A teenage student from The First Tee of East Lake, as well as two of his coaches, have been selected to participate in one of the nation’s top junior golf academies.

Ahmad Williams, 13, has been selected to attend The First Tee Life Skills and Leadership Academy, which will be held July 13-20 at Kansas State University. Ahmad was among just 100 students from across the country, ages 13-17, selected to participate in the prestigious program.

“Ahmad works very hard, on and of the golf course. He is emerging as one of our chapter leaders, and he definitely deserves this recognition,” said Nyre Williams, Director of The First Tee of East Lake.

Two First Tee of East Lake coaches – Jeff Dunovant and Rachel Melendez – will also travel to Kansas as part of an elite group of 24 coaches leading the program.

The Academy provides participants with character education and leadership instruction through The First Tee Life Skills Experience curriculum. The Academy recognizes and rewards exceptional youth for their accomplishments and teaches them mentoring skills they can put into practice once they return home.

The First Tee of East Lake is a year-round golf instruction and life skills program of the East Lake Foundation that uses the principles of golf – discipline, hard work and integrity – to enhance the academic achievement of children from Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. The program helps open doors to colleges, scholarships and job opportunities. The First Tee of East Lake serves hundreds of children and teens, ages 5-18, who attend East Lake’s Drew Charter School or live in the East Lake neighborhood. More than 1,500 East Lake children have participated in the program since 1998.