News

The United States Professional Tennis Association is very excited to announce that John Craig of Santa Ana, Calif., is the grand-prize winner of the association’s personal Web site contest. Craig is a Pro 1 and six-year member. His Web site stood out with his extensive use of all the site features, well-placed and creative use of graphics and photos and updated information on programs and activities for his students. Overall, his site was very clean, well-organized and a great resource. As the grand-prize winner, Craig receives

Nike products from USPTA endorsee Fromuth. To view Craig’s site, visit johnscraig.usptapro.com. The contest was judged in August and the winner was announced at the USPTA’s annual awards breakfast at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis from Sept. 21-26 at the Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa on Marco Island, Fla.

The USPTA also named three runners-up in the contest. Christie Borne, a Pro 2 and wheelchair certified member for 12 years, from Tomball, Texas, has a personal Web site with great content and resources for viewers and incorporates photos and technology well. To view Borne’s site, visit christieborne.usptapro.com. Elliott Law, a Pro 1 and member for seven years, is from Los Angeles. Law’s site is very clean and has an excellent layout. To see Law’s site, visit elliottlaw.usptapro.com. Craig Willeford of Sherman, Texas, is a Pro 1 and has been a member for 13 years. Willeford incorporates the use of technology and several site features to create a very useful site. Visit craigwilleford.usptapro.com to view Willeford’s site.

The Web sites were judged using the following criteria: proper use of technology, use of all site features, content and use of graphics and photos. Each category was judged on a scale from 1 point to 5 points, with 5 points representing the best score for meeting the criteria of a specific category. The USPTA would like to thank all those who entered. The high quality of entries made this contest difficult to judge.

The USPTA provides the personal Web sites as a member benefit so that all members have the opportunity to promote themselves by reaping the benefits of the Internet and its vast communication capabilities, so they can use it to increase their channels of promotion and interaction with potential and existing students.

Each site has a home page that can be personalized as the USPTA teaching professional sees fit. Not only that, but each personal Web site has a biography and facility page, so visitors can learn more about the teaching professional and where he or she teaches. It does not stop there; members have pages for events, lesson programs, news and tips. There is also a page that lets members upload up to 15 images and a company logo that can be placed on any page on the Web site. To find a USPTA teaching professional and visit one of their Web sites, go to usptafindapro.com, click Find-a-Pro under players and enter the appropriate search criteria.