TEDx Laguna Blanca School is an entirely student-produced event that brings together remarkable individuals to share their ideas and experiences. One of the distinguished speakers at the January 29th event was Oneda Maryon Castillo, a Global Education Instructor for the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA). Oneda, who joined the LPGA in 1997, shared insights from her personal and professional journey, highlighting her golf education and advocacy.
As the third African American woman to achieve Class A status as an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional in 2003, Oneda has made a lasting impact in the golf world. She has served as a National Evaluator, Global Instructor, Leadership Academy Instructor, and LPGA*USGA Girls Golf site director. Her role as Director of Golf for the Women in Golf Foundation has empowered youth and women for over 25 years. In 2018, she founded an Adaptive Golf site for individuals with disabilities and has been actively involved in initiatives such as The First Tee and PGA Hope for veterans.
Oneda’s expertise has earned her numerous accolades. In 2023, she achieved her Master LPGA teaching certification, becoming only the second Black woman (behind Carrie Russell) to receive this honor. Since 2017, she has been recognized as a Top-50 Best Teacher by the Women’s Golf Journal and the LPGA. Her achievements include the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2015) and induction into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame.
“My story is unique, but not really, it touches on some ills of society that affect us all. We all need to discover our own gauge of success and not let others who don’t know you, or maybe, don’t have good intentions, tell you what you are capable of or what will make you happy,” says Oneda.
“It always does me a lot of good and warms my heart to be able to speak to young people and, hopefully, get some to make better decisions! It was also amazing to see how professional the young hosts were along with their mentors and supporters.”
Beyond her instructional work, Oneda has hosted golf events at stunning locations, including the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain, with plans to attend the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. She completed her goal of playing golf in all 50 states in 2018 and continues to travel the world, inviting others to join her on this journey.
TEDx events are independently organized gatherings designed to foster deep discussions and meaningful connections through TED Talks and live speakers. Laguna Blanca School, an independent K-12 institution in Santa Barbara and Montecito, California, has hosted TEDx since 2018. The annual one-day conference is the culmination of the TEDx: Project-Based Leadership course, where students take the lead in every aspect of planning—from selecting themes and speakers to managing budgets and overseeing professional audiovisual production. The event brings together students and community members for a day of inspiration, learning, and shared passion.
