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Dree Fausnaugh: 2014 Presidents' Leadership Award

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Dree Fausnaugh of Maitland, Florida, was named the female recipient of the 2014 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award, the United States Golf Association and American Junior Golf Association announced Friday.

The USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award was created to recognize one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program – a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA in 2005 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism.

Fausnaugh and male recipient John Hayden of Birmingham, Alabama, will be honored on 

June 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, during the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Additionally, they will each receive tickets to a future U.S. Open and an automatic entry into the 2014 Rolex Tournament of Champions, one of the world’s most prestigious junior golf events.

About Dree Fausnaugh

Health, safety and well-being of children in local communities are the mission of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Dree Fausnaugh believes in those values so much, she has dedicated the past two years to raising more than $18,000 for the Foundation.

Fausnaugh hosts a charity golf tournament and coordinates every detail, including the setup and recruitment of sponsors, food and beverage, course contracts and silent auction prizes.

“People don’t realize how much work is actually behind a charity golf tournament,” Fausnaugh said. “It took a lot of work to get people to commit, sign up and play, but it is worth it in the end.”

Fausnaugh’s dedication to helping those less fortunate stems from gratitude for what golf has done in her life, and in the lives of her family members.

“I have received a lot of opportunities through golf and I want to give back to those less fortunate,” she said. “It is a really good cause and it helps kids.”

Even while volunteering hundreds of hours of her time, Fausnaugh has developed as a top competitive junior golfer. She is currently No. 82 in the Polo Golf Rankings. Since she started playing AJGA events in 2011, she has collected 10 top-10 finishes, and in 2012, she was named a Rolex Junior All-American.

Fausnaugh says she is surprised to be recognized for her work.

“It means a lot to me. It is a huge honor to be named to something like this. The standards that you must meet to be considered are very high so it makes me feel good to know that I was good enough.”

While Fausnaugh is surprised by the recognition, those who work with her everyday say her leadership and affect on those around her is invaluable.

“She has the ability to lead vocally, to lead by what she does on the course and in the hallway,” said Mike Ostrowski, Director of Athletic Programs at Lake Mary Preparatory School. “She’s a role model for younger kids.  As our golf program continues to grow, it will be in large part due to her and what she’s done.” 

Fausnaugh has made a verbal commitment to play college golf at the University of Central Florida in 2015 where she hopes to continue fundraising for charity.

“I definitely will make this part of my life as I move on. Raising money and helping others is something I want to continue throughout my life.”

USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award – Past Recipients

2013   Patrick Cover (Huntersville, N.C.)
            Divya Manthena (Camarillo, Calif.)

2012   Brandon Pierce (Covington, La.)
            Cassie Wang (Lenexa, Kan.)

2011   John Farese (Sayville, N.Y.)
            Natalie Turk (Franklin, Tenn.)

2010   Drew Johnson (Oak Ridge, N.C.)
            Jacqueline Calamaro (Newtown Square, Pa.)

2009   Zach Herr (New Hope, Pa.)
            Emily Gimpel (Lafayette Hill, Pa.)

2008   Smylie Kaufman (Birmingham, Ala.)
            Kelsey Conway (Ventura, Calif.)

2007   Joseph Suarez (Richmond, Va.)
            Angela Villela (Sylmar, Calif.)

2006   Adam Michel (Orinda, Calif.)
            Katrina Delen-Briones (San Francisco, Calif.)