New England

NJTL Students Win Essay Contest

James Maimonis, Manager, Media & Communications | June 09, 2023

WESTBOROUGH, MA – Twelve New England students were recently selected as USTA New England’s 2022 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Essay Contest winners. Run annually by the USTA Foundation and presented by Deloitte, this contest is open to NJTL students nationwide, including those part of New England’s 17 local chapters.

 

New England winners were entered into a national submission for a trip to New York City.

 

Students were tasked with sharing their opinion on the sentiment shared by former New York City Mayor, David Dinkins, on whether tennis develops and instills confidence, character, sportsmanship and teamwork. They were then asked what other skills they have gained from tennis, what their dreams were and how tennis could help them achieve those dreams.

 

Eighty-one students entered, with winning essays coming from seven different NJTL chapters, including TeamFAME in Newport, RI and First Serve Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT, with three champions each.

  • Here is the full list of New England winners broken down by age division:
  • Emily Alfonso Olmos, 17-18 division, Female (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Daniel Tarazona, 17-18 division, Male (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Sarah Justo, 15-16 division, Female (Danbury Grassroots Academy)
  • Noah Krantz, 15-16 division, Male (Lee Community Tennis Association)
  • Emily Chiroy, 13-14 division, Female (First Serve Bridgeport)
  • Joseph Renfrow, 13-14 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • Gabrielle Giles, 11-12 division, Female (New HYTEs)
  • Gianna D’Onofrio, 11-12 division, Female (Bennington ACES)                    
  • Lincoln Gibs, 11-12 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • Santino Sonny Smith, 11-12 division, Male (TeamFAME)
  • “Unnamed student”, 10 and under division, Female (Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center)
  • Jonathan Dragonetti, 10 and under division, Male (Lee Community Tennis Association)

 

The 2023 NJTL Essay Contest is currently open through June 30. Students are asked to write about who has helped and supported their achievements throughout their tennis journey.

 

To learn more about the essay contest, click here.

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