Spotlight On First Serve OKC

The USTA Foundation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Junior Tennis & Learning network this year. In honor of this event, the USTA is focusing on many of the NJTL programs around the country that continually pour out their time, resources, and hard work to better their communities, local youth, and the game of tennis in their cities.

This week, the focus shifts to First Serve of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. First Serve OKC’s goal is to help strengthen the lives and enhance the character of Oklahoma City youth through tennis and education, which they have done in a myriad of ways. 

First Serve OKC places an emphasis on creating a safe environment for underprivileged youth through the game of tennis all while emphasizing self-discipline, optimism, integrity, teamwork, and gratitude.

In order to learn more about First Serve OKC, USTA Missouri Valley connected with Emmy Tigert, Executive Director for First Serve OKC and Diversity and Inclusion Chair with USTA Oklahoma.   

USTA.com: What or who originally inspired the creation of First Serve?

Tigert: First Serve OKC was founded by Mark Allen in 2014 as a way to provide opportunities to under-resourced students through tennis. Mr. Allen saw that very few, if any, public schools were represented at the Oklahoma State Tennis Tournament each year, and he thought that the lack of equality in the sport revealed an opportunity for change. Upon discovering the USTA’s National Junior Tennis and Learning network, Mr. Allen then set forth raising $4 million to build indoor courts at the OKC Tennis Center so that the program could operate year round and provide a meaningful pathway for youth development through tennis to all Oklahoma City youth.

USTA.com: First Serve looks to provide opportunities to kids concerning tennis but also concerning their lives outside of the sport. What is important about this to you?

Tigert: The most important thing to me is the impact that we have on each student in the program. I believe their words are the best way to convey the importance:

“First Serve OKC is life changing. It helps kids stay away from the bad things in the world. When I was at First Serve, I felt safe, and when I was sad, it made me happy.”

“The most helpful thing I have learned in the classroom is about sugary drinks. Diabetes runs in my family, so I have a higher chance of getting it, especially if I have a lot of sugar.”

“In First Serve OKC camp not only did I get better at tennis, but I also improved my chances at getting a very high score on my next ACT test.”

USTA.com: What are some things First Serve has accomplished since its conception as an organization?

Tigert: We have grown to serve over 1,400 students per year. Of these students, 236 attend summer camp, and 50 are playing year-round tennis. Our surveys show the following improvements over a 2 to 3-week summer camp: 89 percent showed improved personal hygiene; 92 percent drink less sugar and 96 percent drink more water; 96 percent eat more fruits and vegetables; and campers now average 8.5 hours of sleep per night. The most important life skill lessons reported include how to control temper and attitude, manners and tennis etiquette, and being a good listener.

Awards include USTA Missouri Valley 2014 Outstanding Diversity Achievement, USTA Oklahoma 2017 Event of the Year, USPTA Missouri Valley 2017 Diversity Award, USTA Oklahoma 2017 Outstanding Diversity Achievement, and USTA Missouri Valley 2018 Outstanding Community Tennis Association. Twenty students have won the USTA Missouri Valley’s award for the NJTL Essay Contest, and numerous others have earned USTA Oklahoma and Missouri Valley Sportsmanship Awards.

USTA.com: How do you find funding for the organization?

Tigert: We are fortunate to have many different avenues of support, including the Sponsor a Player program, our annual “Raise Your Racquet” fundraiser, and various grants and corporate sponsorships. Our Sponsor A Player creates the opportunity for a relationship between the sponsor and player. The sponsors receive quarterly updates from their player, which is a very authentic way to see the impact of their gift, and it also teaches our students about the importance of gratitude and helping others.

USTA.com: What areas have you seen growth in the kids who attend First Serve?

Tigert: The kids who begin First Serve OKC either at the schools or in summer camp are sometimes excited, maybe apprehensive, and even possibly apathetic about the new thing their parent has signed them up for. We see a lot of behavioral challenges in their first year with the program—arguing with other kids, uncontrolled emotions on and off the court, and even some disrespect of coaches and mentors. Over time, the ones that stick with the program begin to learn the culture of good sportsmanship and how that impacts all of our interactions. They become the leaders for the next generation of First Serve OKC students. If they are willing to give First Serve OKC a shot, the benefits will go far beyond the tennis court and give them tools to help in many different areas of their lives.

To find out more about First Serve OKC, contact Emmy Tigert at emmy.tigert@mshdg.com. 

Reach out to Laura Puryear at puryear@movalley.usta.com to learn more about NJTL programs within USTA Oklahoma, and visit this page on the USTA Foundation’s website to learn more about the NJTL Network as a whole.