19TH ANNUAL 2017 USTA NJTL ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST
are unique because they offer a variety of on-court programming and also educational and life skill
components designed to enhance a child’s overall development.
Founded in 1969, this growing network of tennis providers share similar values, ideals and goals by
reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play tennis, instilling in
youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence, and by giving all kids the opportunity
to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a lifetime of enjoyment from the sport.
THE QUESTION
In addition to tennis, education and life skills are extremely important to the development of our youth. Which one of the three components above is most important to you, and how will it help you throughout your life?
RULES FOR ENTRY AND DEADLINES
Date:Action:
Mar.20 – Contest begins.
July 3– All hard-copy entries submitted must be received by the NJTL chapter.
July 7– All hard copies due to national office in Orlando by NJTL Chapter leaders and must be
addressed to:
USTA Foundation
Attn: Greg Frias
10000 USTA Blvd
Orlando, FL 32827
July 7– Contest ends, all online submissions must be submitted before 5 p.m. ET
RESOURCES
Before submitting a hard copy or online entry, the NJTL Essay Contest Entry form below must be downloaded and either submitted online or handing in to your NJTL chapter leader.
NJTL Essay Contest Entry Form- English
NJTL Essay Contest Entry Form- Spanish
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY ONLINE
Please submit your 2017 official contest entry form and essay HERE Be sure to provide your email address.
The subject of your entry should be: “2017 NJTL Essay Contest”
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Upload official contest entry form
- Upload essay
For each file uploaded, please name the file in a manner which includes: your Section Name_Age Group_Last Name_First Name (ie. Eastern_Girls1718_Ramirez_Samantha).
Read More about the 2017 USTA NJTL Arthur Ashe Essay Contest
18TH ANNUAL 2016 NJTL ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
The legacy of tennis icon Althea Gibson lives on among talented young players.
A group of 10 youngsters were chosen from a pool of more than 2,800 entrants after being asked to pen an essay about how lessons learned on the tennis court can help development and character off it.
The Arthur Ashe Essay Contest was open to students 18 and younger who participate in National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs across the country.
This year’s essay contest focused on tennis legend and pioneer Althea Gibson and her ability to show unwavering strength and courage in the face of adversity. That enabled her to become a trailblazer in the tennis world as the first African-American Grand Slam and U.S. Championships winner.
This year’s question asked:
“How have your skills in tennis impacted the development of your character and how you address your personal challenges on and off the court?”
The winners were honored at the Yale Club in New York City and invited to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, where they received the VIP status in the President’s Box.
The weekend wraped up with an awards luncheon on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 hosted by USTA Foundation chairman and former world No. 4 James Blake and former New York City mayor and USTA board member David Dinkins. The luncheon was held at the Yale Club, where the essay contest winners received an honorary plaque.
This marked the 18th annual contest hosted by the USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the United States Tennis Association.
“This year’s Arthur Ashe Essay contest winners consist of a talented group of students from some of our most outstanding NJTL programs,” said Dan Faber, USTA Foundation executive director. “We expanded the focus of our essay question and challenged the students to reflect on the great achievements of Althea Gibson. This year’s responses were some of the most phenomenal ones we’ve read as they truly highlighted their individual experiences and personal strengths as a result of the positive impact tennis has had on their lives. We are proud of their hard work.”
In January 2014, the USTA Foundation combined with USTA NJTL, a national network of 500 community-based tennis and education programs serving more than 225,000 youth, to become a fully operational foundation. NJTL has impacted millions of kids throughout the country over the past 47years, making it the largest grass-roots tennis program in the United States.
