Category: The Faces of The First Tee
Kobe Narcisse: Faces of the First Tee December 2019
Mallory Noble: Faces of the First Tee November 2019
Morgan Guepet: Faces of the First Tee September 2019
The Faces of The First Tee August 2019 Chase Gauthier
Chase Gauthier
Swim Like a Fish It’s summertime, so there’s a good chance that July’s Face of The First Tee, 7-year-old Chase Gauthier is in a swimming pool somewhere in the United States. Chase LOVES to swim. He swims competitively for the Ellington Orcas Swim Team in Luling and has also been a member of the Terrytown Storm Swim Team. He enjoys taking vacations with his family and friends to explore new places, and no doubt, swimming pools. We are fortunate that when this fish is out of the pool, he spends his time on land with The First Tee. Chase has been a member of The First Tee program for 3 years. He was a 5-year-old when his parents learned about The First Tee and decided to enroll him and his then 6-year-old sister Brooklyn. “My husband and I never learned to play golf,” says Chase’s mother Jare Gauthier. “We figured by letting Chase and Brooklyn play golf, it would inspire us to learn to play and golf could be a lifelong family activity.” Chase lives in Waggaman with his family and attends The First Tee at Bayou Oaks in City Park or TPC Louisiana. “Chase loves exploring the different golf courses and learning from his awesome coaches at The First Tee,” says Jare. More than golf, Chase’s parents appreciate the character development they’ve seen in their child. “My husband and I have seen the Nine Core Values change Chase’s academic performance and relationships with his peers. He is a strong and confident child who is willing to help others whenever he can.” An entering 2nd grader at Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies, where he is an A/B Honor Roll student, Chase also plays basketball and piano and enjoys reading and being a member of the Cub Scouts. He’s learning about STEM related activities and wants to pursue an education in engineering so he can be an engineer or a chemist like his father. “We are so happy for this program as Chase is not only learning to play but he is also learning lifelong values in sportsmanship and conduct that are applicable to any situation. We are excited about what The First Tee has taught Chase and we look forward to the future!”The Faces of The First Tee June 2019 Yahya Ayyad
Yahya Ayyad
Sunshine and smiles warm hearts at summer camp June’s selection for The Faces of The First Tee is aptly timed as he was a fixture in last year’s The First Tee Summer Camp. Yahya Ayyad spent the better part of 2 months with The First Tee fellow campers, counselors, and coaches at one of last year’s Summer Camp partner locations, Timberlane Country Club. Yahya’s joyful demeanor especially warmed the hearts of his councilors and coaches. “Yahya has the most infectious smile, and he absolutely fell in love with the game of golf this summer. Happy-go-lucky by nature, Yahya is the type of kid you want to have around. He lightens the mood in any room,” says former Director of Education, Perry Faulkner. Perry is not alone in his feeling about Yahya’s winning attitude. According to Rose Hindi, Yahya’s mother, “Yahya is one of the sweetest boys you can meet! He can be shy sometimes, but once you get to know him, he can be a handful!” As demonstrated in his “Faces” portrait, Yahya’s passion is playing soccer. He takes his soccer ball everywhere he goes. At Summer Camp, The First Tee coaches and counselors helped him practice his goal shots, and according to mom, his game improved. “This is his first year at this camp and he absolutely loved it! He comes home and tells me how friendly the councilors were and how they would play anything with him. He would rather stay at camp then go on a vacation,” says Rose. Of course, The First Tee Summer Camp wouldn’t be complete without a little golf. Yahya learned the basics of the game and was inspired to practice more often. “He is a tremendous asset to The First Tee, and I believe he will be a mentor coming up the pipeline,” Perry. “I personally want to thank The First Tee for giving my son the best summer,” says Rose. We couldn’t ask for a better endorsement. Thank you, Yahya and Rose!ABOUT THE FACES OF THE FIRST TEE
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition
The Faces of The First Tee May 2019 Julieta Chauvin
Julieta Chauvin
