TEN YOUNG PEOPLE SELECTED AS SEMIFINALISTS FOR
RBS ACHIEVERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Awards will be presented June 17 at the U.S. Open Championship in New York

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (May 26, 2009) – The First Tee has announced the names of the ten participants that have been selected as semifinalists for the sixth annual RBS Achievers of the Year Awards, a program created by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, in conjunction with Charter One and Citizens Bank, to recognize outstanding participants of The First Tee and to help fund their ongoing education after high school. 

RBS and Golf Digest Publications, both Trustees of The First Tee, will present the 2009 RBS Achievers of the Year Awards during an awards dinner in New York City, site of this year’s U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage State Park.  Two finalists, one male and one female, will receive $10,000 awards and the eight remaining semifinalists will each receive $2,000 for future education. 

The RBS Achievers of the Year Awards recognize deserving students for accomplishments in their daily lives while overcoming difficult circumstances.  The scholarship awards are not based on academic achievement or exceptional golf skills.  The program rewards young people that exhibit The First Tee Nine Core Values while demonstrating leadership, community service and teamwork.  The First Tee Nine Core Values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

The 2009 semifinalists are:

Boys:

·        Donnie Black, 18, The First Tee of Pittsburgh

·        Eric Dobmeier, 17, The First Tee of Charlottesville

·        Dominick Ferrante, 16, The First Tee of Nassau County

·        Jarrett Link, 16, The First Tee of Greater Sacramento

·        Kenneth Sabo, 18, The First Tee of Akron

·        Marc Thompson, 17, The First Tee of Philadelphia

 

Girls:

·        Kamio Espindola, 15, The First Tee of Phoenix

·        Victoria Gillespie, 17, The First Tee of Fort Worth

·        Katrina Hickey, 16, The First Tee of Forth Smith

·        Kathleen Rojas, 14, The First Tee of Modesto

 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for these young people and it would not be possible without the continued support of RBS and Golf Digest Publications,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee. “Despite the obstacles these young people have faced, they continue to exemplify The First Tee Nine Core Values. We are extremely proud of all of them for their achievements.”

RBS has been part of the fabric of golf for over a century through its association with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews.  That commitment to growing the game of golf extends to the United States, showcased by RBS’ partnerships with The First Tee, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America.

About The First Tee:
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.9 million participants in 49 states and five international locations – Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.

Media Contact: Steve Gerrish, (904) 940-4314 or sgerrish@thefirsttee.org.

About RBS Group:
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (“RBS Group”) is one of the world's leading financial services companies providing a range of retail and corporate banking, financial markets, consumer finance, insurance, and wealth management services. RBS Group operates in over 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East serving more than 40 million customers and employing more than 170,000 people.  The Group’s brands include RBS, NatWest, Ulster Bank, Coutts, Citizens and many other “household name” financial services companies.

In the U.S., RBS Group owns Citizens Financial Group (retail and commercial bank, credit card and merchant acquiring businesses). Following the acquisition of Charter One in September 2004, it has grown to become the tenth largest U.S. bank by deposits with a presence in 12 states.

Media Contact:  Fiona MaCrae, RBS Group, +44 (0) 131 5235659 or fiona.macrae@rbs.co.uk.

About Golf Digest Publications:
Golf Digest Publications is part of Condé Nast Publications and includes Golf Digest, Golf World, Golf Digest Index and GolfDigest.com.  Conde´ Nast, a unit of Advance Publications, includes consumer magazines and their Web sites, Conde´ Nast Digital, the Fairchild Fashion Group, the Conde´ Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers.