USTA Foundation to Award $310,000 in College Scholarships
Posted: August 19, 2020 in Suppliers
USTA
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The USTA Foundation, the national charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), announced that it has granted 32 high school students a variety of college scholarships totaling $310,000.
Each year, the USTA Foundation awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs such as the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, have demonstrated high academic achievement and require financial assistance for college matriculation. This year, for the first time, all 32 scholarship recipients are from NJTL programs across the country.
“During these challenging times, scholarships are more important than ever and the USTA Foundation is committed to supporting the educational journeys of these exceptional students who have proven their academic excellence and community service,” said Dan Faber, Executive Director, USTA Foundation. “We congratulate the 2020 award recipients on their path towards continued education and leadership through tennis.”
The following scholarships will be granted to high school seniors:
Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award (student receives $15,000 award) Awarded to one high school senior who has excelled academically, demonstrated achievements in leadership and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program, the Marian Wood Baird Scholarship was created by the Baird family and named in honor of the late Marian Wood Baird, who had been recognized by the USTA for more than 40 years of volunteer service. The 2020 recipient is Daniela Padron-Castillo of Duncanville, Texas.
Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (students each receive $10,000 award) The Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship 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. The award is named for Dwight Filley Davis, who began playing tennis at the age of 15 in 1894. In 1900, the year he graduated from college, Davis purchased a commemorative silver bowl as a prize for an international lawn tennis competition, marking the birth of the Davis Cup. Davis became president of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association in 1923. His grandson, Dwight F. Davis III, created the scholarship to honor his grandfather’s achievements and contributions to tennis. The 2020 recipients are Dayelline Estrada-Britton of Bordentown, N.J., and Shane Lerkvikarn of Quincy, Mass.
Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (students each receive $10,000 award) This scholarship was named in memory of Dwight A. Mosley, the first African American elected to the USTA Board of Directors. The Dwight Mosley Scholarship is available to high school seniors of ethnically diverse heritage who have excelled academically and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program. Applicants must demonstrate sportsmanship on and off the court. The 2020 recipients are Summer Clemons of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Trinity Grear of Columbia, Md.
Rosalind Walter Scholarship Award (students each receive $10,000 award) This scholarship is named in honor of the late Rosalind Palmer Walter, who was responsible for funding the first USTA Foundation scholarship in 1994, well before a comprehensive program was put in place. Mrs. Walter’s commitment to tennis and education didn’t stop with her service to the USTA Foundation Board. She served on the Board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Long Island University, and was a Trustee of WNET Channel Thirteen and The Paley Center for Media. During World War II, Mrs. Walter was a riveter, where she worked the night shift on a Corsair, building the F4U marine gull-winged fighter airplane and is the inspiration for the 1942 song “Rosie the Riveter.” She took tremendous pride knowing that the hard work, dedication and precision she put into her job helped save lives. The 2020 recipients are Hannah Wood of Stoneville, N.C., and Joshua Wong of San Francisco.
Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (students receive $2,500 award) The Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship is bestowed upon two high school seniors, one male and one female, who have excelled academically, meaningfully served their communities, played tennis in an organized program and who reside in an economically disadvantaged community. This scholarship is named in memory of Eve Kraft of Princeton, N.J., a tennis pioneer who introduced thousands of young people to tennis, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The 2020 recipients are Camille Blecher of College Station, Texas, and Martial Ddamba-Kawunde of Bowie, Md.
Donald Lawson Tisdel Scholarship (students each receive $10,000 award) The USTA Foundation annually awards the college education scholarship to high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in an organized tennis program. In 2017, the USTA Foundation named its largest college scholarship fund The Donald Lawson Tisdel College Scholarship Fund. Tisdel was a passionate proponent for the sport and a staunch believer in the power of tennis and education to touch and enhance lives. These scholarships will be awarded annually to 20-25 high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in an organized tennis program such as National Junior Tennis and Learning.