Dad Dotes on Deserving Daughter By: Kenny Chauvin A few years ago, my wife and I were deciding which sport we wanted to introduce to our daughter, Julieta Rivera Chauvin. We chose golf for several reasons. Our family has a long history playing golf, and we figured it would be another activity that we could do together. We also wanted to pick a sport that reinforces the values of hard work and sportsmanship. We thought that if Julieta liked the game, it would be a sport she could play and enjoy for a lifetime. When we learned about The First Tee, we decided to give it a try. We have not been disappointed! Julieta is an outgoing person who loves helping others. As a result, she has many friends. She is a 5th grader at Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans, a French immersion school, and is now fluent in the language. Julieta can also speak Spanish as learned from her Spanish speaking mother Florecita. She dreams of traveling the world to help children. Her long term-goal is to attend medical school so that she can become a pediatrician to “help children get over their sicknesses like her doctor does for her.” In the meantime, Julieta is a piano lesson veteran of four years. One Saturday a month, she attends NOLA STEM where she enjoys fun, engaging, and hands-on ways of learning. Julieta also enjoys participating on her school’s cross country team. A New Orleans native, Julieta lives conveniently close to Audubon Golf Course, where she attends the Life Skills Experience. Golf compliments Julieta’s love of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and nature watching. We know the value of achieving athletic goals through dedication, practice, and hard work. These values can be applied to everyday life. Since Julieta has started The First Tee, we have noticed a change in her attitude and her work ethic. We can see her adapting and utilizing the Nine Core Values in other areas of her life, like her school work and the way she interacts with others. We hope this will help lead to success in whatever Julieta has planned for her future.ABOUT THE FACES OF THE FIRST TEE
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition
The Faces of The First Tee April 2019 Matthew Bui
April 2019 Face of THe first tee Matthew Bui
in his own words
My name is Matthew Bui and I am a sophomore at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy. I love learning about the world and different cultures. I would have to say geography and history are my favorite subjects. I am involved in the Key Club at my school because I believe that it is important to be active in my community and give back as much as I can. I am also a member of St. John Bosco’s youth group and participate in various volunteer activities and spiritual retreats. I believe my faith and my family will help me achieve my goals of becoming a successful entrepreneur. My father is the person who has been most influential in my playing golf. He is the one who introduced me to golf at the age of 7, and I couldn’t be any happier that he did. I have grown and learned so much over the last couple of years because of the game. What I love most about golf is the competitive nature and getting to meet so many diverse people at tournaments. The First Tee is a big part of my life because it has taught me more than just how to play golf. It has also taught me about patience and discipline. When I am not playing golf, I enjoy playing baseball and soccer. Being outdoors is my comfort zone. On the weekend I enjoy hanging out with my friends and spending some quality time with my family. I would not have made it this far in my golf career without the support of my family and friends. “Matt is a driven young man He is a talented golfer and a workhorse. He devotes many hours to perfecting his game and does it all with a smile on his face. Matthew’s love for the game is clear, and he will continue to enjoy it wherever it may take him,” former Director of Education Perry Faulkner.About The Faces of the first tee
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:
- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition
The Faces of The First Tee March 2019 Piper Hall
Where To Begin…
Step Aside Elon, Here’s Piper Hall
We are not sure if Piper Hall is aware that there are only 24 hours in a day. In fact, we’re not totally convinced that she hasn’t invented a couple of extra hours that she keeps hidden from the rest of us whilst waiting for the patent. Piper’s list of activities and achievements is, in a word, prodigious. Currently an eighth grader in the gifted program at Boyet Junior High School, Piper is a member of:-
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- the National Junior Honor Society
- the 4-H Club
- the Academic Olympics Team
- the MathCounts Team
- and is a Cadette Girl Scout
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About The Faces of the first tee
