By Ashley Marshall, USTAFoundation.com
Dozens of talented students across the United States will have a chance to follow their dreams after the USTA Foundation announced it was granting more than $400,000 in college scholarships to deserving youngsters.
Forty-nine high school students earned grants totaling $408,000, raising the total contributed through grants and scholarships to more than $22 million.
“This year’s college scholarship recipients are truly an outstanding group of gifted and talented students on and off the tennis court, “said Dan Faber, Executive Director, USTA Foundation. “They possess a quality of leadership and the willingness to succeed as a result of their commitment to the sport of tennis as well as their academic endeavors. The USTA Foundation is proud to honor them with these well-deserved scholarships that will help impact their college goals and success.”
One of the objectives of the USTA Foundation is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens. Each year, the USTA Foundation awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in youth tennis programs such as those offered by the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTL) network, have demonstrated high academic achievement and require financial assistance for college matriculation.
High school senior Lauren Clark (pictured above) of Eau Claire, Wis., was named the Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award recipient. Awarded to one senior who has excelled academically, demonstrated achievements in leadership and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program, the $15,000 scholarship was named in honor of the late Marian Wood Baird, who had been recognized by the USTA for more than 40 years of volunteer service.
In addition, Swetha Thiagarajan of Troy, N.Y., and Jinjie Ling of Houston received a $10,000 award from the Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship, which is granted to two high school seniors who have performed with distinction and have actively participated in extracurricular activities, community service and an organized tennis program.
Julia Kwedi of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Mario Aguayo of Las Vegas received the Dwight Mosley Scholarship ($10,000), presented to students of ethnically diverse heritages who have excelled academically and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program.
Halle Brazda of Houston and Rontrelle Bryant of Augusta, Ga., each received a $10,000 Rosalind Walter Scholarship for thriving in the classroom and giving back to their community, and Allison Himes of Indianapolis and Alexandra Andrews of Cocoa Beach, Fla., each earned a $10,000 Professional Tennis Management Scholarship to help them attend one of six colleges currently offering a PTM program.
Jasmine Kelier of Newnan, Ga., and Grant Pilsbury of Louisville, Ky., each received a $2,500 Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship, bestowed upon two high school seniors who have excelled academically, meaningfully served their communities, played tennis in an organized program and who reside in an economically disadvantaged community.
The USTA Foundation College Education Scholarship gave 30 seniors $10,000 each, while the USTA Foundation College Textbook Scholarship provided a one-time award of $1,000 to help students purchase textbooks or supplies.