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USTA names award recipients

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.— The USTA announced today the eight award winners who were honored during the USTATennis Development Workshop (TDW), Nov. 1-3, 2013 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown in Denver. The honorees were recognized in a variety of categories for their dedication to growing the game. This year’s honorees are:

Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award

The USTA Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award was established in 2003. To qualify for a program award, the program must have been in existence for a minimum of three consecutive years and be either a registered USTA Adaptive Tennis program or have a USTA Adaptive Tennis affiliation. To qualify for an individual award, the recipient must have worked with an Adaptive Tennis program for a minimum of three consecutive years. The USTA bestows this recognition upon a program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication and service in tennis for an adaptive tennis community. This year’s winner is: Omaha Tennis Buddies, Omaha, Neb.

Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award

The USTA bestows the Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award upon individuals who perpetuate Kraft’s selfless mission to bring the sport of tennis to everyone who wants to play. Eve F. Kraft was a tennis pioneer whose ability to touch people’s lives exceeded the boundaries of the tennis court. As a teacher, coach, author, USTA staff member and volunteer, Kraft was a lifelong champion of recreational tennis in the United States until her death in 1999. She introduced thousands of young people to tennis, particularly in disadvantaged communities. This year’s winner is: Celia Rehm, Jacksonville, Fla.

Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer of the Year

The USTA bestows the Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer of the Year Award upon an individual who positively influences children’s lives and substantially impacts their community. The award is named after Janet Louer, who was instrumental in the development of junior tennis during her lifetime. This year’s winner is: Heidi Stryker, Irvine, Calif.

National Community Tennis Association of the Year

The Community Tennis Association of the Year Award honors a CTA for outstanding service in growing and developing the sport of tennis in its community. The award recipient is selected from 17 nominees, one from each of the USTA sections, by a panel of USTA Community Tennis Association Committee members. This year’s winner is: Savannah Area Tennis Association, Savanna, Ga.

National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapters of the Year

The USTA bestows the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapters of the Year Awards to chapters and programs at three different budget levels to reward those organizations that are able to do more with less. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, the USTA/National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network is a nation-wide group of more than 600 non-profit youth development organizations that provide free or low cost tennis, education and life skills programming to more than 250,000 children each year making it one of the USTA’s largest community-based offerings. This year’s winners are:

• A’s & Aces ($500k and over), New Orleans
• Prince George’s Tennis & Education Foundation ($50k-500k), Prince George County, Md.
• Olivencia Tennis(less than $50k), San Sebastian, Puerto Rico

Trainer of the Year

The Trainer of the Year Award recognizes an individual from our cadre of trainers who promotes the growth of tennis through exemplary on-court training, assisting the USTA and its sections with the direction of this program. The award recipients design and deliver presentations at national conferences such as the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, the PTR Symposium and the USPTA World Conference. This year’s winner is: Bill Phillips, Lafayette, La.

Posted on November 5, 2013
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