News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, today announced that it will grant 78 high school students a variety of college scholarships totaling over $400,000.

One objective of USTA Serves is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens. Each year, USTA Serves awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated high academic achievement, and require financial assistance for college matriculation.

“USTA Serves is proud to help these deserving students across the country begin their college careers,” said Mary Carillo, President, USTA Serves. “Each year we are inspired by the students’ ability to balance outstanding academic achievements with community service and an involvement in tennis. It is our hope and firm belief that these young men and women will continue to positively impact the sport of tennis and the world at large throughout their lives.”

The following scholarships will be granted to high school seniors:

Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award (one $15,000 award)

Awarded to one high school senior who has excelled academically, demonstrated achievements in leadership, and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program, the Marian Wood Baird Scholarship was created by the Baird family and named in honor of the late Marian Wood Baird, who had been recognized by the USTA for over 40 years of volunteer service. The 2011 recipient is St. Charles East High School senior Claire Hafner of St. Charles, IL.

Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (two students each receive $10,000 award)

The Dwight Mosley Scholarship is presented to two USTA ranked high school seniors of ethnically-diverse heritages who have excelled academically and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program. This scholarship was named in memory of Dwight A. Mosley, the first African-American elected to the USTA Board of Directors. It was created with input from the USTA Multicultural Participation Committee and supports the Level One Priority of Diversity within the USTA. The 2011 recipients are home-schooled senior Tyler McGinnis of Washington, D.C. and Half Hollow Hills High School senior Christopher Hunter of Melville, NY.

Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (two students each receive $7,500 award)

The Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship is granted to two high school seniors who have performed with distinction, and actively participated in extracurricular activities, community service, and an organized tennis program. The award is named for Dwight Filley Davis, who began playing tennis at the age of 15 in 1894. In 1900, the year he graduated from college, Davis purchased a 217-troy ounce silver bowl as a prize for an international lawn tennis competition, marking the birth of the Davis Cup. Davis became president of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association in 1923. His grandson, Dwight F. Davis, III, created the scholarship to honor his grandfather’s achievements and contributions to tennis. The 2011 recipients are home-schooled senior Grace Trimble of Winchester, KY and University of Detroit Jesuit High School senior Christopher Barnes of Royal Oak, MI.

Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (two students receive $2,500 award)

The Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship is bestowed upon two high school seniors, one male and one female, who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service, played tennis in an organized program and who reside in an economically disadvantaged community. This scholarship is named in memory of Eve Kraft of Princeton, N.J., a tennis pioneer who introduced thousands of young people to tennis, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The 2011 recipients are Fife High School senior Rachel Knight of Puyallup, WA, and Los Alamitos senior Brandon Schlack of Long Beach, CA.

USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (55 students each receive $6,000 award)

USTA Serves awards college education scholarships annually to high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in an organized tennis program.

USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (16 Students each receive $1,000)

USTA Serves has established a college textbook scholarship which provides a one-time award to assist students in purchasing textbooks or supplies.

USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA, provides financial support for disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities through tennis and education programs designed to improve health, build character, teach life skills and motivate students to strive for academic excellence. For more information on USTA Serves, visit usta.com/foundation.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90-plus Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page facebook.com/usta or follow @usta on Twitter.