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:
- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition
The Faces of The First Tee February 2019 Angelo Fassbender
February 2019 Face of The First Tee Angelo Fassbender
We’re sold – Hook, Line, and Sinker
“Mom do you ever dream about fishing?” While Angelo Fassbender’s mother may not have been able to answer her son’s sincere question in the positive, her son emphatically can. Angelo Fassbender is a 12 year old fish enthusiast – and not just the sport, but the food. An Asian cuisine gourmand, the 6th grade amateur angler is a sushi aficionado who also dreams of visiting Japan. Like every other person who would rather be fishing, Angelo regularly watches the daily weather and fishing report. Freezing offshore temps will not deter his ardor. He enjoys watching fishing videos for tips and tricks (somewhere above, Frank Davis smiles). “He would give up anything to go fishing. He goes to bed and wakes up talking about his next fishing adventure,” says mom Raquel. In August, he caught his first Crevalle jack fish off the sea wall in Lake Pontchartrain. Most of the time, Angelo fishes inland with his father. If he can’t go out in the boat, any pier will do. When is’t not fish, it’s football, school, and golf! Angelo played quarterback for his 5th and 6th grade school team, and recently wrapped up his first year of flag football, where he developed a unique play. “Angelo is very active and loves to compete both athletically and academically. Maintaining a high GPA is very important to Angelo, so we don’t have to push him,” says Raquel. It makes sense that Angelo’s competitive determination caries over to his golf game. Director of Education Perry Faulkner states, “Angelo Fassbender is all business on the golf course. Working with Coach Oscar Pickett at a young age allowed Angelo to develop into a fierce competitor.” But don’t confuse Angelo’s competitive nature with his character. Raquel attributes Angelo’s compassion towards others and self-discipline to his Christian upbringing, reinforced by the Nine Core Values taught by The First Tee. A Birdie Level player, Angelo has been with The First Tee of Greater New Orleans for 5 years. “Having been taught these values so young has helped Angelo become aware and observant of his character,” says mom. “He is a leader, and we consistently talk about how to handle challenges.” Angelo is willing to share this insider tip – those that sit at the sushi bar get the best service…The Faces of The First Tee January 2019 Vivian Volion
January 2019 Face of The First Tee Vivian Volion
Tenacious 6th Grader Sets Big Goals At first meeting, Vivian Volion is quiet, sweet, and squeezably cute. At second meeting, Vivian is quiet, sweet, and squeezably cute. What The First Tee coaches know about Vivian that some may not is that lying beneath that precious exterior is a scrappy spirit with lofty aspirations. A 12 year old, Birdie Level 6th grader at Visitation of Our Lady, Vivian has been playing golf with The First Tee for 2 1/2 years, where she enjoys helping younger novices with their foray into the program. Vivian lists Phil Michelson and Jordan Spieth as favorites, both of whom have given her coveted golf balls. A relative beginner, Vivian has impressively qualified for The 2019 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst, the largest and most prestigious event in the world for players 12 and under, attracting over 1,450 participants from across the U.S. and more than 51 countries abroad. One of her short-term goals is to improve her game to one day qualify for that pie in the sky, the PGA’s Drive, Chip, and Putt competition preceding the Master’s in Augusta. Another short-term goal is to earn straight A’s in school. All of this is in preparation for her long-term goals to earn a scholarship to play collegiate golf, and then enjoy life as a Pro. “Vivian has that fire you see in most competitive golfers at the highest level. The last few years have seen her progress from learning golf’s fundamentals to playing with a determination to break par each and every round. It is very clear Vivian has what is takes to get her game to the top,” says former First Tee Director of Education Perry Faulkner. In addition to golf, Vivian practices Karate, where she has earned a purple belt (intermediate level before brown and black belt). True to form, Vivian is determined to become a black belt. She is a self-proclaimed lover of country music, art, and dance. When not kicking butt on the golf course and in the dojo, Vivian can be found spending time with her family or attending the youth program at her church. She loves animals and will be getting a new puppy in a few weeks, a well deserved reward. Shoot for the stars, Vivian!ABOUT THE FACES OF THE FIRST TEE
