The Tiger Woods Learning Center

Education first and preparation for the future

By Annie Rivera

At the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, education comes first and golf is secondary. Located at 1 Tiger Woods Way, the TWLC boasts a career center geared at junior and high school students.

The TWLC resembles a small university where kids have a sense of ownership in the facility. Students can kick up their heels in the student lounge area or grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria. "Students have access to computers either through the computer clubhouse or at the computer lab," said Marci Drake, Communications Manager. Students also get golf lessons out on the green as part of their recreation and as a break from their curriculum.

Students from as early as sixth grade are enrolled in the career orientation program where they learn about what it is like to be a forensic scientist in a 15-day forensic science program. "They collect evidence and learn how to do fingerprinting, DNA analysis and at the end of their experience they actually have a crime scene laid out where they collect evidence and they have to come up with a solution. They present that at the end of the program," said Katherine Bihr, TWLC Executive Director.

Some of the favorite features at the TWLC include a flight simulator and robotics where they get to design and build a new program. Kids can learn basic to complicated programs such as C++ programs.

The after school program is more focused on junior and high school students. They have hands-on opportunities and are introduced to a wide variety of careers like engineering, oceanography, technology, communications, video production, web design, multimedia, and aerospace.

The TWLC provides college preparation to "help propel kids in the direction they want to go," Bihr said. By exposing kids to a wide variety of career fields, the TWLC staff believes that kids have the tools to make decisions early on in their career paths.

The TWLC provides homework support for students and works closely with the school district and the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. AVID encourages college-bound students in researching colleges and universities; provide help in completing college entrance applications and applying for financial aid.

Kids are treated like young adults at the TWLC. "They're given choices. They don't necessarily have someone breathing down their necks telling them what to do when to do it. They're allowed to fail and make mistakes and we provide support in bringing them back on board in where they need to go," said Bihr.

"Pulling from the community colleges or local universities or even the high school key clubs and things like that is a great resource for us and we absolutely welcome that," Bihr said. "Volunteers are necessary to help keep the ratio with adults-to-kids at a reasonable level." From Jan. through June they received over 200 volunteers who have logged in over 500 hours in one month.

Kids from 5th to 12th grade are welcome. Sign-ups are only $5.00 for a membership card. "Where else can a kid get a bucket of golf balls to hit for 50 cents?" Bihr said.

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, was raised in Cypress, CA; attended Western High School in Anaheim and Stanford University in Palo Alto. An American professional golfer, Woods is one of the youngest and most successful golfers of all time. In 2006, at the young age of 30, he won his 11th and 12th professional major golf championships. He has won 71 tournaments, of those 53 were on the PGA TOUR.

For more information visit www.tigerwoods.com.

Original post: 09/19/07

Media: Cypress Chronicle and CyChron.com