First Tee Of Raritan Valley Awards Four Participants
Sayaka Carpenter of East Brunswick and Zachary Huber of Old Bridge were each recipients of $2,000 college scholarships presented by the Red Hoffman Cup Matches at the annual First Tee of Raritan Valley Awards Night on Wednesday, April 13, at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
Carpenter, a senior and golf team captain at East Brunswick High School, is choosing between Duke University and Rutgers University. Huber, on the golf team at Old Bridge High School, has decided to pursue the Golf Management Program at Campbell University in North Carolina.
Other award winners were Brendan Demitus of Colonia, a freshman golfer at Fairleigh Dickinson University, who won the Youth Volunteer Award, and Bill Madden of Hillsborough, who was awarded the Adult Volunteer Award.
“Sayaka is a role model and ambassador for our First Tee,” said board member Vernell Moore, who presented the scholarship. “When I think about her, I think about poise, humility and grace. She is about character and life skills. She embodies that and gives back to the community.”
“To me, the First Tee is about having fun, making friends and building on friendships. My coaches would see my passion and stay with me until sunset. The scholarship means so much to me,” said Carpenter, who represented the First tee of Raritan Valley last fall at the Nature Valley First Tee Open in Pebble Beach.
Kevin Casey, a First Tee board member representing the Hoffman Cup Matches, which include 32 country clubs playing team matches to decide the best team, said $60,000 has been donated to First Tee in New Jersey over the past four years. He noted $20,000 was donated by the Hoffman Cup matches last year.
“Zach is a First Tee coach. He’s an example of the kids we’re trying to grow here,” Casey said.
“First Tee has been great in helping me improve how well I can play, about networking and meeting new people. I want to pursue golf as a career thanks to First Tee,” Huber said.
The First Tee of Raritan Valley educates 55,000 youngsters in 111 schools and has nine facilities in six New Jersey counties.
