USTA Serves to grant 71 college scholarships this spring totaling $379,000

USTA Serves – Foundation for Academics.  Character.  Excellence., the philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association, today announced that it will grant 71 high school students a variety of college scholarships this spring totaling $379,000.

An objective of USTA Serves is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.  Each year, USTA Serves awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated high academic achievement and a financial need for college matriculation.

“We understand how vital financial assistance is for these deserving high school seniors as they pursue higher education,” said Karen Martin-Eliezer, Chief Executive, USTA Serves.  “Supporting them is a sound investment in America’s future.  It is our hope and firm belief that these young men and women will continue to positively impact the world throughout their life’s journey.”

The following scholarships will be granted to high school seniors this spring:

Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award (one $15,000 award)
Bestowed upon 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 over 40 years of volunteer service.  The 2009 recipient is St. Thomas Moore High School senior Chantel Newman of Milwaukee, Wis.

Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (one female and male receive $10,000 award)
The Dwight Mosley Scholarship is presented to two USTA ranked high school seniors of ethnically diverse heritages who have excelled academically and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program.  This scholarship was named in memory of Dwight A. Mosley, the first African American elected to the USTA Board of Directors.  It was created with input from the USTA Multicultural Participation Committee and supports the Level One Priority of Diversity within the USTA.  The 2009 recipients are Agnes Irwin School senior Jocelyn Providence of Yeadon, Pa., and Council Rock High School senior Luv Sodha of Richboro, Pa.

Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (one female and one male receive $7,500 award)
The Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship is granted to two high school seniors who have performed with distinction, and actively participated in extracurricular activities, community service, and an organized tennis program.  Dwight Filley Davis began playing tennis at the age of 15 in 1894.  In 1900, the year he graduated from college, Davis purchased a 217-troy ounce silver bowl as a prize for an international lawn tennis competition. This was 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 2009 recipients are Rivet High School senior Philip Halter of Vincennes, Ind., and Needham B. Broughton High School senior Hannah Waddell of Raleigh, N.C.

Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (one female and male 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, demonstrated community service, 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, NJ, a tennis pioneer who introduced thousands of young people to the game of tennis, particularly in disadvantaged communities.  The 2009 recipients are St. Francis High School senior Victorea Austin, of Prospect, Ky., and Archbishop Molloy High School senior Andres Gallo, of Flushing, N.Y.

USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (52 students to each receive $6,000 award)
USTA Serves awards college education scholarships annually to high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in an organized tennis program.

USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (12 Students to receive $1,000)
USTA Serves has established a college textbook scholarship which provides a one-time award to assist students in purchasing textbooks or supplies.

Click here to read more about the scholarship winners.

Established in 1994, USTA Serves supports, monitors and promotes programs that enhance the lives of disadvantaged children through the integration of tennis and education. USTA Serves actively supports individual students from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds through college scholarships and player incentive awards and encourages children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens. Additionally, the Foundation supports community tennis programs across the country that provide positive role models, academic assistance, life skills, and tennis instruction to help prevent violence, substance abuse and school dropouts. USTA Serves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds on the USTA’s social conscience of addressing important health issues, diversity issues, and general well-being in the United States using tennis as the catalyst and change agent.