First Tee Game Changers Academy is a transformative five-day learning and empowerment experience. Selected teens from across the U.S. will engage in meaningful discussions on self-awareness, inclusive leadership, and community building – skills they will carry with them throughout their lives. First Tee invites its partners to lead dynamic, interactive workshops, complemented by reflective activities guided by our nationally trained First Tee coaches.
This experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, and empower teens, preparing them to become Game Changers in their communities now and in the future. The academy is named in honor of and former First Tee CEO Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a passionate advocate for empowering the next generation.
Key Commitments
Collaborating with Others
Building Positive Self-Identity
Growing through Challenges
Learning Objectives
- Build self-awareness and embrace environments where all perspectives are valued
- Develop a sense of confidence and are equipped to be change agents in their communities
- Demonstrate engaging activities to enhance golf skills
2026 Event Information
Date: July 18-22, 2026
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Applications Open: January 7, 2026
Applications Close: March 18, 2026
Reach out to your Chapter to learn more.
2026 Participant Field
Selected Participants
| First Name: | Last Name: | Chapter: |
| Varnika | Arun | First Tee – Silicon Valley |
| Kendri | Ayers | First Tee – Greater Richmond |
| Mason | Brooks | First Tee – Contra Costa |
| Khloe | Chao | First Tee – Greater Sacramento |
| William | Chittle | First Tee – West Michigan |
| Ella | Choi | First Tee – Greater Seattle |
| Noelle | Chun | First Tee – Howard County |
| Julia | Conroy | First Tee – Upstate South Carolina |
| Andrew | David | First Tee – Greater Washington, DC |
| Elliot | Don | First Tee – Orange County |
| Madison | Dozier | First Tee – Greater Trenton |
| Maxence | Famechon | First Tee – Greater Austin |
| Asha | Farrelly | First Tee – Florida Gold Coast |
| Addison | Ferreras | First Tee – Greater New Orleans |
| Nicolas Preston | Flores | First Tee – Tucson |
| Brooke | Fresh | First Tee – Utah |
| Jillian | Frink | First Tee – Clearwater |
| Emma | Gangemi | First Tee – Greater Philadelphia |
| Emma | Gilman | First Tee – Pittsburgh |
| Phillip | Gray | First Tee – Greater Washington, DC |
| Levi | Gustine | First Tee – Indiana |
| Beau | Hammer | First Tee – San Joaquin |
| Lilyanna | Hathaway | First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains |
| Carter | Heng | First Tee – Greater Philadelphia |
| Blake | Heng | First Tee – Greater Philadelphia |
| Micaela | Hernandez | First Tee – Coachella Valley |
| Cameron | Hobbs | First Tee – Greater Austin |
| Shaun | Horne | First Tee – Greater Detroit |
| Kendia | Ho-Shih | First Tee – San Diego |
| Alonso | Jose | First Tee – Silicon Valley |
| Matthew | Kelley | First Tee – Greater Dallas |
| Kamal | Kelly | First Tee – Greater Baltimore |
| Denise | Kenner | First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky |
| Deontey | Kenner | First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky |
| Riya | Lakhihal | First Tee – Metropolitan New York |
| Noor | Laqtib | First Tee – San Francisco |
| Lucas | Le | First Tee – Greater Richmond |
| Liana | Lee | First Tee – San Diego |
| James | Lewallen | First Tee – Greater Dallas |
| Rachel | Lewis | First Tee – Greater Richmond |
| Rishi | Manikandan | First Tee – Eastern Michigan |
| Jaden | McNair | First Tee – Tampa Bay |
| Andrew | Metzner | First Tee – Northwest Arkansas |
| Maggie | Meyer | First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky |
| Beth | Miller | First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains |
| Lily | Miller | First Tee – Benton Harbor |
| Katie | Mueth | First Tee – Greater Baltimore |
| Annabella | O’Sullivan | First Tee – Metropolitan New York |
| Milla | Patel | First Tee – Oregon |
| Dhilan | Patel | First Tee – Howard County |
| Sophia | Peters | First Tee – Fresno |
| Camille | Powell | First Tee – Indiana |
| Ananda | Puran | First Tee – Central Florida |
| Sydney | Purdon | First Tee – Fort Worth |
| Beckett | Raftus | First Tee – Greater Austin |
| Anvitha | Ranganna | First Tee – Triangle |
| Caris | Reyes | First Tee – Greater Houston |
| Josiah | Reyna | First Tee – Greater San Antonio |
| Adam | Rosas | First Tee – Silicon Valley |
| William | Roth | First Tee – Greater Charlotte |
| Addison | Schneider | First Tee – West Michigan |
| Winston | Shih | First Tee – Greater Trenton |
| Madi | Smith | First Tee – Sarasota/Manatee |
| Chase | Smith | First Tee – Greater Wilmington |
| Lena | Solomon | First Tee – Greater Washington, DC |
| Alice | Stockwell | First Tee – Indiana |
| Ryan | Stolte | First Tee – Minnesota |
| Ivy | Tao | First Tee – Utah |
| Parker | Townsend | First Tee – Greater Charlotte |
| Isaak | Tschekunow | First Tee – Greater Wilmington |
| Julia | Villa | First Tee – Silicon Valley |
| Abigail | Wilson | First Tee – Greater New Orleans |
How to Participate
This event is only available to teens involved in chapters of First Tee. Most of the events and programs have a selection process that includes an application reviewed by a committee. Parents, if you want your child to participate, please inquire at your chapter.