Thanks to the financial assistance provided to Jinjie Ling by the USTA Foundation in the form of the Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship, he has thrived over the past four years at Duke University.
A native of Houston, Texas, Ling found a home at his local NJTL chapter at the age of 9, and he was ultimately awarded one of two $10,000 grants in 2016.
A scholar in music, science, and the arts, Ling has been involved with several music groups at Duke since arriving on campus. Last year, he was one of six conducting students to guest-conduct the Duke University Wind Symphony at the annual Viennese Ball, one of the largest student-run events at the university, and he is an active member of Duke's a capella group, “Something Borrowed Something Blue," which recently released an album that can be streamed on Spotify and YouTube.
This past summer, he was funded by Duke Engage, a university-affiliated civic engagement program, to teach music and arts education in Zhuhai, China.
He is also paying it forward to the next generation through his involvement with a local non-profit, Kidznotes, an out-of-school music program for kids from pre-K through 12th grade, while serving as a volunteer music instructor for musicians in the disadvantaged public schools of Durham, N.C.
His impact is not only being felt by his peers at Duke, and this will no doubt continue even after he graduates this May with a major in biology, with a concentration in molecular cell biology, and minors in music and chemistry.
His scientific endeavors have been featured in several publications, including chapters in medical books, as his research has documented key advancements in the detection and clinical stratification of pancreatic and breast cancer.
Now bound for medical school and an aspiring academic clinician, Ling credits the opportunities afforded to him at Duke with shaping him to help create the future—none of which would’ve been possible without the support of the USTA Foundation.
“In tennis, I developed grit, analytical acumen, and leadership ability that have been important in all aspects of my life,” Ling said.
“The USTA Foundation scholarship has given me the opportunity to develop my interests in medicine, music, scientific research, and community engagement, to attend one of the top universities in the world, and to connect with some of the most supportive research mentors, physicians, professors, and classmates from all over the world.
“I hope to apply these experiences towards addressing the medical challenges that our society will face in the future.”