Matthew Lin of Orinda, California, and Madeline Bante of Englewood, Colorado, were named the 2022 recipients of the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award, given annually by the USGA and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). The USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award honors 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.
"Golf is about much more than winning tournaments," said Stu Francis, USGA president. "It’s about succeeding in life, living the values you learn on the course and being an active member of the community. Matthew and Madeline are two exceptional leaders who are an inspiration to us at the USGA, to their generation and everyone in the game. We can’t wait to see their careers unfold. "
About Matthew Lin
One of Lin's favorite words is gratitude. The high school junior believes that living with gratitude is what defines a person, not the circumstances in someone's life. His dad was an immigrant on the free lunch program and his mom grew up having to share a room with a sister who suffered from a severe disability. Both of these examples proved to Matthew that a person's life is not defined by their circumstances.
" The one thing [my parents] both passed down to me is an overwhelming sense of feeling lucky to live in America," said Lin. "From this thankfulness stems an instinctive desire to help others. We all struggle in different ways, and I've felt and seen how a little bit of kindness goes a long way. "
Lin supported All Stars Helping Kids by using social media to increase awareness for underprivileged children in San Francisco, all while raising more than $30,000 ($20,000 of which came through his Leadership Links campaign) for the organization. He then worked to connect All Stars Helping Kids with other Northern California junior golf programs to help create new annual scholarships. Lin also dedicated his time to CityTeam over the past four years, which included regularly serving and delivering to the city's homeless.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Lin has worked with his community to raise awareness for a local women's shelter and to collect clothing and furniture.
Seeing firsthand what life was like for the less fortunate, Lin started the RISE Club at school, which increases awareness for people who are oppressed and don't have a voice. The 2024 graduate wanted to take a positive and educational approach to this club. He was able to hold interviews, find informative videos to share and try different foods from different cultures. Lin believed that through education and empathy, more awareness could be brought to a global issue that is still prominent in today's world.
About Madeline Bante
Golf has given so much to Bante, which is why she strives to use the game to give back in every way she can. This includes volunteering with First Tee - Colorado Rocky Mountains. Not only does Bante teach kids how to play the game of golf each week, she also instills the principles of First Tee, including honesty, integrity, hard work and grit. These are principles by which she lives her own life. The opportunity to work with these children is something that's not lost on Bante, but it also left her wanting to do more. She had already made a difference through community service, so she set her sights on fundraising.
In 2021 alone, Bante raised more than $14K for First Tee - Colorado Rocky Mountains and the ACE Grant. That money will help provide scholarships for teenagers to go to college, free tuition for children to attend First Tee programs and allow young adults the opportunity to play in AJGA tournaments.
" As a balanced student, golfer, and friend, I am able to make time for those that matter to me," said Bante. "Volunteerism is extremely important for the future of golf because the game is not possible without it. E
Though a majority of Bante's community service and fundraising efforts have been focused on golf, she's found a way to help others outside of golf as well. Bante became a member of the National Charity League, where she helped on a Joy International project and volunteered countless hours at The Food Bank of The Rockies.
" The future of golf is in great hands with the likes of Matthew Lin and Madeline Bante," said Beth Dockter, the AJGA's director of youth development. "Through their service to help others in their community, dedication to strong moral character, and leadership among their peers they are making a big impact in the lives of those around them as they exemplify the essence of the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award. R
USGA-AJGA Presidents' Leadership Award – Past Recipients
2021
Tommy Frist (Nashville, Tenn.)
Andie Smith (Hobe Sound, Fla.)
2020
Charlie Creamean (Winnetka, Ill.)
Ashley Yen (Houston, Texas)
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.)