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The United States Professional Tennis Association is now accepting nominations for its 2012 National Awards Program. As the leader in tennis-teacher education and certification, each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as tennis teachers and as ambassadors using tennis to impact people and communities.

The USPTA is accepting nominations until the July 2 deadline. Recipients will be honored during the annual awards breakfast at the USPTA World Conference Sept. 16 – 21 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif. All Professional-level USPTA members are eligible. The award categories are:

USPTA Stars are members who have dedicated many years to volunteering in grassroots tennis, and through initiatives incorporating multicultural and other aspects, bring the sport and sportsmanship to the players they touch. Their giving spirits have made them stars in their own communities. We may not have heard of the people who receive this award, but their stories are inspiring, and almost all of us know at least one person who deserves a nomination.

The USPTA Industry Excellence Award is given to teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing a tennis business. The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 grant from the Tennis Industry Association and a Tennis Tutor ball machine from Sports Tutor for use in his or her grassroots programs.

The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions.

College Coach of the Year and High School Coach of the Year award recipients are usually selected based on their results as team coaches, however individual coaches may be considered. The Touring Coach of the Year is selected on the basis of his or her work with a playing professional on the ATP tour or the WTA tour and/or touring juniors.

Players who have been the most successful at the USPTA International Championships and/or USPTA national surface tournaments, as well as international, national and sectional competition may apply for the Player of the Year award.The eight categories for this award are: men’s open, women’s open, men’s 35-and-over, women’s 35-and-over,men’s 45-and-over, women’s 45-and-over, and men’s 55-and-over and women’s 55-and-over.

The George Bacso Tester of the Year award recognizes the USPTA tester who does the most to advance certification opportunities and the certification process.

The USPTA Lessons for LifeTM Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money for charities. An individual hosting an event raising the most money will not necessarily receive this award.

The USPTA Tennis Across AmericaTM Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to get people to play tennis. Established in 1990, TAA is the original, free, grassroots lesson program. It also has a multicultural segment that targets various communities and potential players who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. While the award does look at individuals who have held the most free clinics with the greatest number of participants, it also looks at individuals hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event to get people to play the game.

The Tennis – for the health of it!SM Award recognizes those USPTA members who have come up with the most unique event to support Tennis – for the health of it! (an initiative started in 2008 by the USPTA in an effort to bring tennis to everyone and encourage people to get fit through tennis).

Award nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.uspta.com, by calling 800-877-8248 or by sending a request to [email protected].

Founded in 1927, USPTA strives to raise the standards of the tennis profession while promoting greater awareness of the sport. USPTA offers 70 professional benefits to its more than 15,000 members worldwide, including certification and professional development. With more than 300 days of educational opportunities throughout the year, USPTA offers the most comprehensive continuing education program in the tennis industry. For more information, call 800-877-8248 or visit www.uspta.com.