2019 USTA TEXAS SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

USTA Texas is honored to present the USTA Texas Summer Camp Scholarship to 13 players. Each scholarship winner is matched with a tennis camp in the state. The applicants were reviewed using a matrix system that included a written essay, report card, personal statements and recommendation letters from both a tennis coach and school official.

For the written essay, applicants were asked to answer one of two questions, choosing between "if you could attend any Grand Slam, which one would it be?" and "what type of coaching do you like the most and if you were a tennis coach, what type of coach would you be. 10-year-old Marcelo Mora answered the latter.

"If I were a tennis coach, I would be a super positive coach, and would always give positive reinforcement for my students," he says. "I think I have had good role models of coaches that I really look up to them and thank them for the way they are with me, because of them I have become the player I am now."

The week-long scholarship program helps junior players learn and develop their tennis skills alongside coaches who have years of experience. The camps also allow players to meet friends and compete with individuals from around Texas.

"Receiving this scholarship would mean so much to me because it would provide an opportunity that I otherwise wouldn't be able to provide for myself," wrote 15-year-old Abena Boateng in her personal statement. "I really love the sport of tennis and it would be so humbling to be able to go to a camp and improve my skills to further my education."

Nine-year-old Isabella Zertuche will attend Baylor Tennis Camp this summer: “My biggest inspiration on-court is Serena Williams. The reason why I chose Serena is because I love to play tennis, and Serena for me and others is the greatest female tennis player in the world...I hope one day I will be able to play like her on the court and have the pleasure of meeting my role model."

Our scholarship winners and the camps they are attending are highlighted below:

A&M Camp

Ryan Park, Little Elm

William Massey, Fort Worth

Rahul Kumar Aduru, Katy

Aggie Camp

Marcelo Mora, Laredo

Sebastian Godoy, Houston

Jeremiah Johnson, Pearland

Baylor Camp

Alfredo Ramirez III, Laredo

Joshua Ordonez, Fort Worth

Newks

Abena Boateng, Sugar Land

Camille Blecher, Houston

Jasmine Durrant, Coppell

Nike Tennis Camp

Isaac Kim, McKinney

Vance Dick, Dallas