Evelyn Kensicki is one of those relentlessly positive people who brings a huge smile to every interaction — with family, friends, colleagues and strangers. We are so fortunate that she has brought joy to so many TGA golfers.
After retiring from the U.S. Post Office, Evelyn was still staying very busy teaching piano, taking pictures during fundraisers for her husband’s middle-school football and wrestling teams, playing lots of golf and traveling (especially to see her grandchildren). She found TGA in late 2017 and has become a year-round fixture, teaching after-school classes at least five days a week and running our summer camps at Rammler.
Evelyn has been honored as our lead instructor of the year for 2019. “I’m doing something that I love,” Evelyn said. “Starting them so young and seeing the improvement is really exciting to me. I see them understand rules and etiquette as well as improve their golf skills.”
Our assistant coach of the year has been involved with TGA since he was 9 years old as a summer camper at Sycamore Hills. Brett Pawlowski attended multiple sessions every summer from ages 9-14, then became an assistant coach when he entered Dakota High School. He has worked tons of after-school classes and summer camps since then.
“TGA is my first and only job — and it’s been a great one,” Brett said. “I’ve learned how to work with other people — not just the kids, but other coaches and parents. I’ve learned how to adapt to different skill levels and maturity levels. I have learned patience and how to use my time wisely. I hope I’ve been a good role model for the kids.”
Brett will be a senior at Dakota this fall. He has a 4.1 grade-point average and hopes to study engineering at Ohio State or Michigan State.
Congratulations again to Evelyn and Brett, who will receive $100 Golf Galaxy gift cards. Here are the previous winners:
2016 — Lead instructor Nick Lico, assistant Jennifer Kowalczyk
2017 — Lead instructor Ari Siegel, assistant Mike Mercier
2018 — Lead instructor Nick Bruce (TGA’s national coach of the year), assistant Emily Lin
