Summer Raine Tsosie - December 2009 Cameron Kid

[morphpga]

Once again for those that don't know, my name is Tom Yost (morphpga on TCC) and I am the Executive Director of The First Tee of San Juan County, NM which is located in the Four Corners area about 40 miles south of Durango, Colorado.  Our chapter borders the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and our area is very low on the socio-economic scale.  Over half of our participants are Native American and come from broken homes with major problems.  With that being said, I will share with you Summer's story and why I believe she encompasses everything good about this program and The First Tee in general.  You will be hearing from Summer at the beginning of the New Year, but for now...all you have is me and my glowing description of our "poster-child" for our chapter.

I first met Summer at a middle school three years ago.  We set up clubs and stations to hit balls for the 7th and 8th graders in a football field behind the middle school.  As an introduction to our program and golf, we basically gave "weapons" to kids who would rather use them to hit each other than to hit golf balls (not kidding).  Most of the kids gave an effort, but were lucky to hit the ball much less get it airborn.  It wasn't until the last class of the day that we saw ball after ball going up in the air and toward a target...coming from the same station.  Summer, who had never played golf before, was hitting beautiful golf shots with an athletic and fundamentally sound golf swing.  This prompted the other instructor and me to talk with Summer about playing golf.  She ran track and played basketball (which is THE sport of choice amongst Native American children)...but upon further encouragement signed up for our summer program.

Since that time, Summer has worked very hard to be the very best player she could be.  Through constant practice and effort, she made the varsity golf team towards the end of her freshman year.  She has progressed through The First Tee levels and currently is working to become Eagle certified (only Ace Level programming is higher).  She volunteers her time and mentors younger participants in our program (and they love her).  She is currently taking all Honors classes as a sophomore, earning straight A's up to this point...with a goal of valedictorian upon graduation.  She is currently Vice-President of her sophomore class and Vice-President of a Dine Youth organization in her high school (Native American organization). 

Summer comes from a solid family with wonderful moral values and a strong work ethic.  Just recently, Summer wanted new clubs and her parents got them for her, but upon giving them to her...told her that this was her college education, they weren't going to pay anymore.  Summer took that as a challenge and is working towards achieving a full ride scholarship to wherever she chooses to go.

As her coach, I could not ask for a better model student.  To have a courteous, honest, hard-working, go-getter type person like Summer makes my job a joy and gives me hope that the future of our country will be in good hands going forward.  Summer has that "IT" quality and I am confident that she will work her butt off to succeed in anything she chooses to challenge herself with.  She IS the definition of perseverance.

With all that, I want to say a hundred "Thank-yous" to Scotty Cameron, The Cameron Kids Committee and the entire TCC Community.  Summer had no idea why she was at the golf course last week, but she was giddy with excitement and anticipation when I started to explain the whole thing.  When she opened the putter box, she was almost catatonic with shock.  Her first reaction was to say how beautiful and cool the putter was.  She then came over and gave me a hug and then thanked everyone who attended the event.  This included her family, her high school coaches, her high school principle, and mulitple board members from The First Tee of San Juan County, NM.

This putter, as an award for her achievements to this point, is only going to offer motivation for Summer to work harder going forward.  All of you have made a huge impression on a young lady from "rural nowhere" New Mexico and on behalf of my organization and Summer's family...Thank You!

A couple of pictures of Summer with her putter and with her family.

Sincerely,
Thomas Yost

[Detouring]

Tom,
That is a great story. A big congratulations for helping to make this happen. Best wishes to Summer for the future. Looking at all of her trophies so far, she is already well on the way to  achieving her dreams.
Michael

[jat_costello303]

Great story, and congrats to you both!! Job well done and Summer looks really happy!

Well done everyone involved!

Tom

[terrys]

Wow what a great girl.  Well done, Tom and congrats, Summer!

[smjr5]

Very heartwarming.  Thanks for sharing the story, Tom, and congratulations to Summer.