The 10 winners of the 2016 NJTL Arthur Ashe Essay Contest were selected in the following categories:
Category NJTL
Boys & Girls 10 and Under
Emeric Sery, 10, Washington, D.C. (Washington Tennis and Education Foundation)
Wiltchenie Cadet, 10, Lake Worth, Fla. (Delray Beach Youth Tennis Foundation)
Boys & Girls 11/12
Edderek Cole, 11, Jackson, Miss. (Jackson Community Tennis Project)
Ashley Marin Factor, 11, Portland, Ore. (Portland Tennis and Education)
Boys & Girls 13/14
Miles Ponds, 13, Washington, D.C. (Metropolitan Tennis and Education Group)
Sophia Schutte, 14, Thomaston, N.Y. (New York Junior Tennis and Learning)
Boys & Girls 15/16
Mukasa Ricketts, 16, Dallas (Dallas Tennis Association)
Catherine Thomas, 16, Houston (Houston Tennis Association)
Boys & Girls 17/18
Charles Taylor, 17, Park City, Kan. (McAdams Community Tennis Foundation)
Chloe Henderson, 18, Las Vegas (Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation)
2016 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST
Off the court, he was a social activist taking on issues like racial prejudice, AIDS, apartheid and education. One of his many legacies includes National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL), a network of youth-serving organizations that provide tennis and education for all. His wish was for NJTL to be a resource for kids to develop skills for leadership and academic excellence.
THE QUESTION:
Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and the first black athlete to cross the color line of international tennis at a time when racism and prejudice were widespread in sports and in society . In 1956, she became the first person of color to win a Grand Slam title (the French Open). The following year she won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (precursor of the U.S. Open), then won both again in 1958, and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. In all, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments, including six doubles titles, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Althea Gibson’s ability to show unwavering strength and courage in the face of adversity enabled her to become a trailblazer in the tennis world…
…so it was asked:
How have your skills in tennis impacted the development of your character and how you address your personal challenges on and off the court?
RULES FOR ENTRY AND DEADLINES
Entries, including completed entry form, must be submitted online to the USTA Foundation or mailed/hand-delivered to your local NJTL Chapter by June 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. ET (mail-in entries must be postmarked by June 25, 2016 and received by your local NJTL Chapter no later than July 2, 2016).
Date:
Action:
April. 11
– Contest begins.
July 2
– All hard copy entries submitted must be received by the NJTL chapter.
July 8
– All hard copies due to the national office in White Plains from NJTL chapter leaders
July 10
– Contest ends, all online submissions must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. ET
RESOURCES
2016 Official Contest Entry Form
2015 Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winners
2015 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST NATIONAL WINNERS
THE 17TH ANNUAL ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST IS HELD ANNUALLY BY THE USTA/NJTL.
ARTHUR ASHE WAS AN AMERICAN HERO FIGHTING BATTLES BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT.
HE BROKE BARRIERS IN THE TENNIS WORLD, BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE TO WIN A GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT AND FINISHING HIS CAREER WITH THREE GRAND SLAM TITLES, INCLUDING THE 1968 US OPEN.
OFF THE COURT, HE WAS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST TAKING ON ISSUES LIKE RACIAL PREJUDICE, AIDS, APARTHEID AND EDUCATION. ONE OF HIS MANY LEGACIES INCLUDES NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS AND LEARNING (NJTL), A NETWORK OF YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE TENNIS AND EDUCATION FOR ALL. HIS WISH WAS FOR NJTL TO BE A RESOURCE FOR KIDS TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
THIS YEAR, THE ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST ASKED USTA/NJTL PARTICIPANTS TO EXPLAIN IN 300 WORDS OR LESS “THE QUESTION”:
CHARLIE PASARELL IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS & LEARNING (NJTL). NJTL HAS IMPACTED MILLIONS OF KIDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST 46 YEARS. THE GAME OF TENNIS SERVES AS A MECHANISM TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND BRING PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER. THIS WAS TRUE IN CHARLIE PASARELL’S AND ARTHUR ASHE’S ERA, AND STILL HOLDS TRUE TODAY.
SO IT WAS ASKED:
WHO IS A LOCAL NJTL HERO IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT RESEMBLES WHAT MR. PASARELL HAS DONE THROUGH NJTL?
ALSO THIS YEAR, CONTESTANTS IN THE 15/16 AND 17/18 AGE CATEGORIES WERE ASKED TO INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THEIR LOCAL NJTL HERO AND INCORPORATE AN EXPLANATION OF THE PHOTO AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE AS PART OF HIS OR HER ESSAY.
WINNERS RECEIVED A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY THAT INCLUDED ATTENDING ARTHUR ASHE KIDS’ DAY AT THE U.S. OPEN, ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENT, SEE A BROADWAY SHOW AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL AWARD AT A LUNCHEON HELD IN THEIR HONOR.
