Bentonville senior Brian “Fisher” Smith has been selected as a First Tee Scholar for 2013, the First Tee of Northwest Arkansas announced Friday.

Smith has been an active participant in the local First Tee chapter since its inception in 2005. He has achieved the Eagle Level in The First Tee, acted as a volunteer coach for younger participants and now works at the chapter’s facility, the Tyson Foods First Tee Learning Center in Lowell.

Smith is active in his church and serves as president of the Nazarene Youth International at the local congregation. He is a member of the Bentonville National Honor Society and the school orchestra. He also participates in DECA (earning second place at the state competition) and the Tigers’ boys golf team.

“The First Tee has played an integral role in my development as a person, student and golfer,” Smith said. “I am extremely proud to be one of the 101 First Tee Scholars from across the country in the class of 2013.”

The First Tee Scholars Program recognizes participants for exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, character development and chapter and community involvement. Applications are accepted once per year from seniors in high school who meet the minimum requirements and are scored by an independent committee. With this designation, Smith has the opportunity to apply for any educational scholarship programs offered through The First Tee to attend a participating college or university.

“Fisher has truly grown up here at The First Tee,” said Mike Shea, executive director of The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas. “With the support of a strong family, his First Tee coaches and our great community, Fisher has taken our nine core values to heart and earned this national recognition.

“We are proud to have him represent us.”