Steve

[DaveB420]

That is a very touching story. Tom thank you for the great background profile and finding a wonderful recipient for Cameron Kid. Congrats to Summer and best of luck with your up coming golf season. Keep those grades going strong, you can go anywhere you want.

Dave

[mguhler]

Great stuff Tom!  Thanks for sharing and best of luck to Summer.

[Nickpoz]

Awesome job Tom!  Thanks for sharing it with us

[b46424]

What a great story...it's really inspiring to see young people achieve success through hard work and dedication. Way to go Summer 

[gdm43]

Congrats to Summer!  She is a very deserving young lady.  I look forward to reading about Summer and her golf/life accomplishments in the years to come in golf magazines.  

Tom, don't be afraid to nominate anyone else if you have more deserving kids, as this is exactly what Cameron for Kids is all about.  Great job!


Greg

[shoey98]

Wonderful Job! She is well deserving and a model for other juniors!

[Ducky]

Congrats to Summer!

Keep up the hard work.

Thanks for sharing the story with us Tom.  Keep 'em coming.

Duck.

[Alan Gagleard]

Heartwarming story. I am sure she will meet that challenge and obtain a college scholarship if she continues to work hard and keep her grades up.
Congrats Summer and good luck!!
Alan

[nick445]

Thank you for sharing.  It is very easy to root for someone who works hard to achieve for herself.

[ewart]

Tom,
Great story. Summer sounds like a perfect kid who only has big things infront of her.
Thank you for sharing and introducing us to this wonderful person.
Cheers,
Ewie

[aubreygolf59]

Great story Tom

She is a credit and good work by you too, well done.

Regards

Robin

[bigjeffb]

Congrats Summer....wish you all the success and happiness that awaits you! 

Jeff

[kavnet]

Tom,

One of the BEST stories we've had submitted so far and was a 'no brainer' for the CC to get the ball rolling!

Let Summer know we are behind her 100% and please keep us up to date with her progress!!!!!

  GO SUMMER!!!!!!!! 

K.

[greencameron]

Tom,
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story!
Good luck to Summer and keep it going! The sky is the limit!
Ron

[dubbford]

What a great story!
My parents were brought up in Fruitland and we visit relatives who still live there.
Conditions on the reservation are poor and the adversities that each young person faces in that area are many.
Its great to read about the focus and work ethic Summer has to avoid those adversities and achieve her goals.

  Congrats to Summer!!! 

Great job Tom - I'm sure Summer and her family gave you great big Ahéhee'.

Wade

[morphpga]

Just sending an update...

Summer received a wonderful gift in the way of a Ms. Lena Claus headcover from Mr. Rick Ryan (b46424) which she opened yesterday.  I have not seen Summer since December when the putter was awarded.  It has been brutally cold and we have had record snowfalls here in NW New Mexico...not conducive for anything golf related, unfortunately.

Anyway, yesterday was the first day of our after-school session of The First Tee and I gave Summer the headcover and caught up with her about her winter break.  She is excited to start playing again as her high school team has a very legit shot at winning the Class 4A state tournament this year in New Mexico.

She has been working on various Thank you letters to all parties and should have those posted here very soon.  A kids newspaper in our area also did a very nice piece on Summer and the Scotty Cameron putter which I will try my hardest to scan and download (no promises as I am not very good at it).

Attached are some pics of Summer with the headcover (Thanks again, Rick!).  Notice the skies to the north...we just got snow today and its April (unheard of!).

[hrtsosie]

I'm VERY PROUD that my LIL' sis Summer Raine Tsosie is So dedicated to the Sport of GOLF!!! it's AMAZING....Thank You all for your Congrats on her SUCCESS this past year and to her coming years. Summer is Bright and Learning more each day with lots of help!! Thank You!!

[griffindawg]

Very good stuff, looks like she is on her way to that scholarship.  Keep posting info on her achievements & good luck to her and her high school team.

>James