Legacy Driven
The Foundation
Our Founder
Rachelle Lovett Houston is the Founder and Executive Director of Excel Youth Academy (EYA), a mobile Golf & STEAM nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways for youth to thrive both on and off the course. Her passion for golf and education comes not only from professional dedication but also from lived experience — understanding first-hand how opportunity and mentorship can change the direction of a young person’s life.
A Legacy of Strength
& Vision
Rachelle’s values of perseverance, faith, and community were shaped early by the guidance of her family. With golf as a steady resource in her own development, she knows the life-changing impact of caring mentors who create access when circumstances may not.
This personal perspective drives her to ensure youth today have the same opportunities to grow through the game.
A Family Marked in History
Her grandfather passing the Olympic torch to Andrew Young on the Edmund Pettus Bridge
Her grandfather, Colonel John A. Lovett, was a pioneering entrepreneur and the first Black man to own a golf course in Selma, Alabama. His legacy as a business leader and community builder was recognized in 1996 when he passed the Olympic torch to Andrew Young on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. That moment stands as a symbol of progress, resilience, and hope.
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Carrying the Torch Forward
Today, Rachelle carries that same spirit of entrepreneurship and philanthropy into her work with Excel Youth Academy.
By combining golf with STEAM education, she provides youth with more than lessons on the course — she provides skills, confidence, and a pathway to opportunity.
For her, it’s about continuing the cycle: opening doors for the next generation, just as others once opened them for her.
