Top 50 Kids Teachers and Master Kids Teachers to be Awarded at PGA Show
ATLANTA, GA (January 6, 2010) – Thirteen golf professionals have been inducted into the U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher class and fifty golf professionals have been named to the 2009 class of Top 50 Kids Teachers.
The Master Kids Teachers and Top 50 Kids Teachers will be recognized during a special ceremony on January 29, 2010, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
The sixth annual Top 50 Kids Teacher award is given to professionals who have dedicated their careers to developing youth golf in their communities and are known for their overall excellence and commitment to serving youth. They have demonstrated the ability to organize, administer, and teach at a very high level.
Two-time winner, Nancy Dunn-Kato reiterates, “It is such an honor to receive this award again. I am always thinking of new ways to bring golf into the community and into children's lives. I am so very honored that U.S. Kids Golf has been there to notice.”
The 2009 Top 50 class has 28 first time winners which include, Harry Alexander of Harrison, OH; Mark Becker of Oneida, WI; Jim Bowling of Virginia Beach, VA; Karen Bukowski of Erie, PA; Brian Calhoun of Chandler, AZ; Kandi Comer of Keswick, VA; John Camninaki of Lynchburg, VA; Tim Cooke of Hilton Head Island, SC; Justin Davidson of Los Angeles, CA; Joseph DiChiara of Mendham, NJ; Johnny Farrell of Coral Gables, FL; Berne Finch of San Jose, CA; Joey Hidock of Leesburg, FL; James Hong of Port Washington, NY; Sid Johnson of Memphis, TN; Rich Jones of Central Islip, NY; Christopher Kenney of Fairfield, CT; Doug Lemons of Massillon, OH; Rod Lidenberg of Eden Prairie, MN; Tony Martinez of Dallas, TX; David L. Moore of East Sandwich, MA; Jeff Mullican of O’Fallon, MO; Nicolas Paez of North Olmsted, OH; Bill Scott of Boca Raton, FL; Trillium Sellers of Washington, DC; Leigh Taylor of Berwyn, PA; Deb Vangellow of Sugar Land, TX; and Jordan Young of Plymouth, MI.
The Master Kids Teachers award is designated for those who have been selected as a Top 50 Kids Teacher three times. Teachers joining the elite Master Kids Teacher ranks include Eric Alpenfels of Pinehurst, NC; Steve Beach of Cherry Hills Village, CO; Tom Carlson of Las Vegas, NV; Bill Connally of Thomasville, GA; Roy Day of Mountain View, CA; John Deigan of New Rochelle, NY; Thomas Gomez of Boise, ID; Kevin Johnson of Plano, TX; Jeff Jones of Longwood, FL; Carolyn McKenzie Andrews of Winter Springs, FL; Tom Morton of Sacramento, CA; Andy Nisbet of Livermore, CA; and Steve Scheuermann of Grand Rapids, MI.
The 2009 list of teachers was compiled from applications and nominations from those in the golf industry who focus on growing the game through the instruction and play of junior golf. The teachers are graded according to fifteen different criteria, including percentage of time devoted to junior programs, creativity, communication, and allowing kids access to the golf course.
About U.S. Kids Golf Foundation
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that was established in 2002 to fulfill the U.S. Kids Golf mission to help kids have fun learning the lifelong game of golf and to encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories. Today, the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation conducts over 400 local, regional, national, and international events.
2009 Top 50 Kids Teachers and Master Kids Teachers
