News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Dec. 10, 2021 – The USTA announced its 2021 awards recipients honored for their dedication and contributions to growing the sport of tennis both locally and nationwide. The six awards were bestowed at the 2021 USTA Celebrating Community Champions virtual ceremony on Dec. 8.

The awardees also received a surprise virtual call from tennis legends to honor the community champions for their contributions to growing the game of tennis. To view the full virtual show, please click here.

“We are proud to celebrate these outstanding individuals and organizations for their ongoing efforts to help grow the game of tennis across the country,” said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “From adaptive tennis and stellar leadership to volunteers and community outreach in under-served communities, each awardee has truly made a difference in their communities through their passion and commitment. We applaud all of you for this well-deserved recognition.”

Click here to download video assets of the award winners, including the surprise call each received from a tennis legend. The 2021 award winners are listed below:

Adaptive Tennis Award – Dream Court (Montgomery, Ala.) Dream Court and its program lead, Jessica Weyreuter, were honored with the 2021 USTA National Adaptive Tennis Community Service Award. The USTA annually bestows this recognition upon a program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication and service in tennis for an adaptive tennis community.

Barbara Williams Service Award – Jodie Adams (Springfield, Mo.) Jodie Adams of Springfield, Mo was honored with the 2021 Barbara Williams Service Awards. Adams has four decades of experience in the tennis industry and has played a crucial role in growing the game in the Missouri Valley section. Established in 2003, the award recognizes a female volunteer who, through her leadership and by example, has encouraged and inspired others to become volunteers and assume leadership roles at the community, section and/or national levers of the USTA.

Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award – Valencia Xu (Livingston, N.J.), and Patrick Toman (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) The Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Awards are presented each year by the USTA and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The 2021 award was bestowed to Valencia Xu and Patrick Toman for exemplifying the finest qualities of sportsmanship in junior tournament play as well as one who maintains the finest traditions of the great sportsmen/women of tennis, past and present.

League Volunteer Award – James (Bud) Spencer (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) USTA Southern section’s James (Bud) Spencer received the 2021 USTA League Volunteer Award for leadership and contributions to the growth and enhancement of USTA Leagues, both in her section and nationally.

NJTL Chapter of the Year Award – Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center (Boston, Mass.) Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center was honored with the 2021 NJTL Chapter of the Year Award. The USTA bestows the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year Award to chapters that positively impact youth through the powerful combination of tennis and education. Supported by the USTA Foundation through financial grants, scholarship opportunities, curricula, technical assistance and training, the NJTL network provides free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 160,000 under-resourced youth nationwide.

Outstanding Featured Facility Award – Barnes Tennis Center (San Diego, Calif.) Barnes Tennis Center received the highest USTA Facility honor as it has been named the 2021 Featured Facility. The Cary Tennis Park is one of the 25 winners in the annual USTA Facility Award program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.