The First Tee & The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Announce Recipients of 2008 RBS Achievers of The Year Awards

Ten participants receive scholarship awards for higher education

DETROIT, MI – Kiah Underwood, 15, from The First Tee of Cleveland, and Demarcus Hopkins, 18, from The First Tee of Portland, were named as the two RBS Achievers of the Year during an awards ceremony at the site of the PGA Championship on August 7. RBS will donate a $10,000 scholarship to each recipient.  RBS and Golf Digest Publications, both Trustees of The First Tee, collaborated with The First Tee to present the fifth-annual RBS Achievers of the Year Awards. 

“Through RBS’ continued support of The First Tee, we are thrilled that in its fifth year, this worthwhile program continues to honor such deserving young people,” said Sandra Pierce, president, Charter One Bank, Michigan. “RBS congratulates Kiah and Demarcus for their remarkable efforts. All of the young people involved in this year’s RBS Achievers of the Year program have made their families, The First Tee and RBS proud.”
"Golf Digest is proud once again to support the RBS Achievers of the Year Awards,” said Thomas J. Bair, vice president and publisher of Golf Digest. “The First Tee and RBS represent vital qualities such as trust, honesty, hard work and integrity, which make up the DNA of our brand, and are the reasons for our involvement with these awards since their inception. Congratulations to both Kiah and Demarcus for this recognition of their perseverance and accomplishments in life, and we wish them continued success.”

In addition to Underwood and Hopkins, eight other semifinalist participants from The First Tee facilities worldwide received $1,500 scholarships. 

Demarcus Hopkins has been a participant at The First Tee of Portland for five years. He is Birdie-certified and will become the first member of his family to attend college this fall. Born with developmental disabilities that hinder his ability to speak and read, he quit the golf team to attend Sylvan Learning School to improve his reading skills. His perseverance paid off as he now maintains a 3.2 GPA and will attend Benedict College this fall and play on the golf team.

Kiah Underwood is a participant at The First Tee of Cleveland. When Kiah was eleven, she and her family were involved in a major car accident. She suffered multiple injuries, and underwent several surgeries on her arm. The accident left her with restricted use of her arm and severe scarring. She joined The First Tee in 2006 as a shy and introverted young lady, and has undergone a complete transformation. Her strong will combined with her involvement with the Chapter has helped her overcome the emotional and physical pain caused by the accident. She currently participates in golf and other activities.

“Kiah and Demarcus epitomize how the game of golf and The First Tee can transform lives.  Their efforts to overcome their individual challenges make them extremely deserving of this honor,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee.  “The First Tee is proud of all of the 2008 Achievers and grateful to RBS and Golf Digest Publications for their continued support of this educational program.”

The RBS Achievers of the Year Awards recognize outstanding participants for succeeding in school and their daily lives as a result of their experience with The First Tee.  The program goal is to positively impact youth by rewarding selected participants for exemplifying one or more of The First Tee Nine Core Values™ by demonstrating leadership, community service, teamwork, overcoming obstacles and improving school grades and attitude.  The First Tee Nine Core Values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

RBS has been a supporter of the game of golf for over 100 years, through its association with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and The Open Championship.  By partnering with The First Tee, RBS is extending its commitment to the game of golf in the U.S. For more information about RBS’ commitment to the game, visit www.rbssport.com/golf.

2008 RBS Achievers of the Year

Dawn Carroll, 18, The First Tee of Modesto
Dawn Carroll has been with The First Tee of Modesto since its inception in 2004. She is almost eagle-certified and a member of the Modesto High School golf team. This is an excellent accomplishment for a person who was unfamiliar with the game of golf when she enrolled at The First Tee. Dawn is now a confident individual who has overcome shyness and the challenges of growing up in a neighborhood plagued with gang violence. She is currently a volunteer and mentor at her Chapter, secretary of The First Tee of Modesto Junior Council, and participates in local fund-raising drives. Dawn’s life situation was stacked against her but with the acquisition of the Nine Core Values, she has emerged as a leader in her community.

