USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, announced today that four high school students from the USTA Southern California Section were awarded either a $6,000 College Educational Scholarship or a $1,000 College Textbook Scholarship. The Foundation has granted 78 high school students a variety of college scholarships this spring, totaling over $400,000.
The honorees were selected from applicants throughout the country on the basis of their commitment to academic success, their local community and their participation in tennis. An objective of USTA Serves is to encourage America’s youth to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.
USTA Serves awards College Educational Scholarships annually to high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in an organized tennis program. The $6,000 scholarship will be awarded over four years to students entering a two or four-year college or university. The following four students are among the 55 scholarship winners from across the nation:
- Priscilla Rodriguez – Silverado High School. Priscilla is the Salutatorian of her graduating high school class and she has received the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. She participates in the National Junior Tennis and Learning network. She will major in Computer Science at the University of Southern California.
- Anna Tatsuno – Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Anna is a volunteer of the Pediatric Services Association. She is a USTA national and sectional-ranked junior tennis player and is the captain of her tennis team. She will major in Biology/Art at the University of California – Irvine.
- Shuhei Shibahara – Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Shuhei is a National Merit Semi-Finalist. He is ranked No. #9 in the USTA Southern California Section and nationally-ranked in the Top 100. He will play on the tennis team for the University of California – Irvine and major in Business.
USTA Serves established a College Textbook Scholarship which provides a one-time award of $1,000 to assist students in purchasing textbooks or supplies. Ahdiv Nathan of Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Magarita is among the 16 scholarship winners selected from across the nation.
USTA Serves is proud to have contributed over $3 million in scholarships since 2001, including over $400,000 in 2011 to help these deserving students across the country begin their college careers," said Deborah Slaner Larkin, Executive Director, 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."