ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 16, 2011) –The First Tee has named Brittany Georgalas, 17,  of Merrick, N.Y.,  as co-winner of the 2011 RBS Achiever of the Year Award. Georgalas participates in The First Tee of Metropolitan New York at Eisenhower Park, where she also works as an intern in the MGA Foundation’s GOLFWORKS program. Georgalas and co-recipient, Patrick Molloy of The First Tee of Philadelphia, were honored at an awards banquet on Wednesday, June 15, in Rockville, Md., on the eve of the 111th U.S. Open Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda. Both Georgalas and Molloy received $10,000 college scholarships, while each of the eight semifinalists received $2,000 awards.

The RBS Achiever of the Year awards recognize deserving participants of The First Tee for accomplishments in their daily lives while overcoming difficult circumstances. The scholarships are not based on academic performance or exceptional golf skills, but rather reward young people who exhibit The First Tee Nine Core Values™ while demonstrating leadership, community service and teamwork.

Georgalas 17, is an Eagle-certified participant at The First Tee of Nassau County. The quote “through adversity comes strength” has guided her through many valleys in her life. When she was one year old, Brittany contracted a virus that affected her heart, resulting in valve replacements, multiple heart surgeries and hospitalization. In addition to having complications with her heart, she was diagnosed with an eye abnormality at birth. Her condition caused limited vision, though she continues to excel in everything she does. Her doctor’s restrictions with contact sports left her devastated until she discovered golf through The First Tee five years ago. Currently, Brittany is the captain of her high school’s golf team and was awarded MVP for the last four years. She plans to attend college this fall to study animation.

Since its inception in 2004, the national RBS Achiever of the Year Award has gone to three representatives of the First Tee of Metropolitan New York -  Elizabeth Napolitano, FTMNY-Mosholu, (2004); Sonya Mendez, FTMNY-Fairchild Wheeler, (2005) and Dominic Ferrante, FTMNY-Eisenhower Park (2009). For more information on the RBS Achievers of the Year Award please visit www.theifrsttee.org.