Joseph DiDio, 18, The First Tee of Philadelphia
Joseph DiDio is the model of perseverance, enduring tremendous grief in his young life. At the age of nine he lost his mother and remained in the care of his grandparents whom he lived with since birth. Shortly after, his grandmother passed away. While in the care of his grandfather, he felt a sense of loss again when the house they shared burned down. Four years ago, Joseph’s uncles brought him to The First Tee and introduced him to the game of golf. It has helped him deal with his grief and focus on the future. He is now eagle-certified, a mentor for younger students and a volunteer at Chapter events. The 18-year-old would like to attend San Diego Golf Academy in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and be admitted into the PGA’s Professional Golf Management Program.

Shaneadra “Shay” Graham, 16, The First Tee of Pursell Farms
Shaneadra, affectionately known as Shay, has exemplified perseverance despite the adversities she has faced in her life. Shay is a product of a single-parent home and looked up to her older brother, Marty, as a father figure. Tragedy struck five years ago when Marty was killed in a car accident at age 25. During this time of sorrow, Shay displayed great determination by continuing to be successful academically as well as in her extracurricular activities. Shay has also been supportive of her mother who lost her job of 23 years as she pursues her education. The 16-year-old has been involved with The First Tee of Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, AL since its inception in 2004 and volunteers at several of their fund-raisers. She actively participates in many community projects as well such as Sylacauga’s community wide Thanksgiving dinner, Sylacauga’s Promise Day, the Care House, and the animal shelter.

Matalia Hill, 15, The First Tee of Atlanta
Matalia Hill learned about responsibility at an early age when her only sister suffered a stroke at birth. Since then, she has been an essential part of her sister’s rehabilitation, helping with occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Additionally, she took on the responsibility of assisting with the care of her brothers when her sister was hospitalized last year. Although she has a busy home life she still makes time to manage the sign-in desk at her Chapter’s Saturday clinic. Matalia’s care for her sister has inspired her to major in Behavioral and Neuroscience at Emory University. She will continue on to medical school to become either a Neurosurgeon or a Neuroengineer so she can make a difference in the lives of others.

Demarcus Hopkins, 18, The First Tee of Portland
Demarcus Hopkins has been with The First Tee of Portland for five years. He is birdie-certified and will become the first member of his family to attend college this fall. This is a remarkable achievement for a boy who was born with developmental disabilities that hinder his ability to speak and read. When his teachers doubted his ability to get in to college just two years ago, Demarcus quit the golf team to attend Sylvan Learning School to improve his reading skills. His perseverance paid off and he now maintains a 3.2 GPA. Even more remarkable – Demarcus will play on the golf team at Benedict College despite his absence on his high school golf team. He is an active member of his church, a junior mentor at his Chapter and a true example of how the game of golf and The First Tee can transform lives.

Joseph Jankowski, 19, The First Tee o f Cleveland
Joseph Jankowski joined The First Tee of Cleveland as a sophomore three years ago. Since then, his confidence has improved; he has become more responsible and is determined to be the first member of his family to graduate high school and attend college. His involvement with The First Tee helped him cope with the loss of three loved ones, and gave him the ability to care for his niece and nephew when their mother was unable to do so. Growing up in an economically depressed area, it may have been easy for Joe to have fallen victim to drug use and crime. Instead, he chose to be educated in the classroom rather than the streets. He has improved his grades significantly - reaching the top-10 percent of his high school class and striving to improve. He is a respected member of his Chapter and mentor to younger participants.

Austin Lenth, 17, The First Tee of Greater Sacramento
Austin Lenth joined The First Tee of Greater Sacramento five years ago. He was a regular face at William Land Golf Course - attending classes, volunteering for clinics, and serving as a summer camp assistant. Then in October 2006, Austin’s scoliosis took a turn for the worse and paralysis began to set in. Austin underwent three surgeries and was hospitalized for most of the next two years. Despite his health issues, he was homeschooled and was able to maintain a 3.9 GPA en route to an early graduation this fall. In January, Austin gave an inspirational speech about perseverance at The First Tee of Greater Sacramento’s Golf Shoe Gala fundraiser. The Chapter is delighted to have him back at the course on occasion as he learns to play golf out of an adaptive golf cart. Always ambitious, Austin hopes to study theoretical physics and research of medicine at Stanford University in the future.

