The First Tee has always been an organization dedicated to creating brighter futures. Across schools and programs throughout the country, this network of 150 local chapters has helped countless students gain valuable life skills to propel them toward their goals.
Our local chapter, First Tee – The Lowcountry, has long been one of the broader organization’s most dynamic members. Through classes at their stunning Gumtree Road facility and in classrooms across Beaufort and Jasper counties, they have elevated our community’s youth and guided them to become exactly the kind of citizens we need.
This past year, they took their impact even further by granting one deserving student the inaugural First Tee – The Lowcountry Secondary Education Scholarship. Joshua Smith, last year’s recipient, is using the funds he received to finance his education at The United States Air Force Academy.
“One thing most people don’t realize about the service academies is that students still have to come up with a fair amount of tuition money on their own,” said Pat Zuk, Executive Director for First Tee – The Lowcountry. “Joshua is a really good kid. He actually just came back to update the board on how he’s doing. He’s getting really into engineering. He is not only going to be great for the community at large, but he’s also exactly who you want in the armed forces.”
Smith’s scholarship, presented this past April during the First Tee Gala, was spearheaded by national First Tee trustee and Palmetto Bluff resident John Bankhead. Awarding the scholarship in honor of his parents, Bankhead told C2 at the time:
“That’s one of the things that drew me to (First Tee) – working with youth and setting up scholarships.”
This year’s scholarship will be granted to a deserving student thanks to two stalwart benefactors of First Tee – The Lowcountry, Ken and Joan Campbell. One of the earliest donors to the then-fledgling program when it launched 11 years ago, the Campbells were only too happy to keep this invaluable scholarship going.
“When we explained it to Ken and Joan, they doubled the amount they were giving,” added Zuk.
Their generosity will help another student this year as the beneficiary of the 2025 First Tee – The Lowcountry Post-Secondary Education Scholarship. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current or former First Tee – The Lowcountry participant.
- Be in their senior year of high school or currently enrolled in a post-secondary two- or four-year program.
- Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Exemplify First Tee’s dedication to community, embodying the nine core values, participating in Life Skills classes, and engaging in community service.
“For our donors like The Campbells and John Bankhead to make this kind of financial commitment is a real gift to us,” said Zuk. “Thanks to them, these young people can pursue whatever they want beyond high school, whether it’s a two- or four-year program or trade school.”
Interested students can apply through The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry or at firstteelowcountry.org.