series, showcasing and highlighting the talented young individuals that make up the Howard Golf program. The series is executive produced by Stephen Curry and airs on August 21.
Madison Miller began her journey with First Tee — Greater Chicago in 2013. No stranger to the world of golf, the support systems and rigor of First Tee lessons solidified her commitment to the game. In 2017 she was asked to participate in her first national event, the Nancy Tennant Golf and Leadership Academy in Benton Harbor. From there, the opportunities began rolling in. In 2019, she was invited to compete in the First Tee of Greater New Orleans National Tournament. In 2022, she was selected for both the Game Changers Academy in Philidelphia and the first-ever Leadership Summit in Partnership with PGA Superstores in Montana. Between her travels, she worked as a coach at First Tee Greater Chicago and last year completed a social media and marketing internship with the chapter. Through her involvement, Madison cultivated a love for public speaking. She gave her first speech at the movie premiere of Tommy’s Honor and has since received multiple invitations to deliver speeches on her involvement and experiences with First Tee. Notable, at her chapter’s prominent fundraisers including the Corporate Challenge and Taste Events. This fall, she will be transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign at the School of Information Sciences for her sophomore year. As she prepares to embrace the challenges and new opportunities of this next chapter of her life, she does so with the support of her friends and mentors from her chapter. Madison hopes to graduate and explore a law degree with a focus on legislation that governs AI usage and data collection.
Stephen Ma joined First Tee – Central Ohio in 2014 where he worked to impact the game on and off the course. He has not only received the Eagle certification, but also he has participated in several First Tee national opportunities including the PURE Insurance Championship impacting the First Tee at Pebble Beach, where he placed 2nd, and the Inaugural First Tee National Championship. Off the course, Stephen gave back to his chapter as a role model, fundraiser, and junior coach. He collaborated with his co-captains of their state-winning high school golf team to host “Pay it Forward” golf clinics generating donations that sponsored 50 students to attend First Tee summer camp. He also created and posted on youtube a series of golf video tips to raise awareness and funds for the First Tee. Stephen will be starting college this fall at Washington University in St Louis, majoring in finance and playing golf on the club team.
Maya Aframian embarked on her journey with First Tee – Central Ohio in 2010 as a new golfer. With the invaluable guidance and leadership provided by the program, Maya steadily progressed, engaging in Girls Golf and eventually joining the First Tee PGA Junior Golf summer leagues. As her skills developed, Maya became eligible to try out for her middle school golf team, she made the cut and became an integral part of the team. Throughout her middle and high school years, Maya became a leader and role model, consistently exceling on the varsity team and assuming the role of team captain during her junior and senior years. While attending high school, Maya dedicated herself to the mission of First Tee – Central Ohio, volunteering for programming twice a week and coaching younger participants on weekends. Looking ahead, Maya will be embarking on the next chapter of her academic journey at The Ohio State University, where she plans to pursue a major in Computer Technology Engineering. Even during her college years, Maya intends to continue her invaluable contributions as a volunteer and coach at First Tee – Central Ohio, with the possibility of extending her involvement beyond graduation. Maya’s family remains forever grateful for the valuable teachings and meaningful relationships she has cultivated within the nurturing environment of First Tee – Central Ohio.
Kerrisa Limon joined the First Tee – Austin in 2008 and has achieved a series of accomplishments through the program. Such as receiving her ACE certification, the highest level reachable. She has also been invited to compete several times at The First Tee of Greater New Orleans National Tournament and won first place in her division. In addition to being a participant she has also given back to her program by volunteering for several years and interning for two summers. She has also been a receiver of several scholarships from the program. These scholarships have helped support her at The University of Texas, San Antonio where she is working to complete her degree in Biology. Once she is finished with her undergraduate degree, she plans on attending Physicians’ Assistant school in order to earn her Master’s degree and begin working at a hospital in the future.
Jacob Limon joined The First Tee in Austin in 2009. Where he has accomplished a variety of accomplishments throughout the
program. Not only has he received the ACE certification, which is the highest level to accomplish at The First Tee program, but as well as been invited to many opportunities to play along with his sister in The First Tee Greater New Orleans National Tournament and received several opportunities to walk alongside as a standard barrier for the WGC Dell Match Play tournaments. Jacob has also volunteered for the summer camps along with the First Tee staff to help coach the young golfers for the program for multiple years. Being a part of the First Tee program has provided Jacob with scholarships to help him reach his goal and play Collegiate Golf, where he currently is a freshman attending Concordia University In Austin, Texas for business and finance as well as playing on the Golf team for the school. The current goal is to graduate and obtain his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance where he will continue to play tournament golf.