Anthony Smith, 17, The First Tee of Greater Seattle
Anthony Smith has been with The First Tee of Greater Seattle for five years.  He is birdie certified and working to achieve Eagle certification.  He spends most of his summer at Jefferson Park Golf Course practicing his game and volunteering as an assistant coach during TARGET and Par programming.  Seven years ago, Anthony was diagnosed with epilepsy and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). As a result of his medical conditions and medicine he takes to help with them, everyday tasks like preparing for school and concentrating on homework or the next golf shot become difficult.  But Anthony has learned to stay positive and face these challenges with a smile on his face. Anthony was introduced to golf by his grandfather who was an avid player.  Anthony's grandfather taught him early on one of the 9 core values of The First Tee - Respect.  Anthony learned then to respect the game and the people who may or may not play golf, and in turn and time you will get respect back.  Since Anthony started playing golf, his mother says she can see two other core values on and off the course.  Perseverance to stay with the game of golf and life no matter what consequences come your way; and confidence to take on those same challenges.  Anthony also spends numerous hours volunteering at various food banks in the Seattle area.  His mother says she sees a light in him that was not there before.  Heidi Wills of The First Tee of Greater Seattle says it is that light that inspires their participants and staff as well.

Kirsti Teale, 19, The First Tee of Fort Smith
Kirsti Teale has been a member of The First Tee of Fort Smith for three years. She enjoys playing golf with her friends, practicing her skills, and dancing ; but the journey to get to where she is today has been filled with hardships. Kristi was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth. She endured over 15 surgeries and was unable to eat on her own for many years. Through all this, she has kept a positive attitude and is very active at her Chapter. She started out as a member of the Chapter’s disabled classes and has participated in after-school clinics and summer programs. In 2007, she volunteered to work at the Chapter and recently medaled in The First Tee of Fort Smith’s inaugural Special Olympics Unified and Golf Skills Competition. She is also active in school and community activities. Kirsti could have let her circumstances keep her down but instead she has been an inspiration to many people.

Kiah Underwood, 15, The First Tee of Cleveland
Kiah Underwood has been through a lot in her life but she firmly believes everything happens for a reason. When Kiah was eleven, she and her family were involved in a major car accident. She suffered multiple injuries, and underwent several surgeries on her arm. The accident left her with severe scarring on her arm and restricted use, which resulted in low self-esteem. Kiah came to The First Tee in 2006 as a shy and introverted young lady, and has undergone a complete transformation. Her strong will combined with her involvement with The First Tee has helped her overcome the emotional and physical pain caused by the accident. She is no longer ashamed of her arm’s appearance and does not let it restrict her from participating in golf and other activities. Kiah now believes the accident is the reason she is the strong, confident young woman she is today.

About The First Tee:
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.2 million participants and students in 48 states and four international locations – Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George Bush serves as honorary chairman.

About RBS Group:
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (“RBS Group”) is one of the world's leading financial services companies providing a range of retail and corporate banking, financial markets, consumer finance, insurance, and wealth management services. In 2007, RBS Group posted total revenue of $57.7 billion and operating profit before tax, goodwill amortization and integration costs of $20.76 billion. RBS Group serves more than 40 million personal customers world-wide and employs 170,000 people, including nearly 30,000 in the U.S.
In the U.S., RBS Group owns Citizens Financial Group (retail bank, credit card and merchant acquiring businesses). Following the acquisition of Charter One in September 2004 it has grown to become the eighth largest U.S. bank by deposits with a presence in 13 states.

About Golf Digest Publications:
Golf Digest Publications is part of Condé Nast Publications. Condé Nast Publications, a unit of Advance Publications, includes twenty-eight consumer magazines and their websites, eight uniquely branded websites, the Fairchild Fashion Group, Parade, the Condé Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers.