RICHMOND, Va. (April 19, 2022) – Meg Lavinder from First Tee — Greater Richmond has been selected to attend the First Tee John Deere Drive Your Future Academy June 6-10 in San Francisco, Calif. The academy will immerse participants in both San Francisco’s historic and modern culture, in addition to participating in workshops and playing golf with new mentors.
Lavinder, 16, is a junior at Mechanicsville High School in Hanover County has been a participant at First Tee – Greater Richmond for eight years. Last year, Lavinder qualified for the Virginia High School State Championship and earned national recognition with her first career hole-in-one while playing at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic Pro-Am.
The all-girls event will focus on learning the value and impact of volunteerism, understanding the significance of values and skills learned through playing the game of golf, and recognizing the importance of building a strong network.
“We are so proud of Meg on earning the opportunity to attend the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy,” said Brittany Woo, Senior Director of Programming at First Tee – Greater Richmond. “Meg is one of our most authentic First Tee participants and creates a collaborative and inclusive community through her passion for golf. In addition to all her extracurricular activities and being a stellar golfer, she gives back to the First Tee community through junior coaching and as the President of our Junior Advisory Board. Not only will this be a great way for her to learn and meet new mentors across the country but a way to become a greater leader within the network and at our local chapter in Richmond.”
Lavinder is one of 24 participants selected to attend the Academy and was selected based on activities, essay responses, chapter involvement and letters of recommendation.
For more information on First Tee – Greater Richmond, visit www.firstteerva.org.
2022 First Tee John Deere Drive Your Future Academy Participants
Aditi Balakrishna, First Tee — Tri-Valley
Dominique Barksdale, First Tee — Greater Washington, DC
Sarah Brannigan, First Tee — Metropolitan New York
Jayda Dookie, First Tee — Florida Gold Coast
Jillian Fatkin, First Tee — Coastal Carolinas
Jackie Freibert, First Tee — Greater Charleston
Naomi Garcia, First Tee — Lake County
Elizabeth Gong, First Tee — San Francisco
Ave Heaton, First Tee — Triangle
Jerina Hill, First Tee — Central Carolina
Katarina Hoag, First Tee — North Florida
Thalia Hoyos, First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City
Ana Hunter, First Tee — Tennessee
Lilliee-Ann Jacobs, First Tee — Eastern Michigan
Avery Janutolo, First Tee — Pine Mountain
Zara Karim, First Tee — Greater Washington, DC
Meg Lavinder, First Tee — Greater Richmond
Sanaa Lemen, First Tee — Fort Worth
Charlize Munar, First Tee — Inland Empire
Maria Ramos, First Tee — Greater Philadelphia
Abigail Staples, First Tee — Greater Houston
Emily Vang, First Tee — Fresno
Jordan Williams, First Tee — Central Valley
Haley Wong, First Tee — Greater Sacramento