CATEGORY NJTL
BOYS & GIRLS 10 AND UNDER
JAY DOSCHER, 10, NORTH WALES, PA. NEW YORK JUNIOR TENNIS AND LEARNING (NYJTL)
KELLY MEJIA SOLARES, 9, DELRAY BEACH, FLA TENNIS PALS
BOYS & GIRLS 11/12
ALFREDO REYES JR., 12, JACKSONVILLE, FLA. MALIVAI WASHINGTON YOUTH FOUNDATION
LINDSEY LUNN, 11, GREENVILLE, MISS. FOUR ACES CTA NJTL
BOYS & GIRLS 13/14
COLSTON STREIT, 14, INDIANAPOLIS, IND. NJTL OF INDIANAPOLIS
MIA OLIVER, 14, DENVER, COLO. EAST SIDE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
BOYS & GIRLS 15/16
CD LONNIE WATKINS, 16, ATLANTA, GA. COACH WINK’S NJTL
CAMILE QUICK, 16, ATLANTA, GA. ATLANTA YOUTH TENNIS & EDUCATION FOUNDATION
BOYS & GIRLS 17/18
CHRISTIAN RUAS, 1, MINNEAPOLIS , MINN. FRED WELLS TENNIS & EDUCATION CENTER
MIKAYLA SMITH, 17, DESOTO, TEX. NJTL OF DALLAS
VIEW ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2015 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDED:
CONTEST RELEASE WAIVER FORM
2015 OFFICIAL CONTEST ENTRY FORM – ENGLISH
2015 OFFICIAL CONTEST ENTRY FORM – SPANISH
The 16th Annual Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest was sponsored annually by the USTA/NJTL. It asks USTA/NJTL participants to explain in 300 words or less, draw a picture or create artwork, why Arthur Ashe is a tennis legend. NJTL participants were asked to write, or draw, your response to the question,“Arthur Ashe used his time and skills to impact others -how have you used your time and skills learned through tennis and educational programming to impact the lives of those around you?”
Winners received a trip to New York City that included attending Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the U.S. Open, attend a professional sporting event, see a Broadway show and receive a special award at a luncheon held in their honor.
Category NJTL
Boys & Girls 10 and Under
Srinath M., 10, New York New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL)
Makda D., 10, California Youth Tennis Advantage
Boys & Girls 11/12
Torianh B., 11, Connecticut Norwalk Grassroots Tennis
Marion R., 12, Minnesota InnerCity Tennis
Boys & Girls 13/14
Daud G., 13, D.C. Leadership Council for Healthy Communities
Ana-Lei K., 13, South Carolina Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association
Boys & Girls 15/16
Roby W., 16, Maryland Prince George’s Tennis and Education Foundation
Lea B., 15, Wyoming University of Wyoming NJTL
Boys & Girls 17/18
Andreas N., 17, New York Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program
Jasmine R., 17, Alabama New Lyons Park Tennis Association
View Additional Information about the 2014 Arthur Ashe Essay Contest
2013 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY & ART CONTEST NATIONAL WINNERS
The 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest is sponsored annually by the USTA/NJTL. It asks USTA/NJTL participants to explain in 300 words or less, draw a picture or create artwork, why Arthur Ashe is a tennis legend. If you are an NJTL participant, you’ll be asked to write, or draw, your response to the question,“If you could follow in Arthur Ashe’s footsteps and ‘give back’ to tennis, what would you do to give back to the game, and how would it impact others?”.
Winners receive a trip to New York City that includes attending Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the U.S. Open, attend a professional sporting event, see a Broadway show and receive a special award at a luncheon held in your honor. Essays and art work must be in English and will not be returned.
