The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), in partnership with the United States Golf Association (USGA), is proud to announce Hadley Stetson of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and Henry Manciu of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, as the recipients of the 2026 USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award.
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. The joint initiative was founded by the USGA and AJGA in 2005 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism and philanthropy.
About Henry Manciu
Henry Manciu believes golf can be used to make a difference in the lives of others. That belief was reinforced during the 2025 TEN Memorial Junior, when a guest speaker reminded participants that they were more than their golf scores. Later that evening, Manciu received the tournament's Impact Award, which included a $1,000 charitable donation. Instead of viewing the award as the conclusion of the experience, he saw it as an opportunity to continue giving back.
Through the AJGA Leadership Links program, Manciu launched Golf for Good with Henry, a year-long fundraising campaign supporting the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation and the Liberty National ACE Grant. By combining his love for golf with creativity and community involvement, Manciu raised more than $9,000 through golf instruction, simulator sessions, equipment garage sales and a holiday fundraiser.
Dressed as the Golfing Grinch, Manciu visited children in their homes during the holiday season, playing indoor golf games and reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas in exchange for donations supporting pediatric health care and junior golf opportunities.
The campaign quickly gained support throughout his community. Local golf facilities donated equipment for his garage sales, families volunteered their time, neighbors contributed golf clubs and apparel, and supporters helped his campaign reach its goal.
"The biggest thing I realized was how many incredible people are willing to help when they're given the opportunity. Leadership Links showed me that golf can be about so much more than competition. It can build relationships, bring joy to other people and help others."
As one of the AJGA's top Leadership Links fundraisers, Manciu earned the opportunity to spend a morning with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus at their home in Palm Beach, Florida. Inspired by the visit, he contacted Nicklaus Children's Hospital and organized another volunteer event.
For the event, Manciu became Paddy the Putting Leprechaun. Wearing a green costume, he spent the day building leprechaun traps, playing indoor golf games and visiting with children receiving treatment at the hospital. As hospital staff broadcast the event throughout the facility, more patients joined the activities.
"It meant so much to see firsthand the impact the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation has on families. If I could help make a child's day a little brighter through golf, then every hour I spent fundraising was worth it."
Beyond his fundraising efforts, Manciu volunteers as a junior coach with PGA Junior League and First Tee, helping young golfers develop their skills while emphasizing sportsmanship, confidence and integrity. He also founded the Young Investors Society chapter at Canon-McMillan High School, giving classmates opportunities to build financial literacy and leadership skills through education and community service.
"Volunteering has given me perspective. Golf has opened so many doors for me, and Leadership Links taught me that the best way to give back is to use those opportunities to help someone else."
About Hadley Stetson
For Hadley Stetson, leadership starts with relationships. A rising senior at Episcopal Academy, Stetson raised more than $11,000 through Leadership Links while leading The Philly Cup, a community golf fundraiser benefiting the Horizons program, the Mid-Atlantic Blind Golfers Association and the AJGA ACE Grant. After her brother handed leadership of the event over to her, Stetson took on the responsibility of coordinating logistics, recruiting participants, promoting the event and maximizing fundraising efforts.
In her first year directing The Philly Cup, the event raised nearly $50,000, its highest fundraising total to date. Stetson personally contributed more than $10,000 through her own fundraising efforts.
While the fundraising success is impressive, Stetson says the relationships built through volunteering are the most rewarding part of the experience.
"I am drawn to volunteering for the relationships. I am at my happiest when I am around new people, getting to hear their story, and vice versa."
For the past three years, Stetson has volunteered with the Horizons program, working with elementary-aged students through reading groups, swim lessons and daily activities. Through her time with the program, she has developed strong relationships while helping students build confidence.
One memory that stands out for Stetson involved two students who were initially afraid to enter the pool. With encouragement and consistent support, both students eventually overcame their fears. Seeing their confidence grow reminded Stetson of the importance of helping others recognize what they are capable of accomplishing.
"While recognition isn't why I volunteer, I appreciate it because it shines a light on the importance of giving back. The most meaningful part of volunteering is the relationships you build. I don't look for opportunities where I'm simply doing something for someone else. I want to grow alongside the people I'm serving, because that's where the greatest impact happens."
Her experiences with Horizons and The Philly Cup have also changed the way she views golf. Like many competitive junior golfers, Stetson once placed significant pressure on her performance. Organizing The Philly Cup showed her how golf could bring people together, create opportunities and support causes beyond competition.
Away from the golf course, Stetson continues to expand her commitment to service. She recently launched a worship club at her school and will serve as a student representative for a new partnership between her school and a local juvenile center. She also plans to become involved in prison ministry through her church as her faith continues to shape her approach to leadership.
USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award – Past Recipients
2025
Liam Lodding (Huntley, IL)
Andie Greenberg (Bethesda, MD)
2024
Mack Edwards (Charlotte, NC)
Sahana Mantha (Charlotte, NC)
2023
Zachary Munno (Stamford, Conn.)
Lucy Wang (Concord, Mass.)
2022
Matthew Lin (Orinda, Calif.)
Madeline Bante (Englewood, Colo.)
2021
Tommy Frist (Nashville, Tenn.)
Andie Smith (Hobe Sound, Fla.)
2020
Ashley Yen (Houston, Texas)
Charlie Creamean (Winnetka, Ill.)
2019
William Mirams (Stroudsburg, Pa.)
Lauryn Nguyen (Seattle, Wash.)
2018
Gerry Jones Jr. (Suffolk, Va.)
Grace Chen (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
2017
Grant Fairbairn (Orinda, Fla.)
Haley Bookholdt (Columbus, N.J.)
2016
Daniel Berlin (Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
Angelica Harris (Harvey, La.)
2015
Nick Leibold (Littleton, Colo.)
Hannah Berman (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
2014
John Hayden (Birmingham, Ala.)
Dree Fausnaugh (Maitland, Fla.)
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.)
About Leadership Links
Since 2009, the Leadership Links program has helped more than 4,650 junior golfers make a difference in their communities by generating more than $7.2 million in charitable contributions to more than 2,000 charities and the Liberty National Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant.
Leadership Links is a program that allows the AJGA to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable-giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the Liberty National ACE Grant. Visit https://www.ajga.org/programs/leadership-links for more.
About the USGA
The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. The USGA also manages day-to-day operations for the U.S. National Development Program, the country's first unified pathway for American talent, and the World Golf Hall of Fame, preserving and celebrating the legacies of the game’s greatest figures. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. For more, visit usga.org.