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition
The Faces of The First Tee December 2018 Wyatt and Wynston Rownd
December 2018 Faces of The First Tee Wyatt and Wynston Rownd
The Rownd brothers drive forward in the face of adversity
December’s Faces of The First Tee are brothers, each living with unique challenges at the hands of a merciless disease – one brother, the diagnosed, and the other, a supportive care taker and friend. In March of 2018, 9 yr old avid athlete Wynston Rownd attended his introductory First Tee Player class at Grand Ridge in Luling, LA, where the Rownd family resides. In tow was Wynston’s then 12 year old brother, Wyatt. Class began as usual, except Coach Perry Faulkner noticed that Wyatt didn’t join his younger brother on the golf course. He stayed off to the side of the green and remained seated to watch. Coach Perry approached Wyatt and asked him if he wanted to join the class, an invitation Wyatt readily and enthusiastically accepted. As Wyatt stood up and walked to join the others on the putting green, Coach Perry noticed that his gait was slow and a bit labored. What Coach Perry didn’t know at the time was that as a 13 month old, Wyatt was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative, fatal muscular disease that has no cure. Unfortunately, playing sports does not come easily for Wyatt. His muscles are slowly getting weaker with age, which makes the repeated swinging of a golf club, walking the course, and even standing for long periods of time, exhausting. But he WANTS to be able to do this. He fights hard to not let the disease stop him. Like all boys, he wants to be able to play like his friends and his brother. Social butterfly and math lover Wynston, whom mom Jessica considers Wyatt’s biggest cheerleader, has played and will attempt any sport there is to play. And with every athletic adventure Wynston begins, he takes Wyatt along for the ride. “Wynston supports Wyatt in everything he does while still enjoying things that he loves. He loves to include his brother in everything,” say mom Jessica Rownd. “While some say he is not affected by his brother’s disease, he truly is.” Wyatt goes to multiple appointments, which as he says, gets in the way of having fun. “When The First Tee came to Grand Ridge, we were blessed to have a small group of kids participate who included Wyatt. No one asked why he couldn’t come every time, they just treated him like all the others. Being a part of a group makes Wyatt feel ‘normal,’ which life is not always for us,” says Jessica. Wyatt makes the best out of the time he gets to play with his brother and his friends. Recently, Wyatt received a service dog named Wrigley. Wrigley is a constant companion he can lean on when he takes a break, while others continue playing. “We know that God blessed us with these two complementary personalities. Wynston will do anything to make sure Wyatt is included and having fun. Though they fight like all siblings do, they are best friends and couldn’t imagine life without each other.” To learn more about Wyatt and to follow his progress, visit his web page at https://www.caringbridge.org/. There is currently no cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To learn more about the disease and how you can help,visit www.endduchenne.org or www.jettfoundation.orgAbout The Faces of The First Tee
The Faces of The First Tee is a new platform to recognize and award current participants who embody the criteria set forth in the Mission of The First Tee. The Faces of the First Tee demonstrate impeccable character, embody one or more of the Nine Core Values, and faithfully practice one or more of the Nine Healthy Habits. This award is not based on athletic ability, but rather a displayed grasp of The First Tee curriculum. This recognition will be awarded to one participant monthly for a period of 12 months (following the school year calendar, beginning in September). Advantages of being selected as one of The Faces of The First Tee include:- A professional portrait taken by New Orleans Snapshots’ photographer and First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Board President Andrew Cohoon
- A month-long, dedicated web site feature story including the portrait and a biography describing the criteria for which the participant was selected
- A featured headline in our newsletters, Home on the Range and Tuesday’s Talk of The Tee
- Social Media promotion on Facebook and Instagram
- A certificate of recognition