Name NJTL Chapter USTA Section
Essay Boys 10U
Derek K. – Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Middle States
Essay Boys 11-12
Andrew C. – Youth Tennis Advantage Northern California
Essay Boys 13-14
Alex E. – InnerCity Tennis Northern
Essay Boys 15-16
Chor L. – Rodney Street Tennis & Tutoring Association Middle States
Essay Boys 17-18
Cody S. – Dallas Tennis Association Texas
Essay Girls 10U
Jada R. – Genisis School Missouri Valley
Essay Girls 11-12
Destiny S. – Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program Eastern
Essay Girls 13-14
Lily C. – Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation Midwest
Essay Girls 15-16
Grace T. – NYJTL Eastern
Essay Girls 17-18
Lalla D. – Harlm Junior Tennis and Education Porgram Eastern
View Additional Information about the 2013 Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest
2012 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY & ART CONTEST NATIONAL WINNERS
The 14th Annual Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest is sponsored annually by the USTA/NJTL. It asks USTA/NJTL participants to explain in 300 words or less, draw a picture or create artwork, why Arthur Ashe is a tennis legend.If you are an NJTL participant, you’ll be asked to write, or draw, your response to the question,
“If Arthur Ashe were alive today, what do you think would give him hope?“.
Winners receive a trip to New York City that includes attending Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the U.S. Open, attend a professional sporting event, see a Broadway show and receive a special award at a luncheon held in your honor. Essays and art work must be in English and will not be returned.
Contest entry period began July 10, 2011 and ended at 5:00 PM ET on June 1, 2012.
Essay Winners:
Rebecca Richey – Girls 10 and Under
Brandon Torres – Boys 10 and Under
Michaela Peterson – Girls 11 & 12
Timothy Bryant, Jr. – Boys 11 & 12
Halle Brazda – Girls 13 & 14
Jared Lees – Boys 13 & 14
Azani Fitten – Girls 15 & 16
Matthew Wassman – Boys 15 & 16
Lindsey Wambles – Girls 17 & 18
Tyler Haanen – Boys 17 & 18
Art Winners:
Angelia Herrera – Girls 10 and Under
Jasmine Standard – Girls 11 & 12
Omar Shalabi – Boys 10 and Under
Robert Shi – Boys 11 & 12
View Additional Information about the 2012 Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest
2011 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY & ART CONTEST NATIONAL WINNERS
Essay Winners:Iasiah Sena – Girls 10 and Under
Shouri Akarapu – Boys 10 and Under
Martina Lam – Girls 11 & 12
Desire Johnson – Boys 11 & 12
Ashley Duong – Girls 13 & 14
Sidak Grewal – Boys 13 & 14
Naomi Dominguez – Girls 15 & 16
Benjamin Bui – Boys 15 & 16
Kari Burt – Girls 17 & 18
Kristofer Yee – Boys 17 & 18
Art Winners:
Shea Walk – Girls 10 and Under
Takuma Walter – Boys 10 and Under
Clara Kim – Girls 11 & 12
Caleb Boyd – Boys 11 & 12
To enter, children, 18 or younger, had to write an essay in 300 words or less, or draw a picture or create artwork in response to the following question, “Why do you think Arthur Ashe created the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network and how has your NJTL Chapter impacted your life?”. A USTA sub-committee selected the winning essays based on knowledge of Arthur Ashe, message clarity, and writing style.
2010 ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY & ART CONTEST NATIONAL WINNERS
Name – Category – Section NJTL Chapter:Paige Moore Girls 10 & Under Mid-Atlantic Southeast Tennis & Learning Center
Daniel Stewart Boys 10 & Under Southern Birmingham Area Tennis Association
Isis Gill-Reid Girls 11 & 12 Eastern NYJTL
Kieran Walsh Boys 11 & 12 Northern St. Paul Urban Tennis Program
Allyce Harrison Girls 13 & 14 Missouri Valley McAdams Community Tennis Foundation
Varun Medhal Boys 13 & 14 Pacific Northwest Kids N’ Tennis, Inc.
Vietmy Tran Girls 15 & 16 Northern California Youth Tennis Advantage
Cody Stewert Boys 15 & 16 Texas Dallas Tennis Association
Grace Trimble Girls 17 & 18 Southern LTC Smart Shots
Francis Cuenca Boys 17 & 18 Northern California NorCal/NJTL Training Camp
To enter, children, 18 or younger, had to write an essay in 300 words or less in response to the following question, “Some say that winning the 1968 US Open as the first African American male was Arthur Ashe’s greatest accomplishment. What do you think?” A USTA sub-committee selected the winning essays based on knowledge of Arthur Ashe, message clarity, and writing style.
DID YOU KNOW?
