Path to College Alumni Spotlight: Sally-Jane Lombardo-Kaiser
Sally-Jane Lombardo-Kaiser joined First Tee – Metropolitan New York at the age of 13, beginning her journey in the program at the close of eighth grade. She quickly progressed through the golf levels from Player 9 to Ace, while also competing on the Valhalla High School Varsity Golf team. In ninth grade, Sally-Jane joined the First Tee Education Program, participating in the SAT Prep class for three terms as the youngest member. She credits this preparation with helping her achieve high SAT scores and laying the foundation for her academic success. A Valhalla High School graduate with a 95.98 GPA, Sally-Jane was active in numerous organizations including the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Peer Leadership, and Valhalla International Fund. She also participated in varsity tennis and golf and devoted her time to community service, volunteering at New York Presbyterian Hospital and organizing a donation drive to support earthquake relief in Ecuador, where her mother is from. She further enriched her experiences through church youth programs and the NYU College Readiness Program.
In 2017, Sally-Jane was named a Lew Rudin Scholar and matriculated at NYU as a pre-med student, graduating in May 2019. She also received a $5,000 scholarship from the Young Benefactors, First Tee’s fundraising arm, to support her studies. After completing research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, she is now a second-year medical student at St. George’s University in Grenada, WI, pursuing a career in pediatrics.
Most recently, Sally-Jane returned to First Tee – Met NY as a Golfworks intern for the 2025 Summer STEAM Academy, leading curriculum in “Women in STEM” and literacy. She credits First Tee with providing invaluable guidance and support, helping her develop the skills and confidence to pursue her goals both on and off the golf course.
Well done Sally-Jane!
More about First Tee – Met New York | Path to College
In the competitive environment of Metropolitan New York, our First Tee chapter provides something truly special: A supportive and holistic environment for our participants’ development. We’re not just about golf; we’re about changing lives.
Surprisingly, high school students often receive just a few hours of access to their school’s college counselor. That’s where we step in, offering additional on-site counseling at First Tee to guide our participants in the college search and application process. Given the competitiveness of high schools in NYC, we extend this service to middle-schoolers as well.
This counseling is essential for keeping our participants informed about deadlines and graduation requirements. We assist them in finding schools that align with their aspirations, identifying dream, match, and safety schools, providing guidance on the FAFSA, helping craft compelling school-specific application essays, and supporting them in managing anxiety and stress.
We take immense pride in our success, with 100% of our participants gaining acceptance to at least one college, and most securing a spot at one of their top choices.