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40 Student Athletes Earn Spots in 25th Annual Leadership Camp

*WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 16, 2009 - *The USTA announced today that 40 student athletes with diverse backgrounds from throughout the country have been selected to attend the 25th annual USTA/NJTL Tennis Leadership Camp in Denver from July 21-27. The camp, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is exclusively for youth ages 12-14 who participate in National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs nationwide.

The participants were selected through a rigorous application process that considered tennis aptitude, sportsmanship, leadership skills and financial need. The all-expense paid week-long camp provides the attendees with valuable tennis instruction plus a rewarding educational and motivational experience. In addition to 2-3 hours of daily tennis training with experienced tennis teachers, participants will volunteer to sort and pack donated products such as clothing, school and medical supplies for shipment to World Vision programs, which reach more than 100 million people in nearly 100 countries.

Additionally, campers will hear from a number of speakers, including USTA Director of Coaching Jose Higueras, a former top-10 player who has coached tennis’ biggest names including Roger Federer and Pete Sampras; Dan Gonzalez, a tennis pro and the son of former tennis great Pancho Gonzalez; and Frank Adams, USTA Intermountain Section President. The young students will also visit popular Denver destinations including the Red Rock Amphitheatre, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Invesco Field.

“For the past 25 years of our Tennis Leadership Camp, the NJTL national staff has created once-in-a-lifetime experiences for a deserving group of underserved youth,” said Barry Ford, Director, Outreach & Advocacy, USTA. “These students, some of whom are getting on an airplane for the very first time, are being afforded the opportunity to see a part of the country that they might otherwise never get to see, and to gain memories and forge relationships with their fellow campers that could last a lifetime. Using tennis as the conduit, we hope this camp will continue to have a profound impact on the growth and development of these and many more students for years to come.”

“This community-driven program intends to fulfill Arthur Ashe’s dream of instilling the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence in America’s youth through the sport of tennis,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “The camp’s emphasis on individual physical and mental development, good nutrition and sportsmanship will help ensure that today’s kids will become tomorrow’s leaders and, perhaps even tomorrow’s champions as well.”

The following is a list of the young leaders selected to attend the 2009 USTA NJTL Tennis Leadership Camp:

USTA/Section Camper First Camper Last Sex Age City State
Intermountain Clayton Alenik Male 12 Las Vegas NV
Intermountain Judith Astorga Female 14 Aurora CO
Southern Sidney Austin Male 12 Daphne AL
Southern Jaslyn Barrow Female 13 Greenville MS
Florida Katherine Bewley Female 14 Royal Palm Beach FL
Northern Todd Biederman Male 14 Maple Grove MN
Eastern Adrienne Blaser Female 14 Brewster NY
New England German Bustamante Male 14 East Boston MA
Southwest Merli Lizbeth Campos Female 14 El Paso TX
Northern California Gilbert Chan Male 12 Daly City CA
Florida Adrienne Clark Female 12 Jacksonville FL
Intermountain Morgan Compton Female 12 Fort Collins CO
Texas Patrick Cook Male 12 Malakoff TX
Intermountain Natanael Cruz Male 14 Denver CO
Southern Juliette Daniel Female 12 Charleston SC
Florida Trenden Davis Male 12 Jacksonville FL
Eastern Jordan Drake Male 13 Fayetteville NC
Middle States Azim Haqq Male 13 Trenton NJ
Mid-Atlantic Tierra Holloway Female 13 Washington D.C.
Missouri Valley Maggie Ingemi Female 12 Springfield MO
New England Emanuel Keiler Male 14 Meriden CT
Hawaii Pacific Calvin Lee Male 12 Honolulu HI
Mid-Atlantic Toni McDonald Female 14 Richmond VA
Northern Courtney McDonald Female 14 Roseville MN
Southern Nailah McKenny Female 12 Hephzibah GA
Mid-Atlantic Ja’Had Mills Male 13 Newport News VA
Northern California Diamond Mims Female 12 San Francisco CA
Intermountain Isaiah Moreno Male 12 Arvada CO
Middle States TJ (Todd) Muldrew Male 14 Wheeling WV
Eastern Brian Murray Male 13 Brooklyn NY
Intermountain Nikki Newell Female 13 Las Vegas NV
Missouri Valley Sierra Pahmahmie Female 12 Mayetta KS
Mid-Atlantic Tania Perez Female 12 Washington DC
Caribbean Yan Carlos Ramos Male 14 Juncos PR
Intermountain Anthony Sandoval Male 13 Denver CO
Northern Sam Selvig Male 13 Apple Valley MN
Eastern Khloe N. Swanson Female 13 Brooklyn NY
Southwest Noa Torres Baker Female 12 Albuquerque NM
Midwest Kerby Vargas Male 13 Milwaukee WI
Midwest Jaleyah Walker Female 13 Chicago IL

Posted on July 16, 2009
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