2026 USTA Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarships recipients are from USTA Southern

The USTA announced two recipients of the 2026 USTA Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship, which is awarded to current or incoming HBCU students with a demonstrated passion for tennis and a commitment to excellence in academics. Dillan LaFrance of New Orleans, who will attend Morehouse College, and Danielle Hood of Atlanta, who will attend Savannah State University, were each awarded $5,000 during a special presentation at HBCU Springcoming™, an event held on Wednesday, April 22, at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

The scholarship is named in honor of Althea Gibson, a trailblazing athlete and graduate of Florida A&M University, an HBCU. In 1950, Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis and became the first African American to play in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open), opening doors for future athletes and inspiring significant changes both within and beyond sports.

The USTA Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship is awarded annually to two students in each of the USTA’s Southern, Eastern, and Southern California sections. This year, applicants were asked to submit their resume, academic transcripts, and a personal essay based on one of the following prompts: “Explain the legacy of Althea Gibson and how she inspires your tennis career,” or “What is the future of HBCU tennis programs and why should Black people embrace tennis as an athletic pursuit?” "We are thrilled to celebrate Dillan and Danielle as two of this year's USTA Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship recipients," said Marisa Grimes, USTA’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. "Both students will continue their competitive tennis careers at the collegiate level, and we are incredibly proud to support their dedicated pursuit of excellence in both their athletic and academic journeys as they carry forward Althea Gibson's powerful legacy."