USTA Foundation celebrates 24 outstanding students through Career Excellence Week and AMEX Excellence Cup

The USTA Foundation welcomed 24 students from across the nation to New York City for the 2026 Career Excellence Week and AMEX Excellence Cup. Held annually during the second week of the US Open main draw, this signature initiative offers young leaders from under-resourced communities opportunities to imagine future possibilities through hands-on career exploration, mentorship, and high-level tennis competition.

Nominated by local leaders, these students represent a nationwide group of more than 270 community-based organizations supported by the USTA Foundation that provides young people from under-resourced communities with access to tennis, education and mentorship programs to help them unlock excellence, on and off the court.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in exclusive corporate site visits and networking opportunities, including a special meet-and-greet with award-winning journalist Gayle King on the set of CBS Mornings – along with a surprise visit by Oprah Winfrey – and visits to ABC Studios, Paul Hastings LLP, EY, and IBM. They also participated in a community service activity with the historic Henry Street Settlement, and had a special meet and discussion with Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. Students also hit the courts at SPORTIME Randall's Island, attended the thrilling women’s semifinal matches at the US Open, and capped off their experience competing in the prestigious AMEX Excellence Cup on the tournament courts. This year’s AMEX Cup winners are Jinay Sheth and Evelynn Kwak, while Kamila Aripova and Vishwa Sivakumar received the Sportsmanship Awards.

“Career Excellence Week and the AMEX Cup is about providing young people with a vision of what opportunities are available to them in the future,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of the USTA Foundation. “We are so grateful to our partners for sharing their time, workplaces, and wisdom with our young people to prepare them for their futures - on and off the court.”

USTA Foundation 2026 Amex Cup and Career Days participants play tennis at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY. Photo by Kent Edwards/USTA.

The USTA Foundation proudly recognizes the 24 students selected for the 2026 Career Excellence Week:

Student Name, NJTL Chapter

Chloe Amerson, Friends of Battlefield (Jackson, Miss.)
Kamila Aripova, Junior Tennis Champion Center (College Park, Md.)
Cameron Bell, Get a Grip Tennis Association (Lithonia, Ga.)
Sofia Berlyant, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (New York City)
Alyese Boykins, GTP Foundation (Greensboro, N.C.)
Joseph Burch, MACH Academy, Inc. (Augusta, Ga.)
Isabella Doni, Johnny Mac Tennis Project (New York City)
Kylie Gordon, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (New York City)
Morgan Henderson, MACH Academy, Inc. (Augusta, Ga.)
Ava Hoffman, GTP Foundation (Greensboro, N.C.)
Michael Kaplan, Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (New York City)
Brandon King, ACSQUARED Tennis (Lithia Springs, Ga.)
Evelynn Kwak, Johnny Mac Tennis Project (New York City)
Michelle Lee, Johnny Mac Tennis Project (New York City)
Matthias Roland, GTP Foundation (Greensboro, N.C.)
Michael Sales, South Atlanta Community Tennis Association
Jinay Sheth, Legacy (Philadelphia)
Vishwa Sivakumar, Inspiring Children Foundation (Las Vegas)
Lincoln Smith, First Serve OKC (Oklahoma City)
Will Stephens, South Atlanta Community Tennis Association
Ansh Suri, NJTL of Trenton (New Jersey)
Aaron Tong, Youth Tennis Advantage (San Francisco)
Isabella Torralba, Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Foundation Inc. (Zephyrhills, Fla.)
Naomi Wachira, Norwalk/Stamford Grassroots Tennis and Education Program (Norwalk, Conn.)

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