Taylor Harvey started as a participant with First Tee – Phoenix in 2010 and has been very involved with the chapter. She obtained First Tee’s ACE certification, the program’s highest level of certification, and has competed in numerous golf tournaments at the chapter and national levels. In 2018, Taylor was invited to play in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, a PGA TOUR Champions event. Off the course, Taylor gave back to her chapter through her leadership as a volunteer and role model for younger participants. She received the First Tee – Phoenix’s Josh Harden Memorial Scholarship and is now attending Prairie View A&M, a D1 HBCU in Houston, Texas. Taylor is a Mass Communications major and a senior on the Women’s Golf team. She is currently an intern for the First Tee of Greater Houston chapter and is looking to pursue her Master’s degree next semester. With her upbringing in First Tee, she has found her passion in golf and writing and has her own website called TaylorHarveyGolf.com.
Mika Miyata became involved with First Tee – Phoenix in 2014. Throughout her time as a participant, Mika achieved numerous accomplishments including ACE certification level. She competed in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, attended many other national opportunities, and competed for several years on First Tee – Phoenix’s Kloenne Cup team. Mika exemplified the life skills taught in First Tee and gave back to her community by volunteering with her chapter and starting her own toy drive in partnership with Operation Christmas Child. In recognition of her outstanding participation with First Tee – Phoenix, Mika received the chapter’s Michael W. Louis Scholarship. She is now attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she competes on their Division 1 collegiate golf team and individually won the WIU Ben Mussatto Invitational her freshman year. Mika is working towards graduating early with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and earn her Master of Business Administration. As she is majoring in both marketing and management, she hopes to combine her two passions and work media communications within the golf industry.
Pedro Ortiz was first exposed to First Tee – Monterey County when he was a first grader in 2006. Once he progressed through the program, he began mentoring the participants around him as their role model. Because of his admirable effort, Pedro obtained his very first job at First Tee – Monterey County as an Assistant Coach. In 2014, Pedro had the honor of attending the First Tee National Trustee Meeting in Pebble Beach, where he had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the Honorary Chair of The First Tee, Former President George W. Bush. He had the privilege to speak in front of George W. Bush, hundreds of golf executives, and First Tee trustees. In 2015, Pedro graduated from Salinas High School and received a $20,000 scholarship to attend California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) through The Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program. In 2018, Pedro graduated summa cum laude from CSUMB with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is now the Communications Manager for the San Jose Earthquakes, a professional and major league soccer team.
Josh Owen’s journey with First Tee began in 2008 when he joined First Tee – Greater Phoenix. Throughout his time in First Tee, Josh earned a variety of awards, including ACE certification, the highest level to accomplish in First Tee. With First Tee, Josh was invited to many opportunities including First Tee’s PLAYer Academy in 2014 which he credits with making a tremendous different on his golf course fundamentals and mindset. Josh played four years on the varsity golf team at his high school, Corona del Sol with several accomplishments including earning MVP and playing in the State Championship during his senior year.
After high school, Josh received a scholarship to play college golf and attend Chandler-Gilbert Community College and then the New Mexico Military Institute. After two years of college golf, Josh decided to retire from competitive golf and continue his college journey while maintaining his involvement in his community. Josh has always had an interest in connecting with individuals from different parts of the world and in 2018, he was selected to participate in the annual Maricopa College Global Leadership Retreat. That year, he also enrolled at Grand Canyon University with a degree track for Business Management where he also served in a campus global ministry and local outreach program.
Driven by his passion for service, Josh decided to serve his country by joining the United States Air Force in 2020. After training, he earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management from GCU and today, is still serving in the military while assessing different career paths. Overall, he credits First Tee for providing long-last friendships, scholarships and an experience with golf that he will never forget.
Emma Reyes was a participant of the First Tee for nine years until reaching ACE level and becoming an alumnus in 2016. During her time at the First Tee of Phoenix, she was honored to be able to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in 2015. After concluding her junior golf career, Emma continued on to compete on the women’s golf team at Northern Arizona University while also earning her Bachelor’s in Finance, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Today, Emma is a municipal manager at Republic Services, an environmental services company that leads the industry in sustainability. She is the relationship owner for the municipal franchise agreements in her market while also leading all local community outreach initiatives for her business units in East Phoenix and Tucson. Emma enjoys time outdoors with her two dogs and finding new restaurants to try with friends.