Recipient of the Paul Scarpa Scholarship

Hometown: Greenville, SC

"High School: Wade Hampton High School

College: Citadel

"Major/Career Path: N/A

Essay Excerpt: Tennis is an individual sport, but tennis has created a brotherhood for me. "¦ Tennis has taught me in life there are good days and there are some days that just do not go your way, but if you wake up every day with the sole goal of being better than yesterday then you will succeed.

Activities & Awards:

• Varsity Tennis Team Captain
• All Region Award
• United Ministries Volunteer
• Junior Team Tennis Sportsmanship award
• Most Valuable Player

Favorite Tennis Player: My favorite tennis is Novak Djokovic because his game is the most complete out of anyone. I love the way he returns big serves and plays with a fiery passion every time he steps on the court.

Advice to Younger Players: My life advice for younger junior players is to be patient, embrace every time you step out on the court and enjoy it.

Recipient of the Mildred F. Southern Academic Excellence Award

Hometown: Lake Charles, LA

High School: M Barbe High School

College: Boston University

Major/Career Path: Public Health

Essay Excerpt: I knew I had to change my unhealthy patterns of eating if I wanted to get back on top. So that is what I did-I not only completely changed my diet but also started working out in my free time. As I learned more about how the food I ate affected my body, I started to become in love with nutrition and the physiology of the human body.

Activities & Awards:

• Varsity Tennis
• # 1 Ranked Junior in Louisiana
• National Honor Society
• Student Council
• Key Club

Favorite Tennis Player: My favorite tennis player is Rafael Nadal, simply because there is no other player who embodies such a love for the sport. Every match, every single point, he gives his all, leaving everything on the court. I admire his fight and passion for the game so much as I try to bring that same kind of intensity into my own matches. His work ethic after all these years of greatness with so many achievements is so inspiring to me. He's taught me that a champion is made not only through matches won on the court, but through tenacity and sportsmanship as well.

Advice to Younger Players: My advice to younger junior players would simply be to trust and enjoy the entire process. Do not take for granted all the fun you are having on court hitting with your friends, or the family memories made in traveling to tournaments in new places. Know that your hard work will pay off one day, even if it comes later rather than sooner. I personally did not experience the peak of my junior tennis career until being sixteen years old"¦ eight years after I started playing tournaments. This entire journey is a marathon, not a sprint, so try to soak up every magical moment on the court before suddenly your junior career comes to its conclusion, and you are wishing you could do it all again.

Recipient of the Mildred F. Southern Academic Excellence Award

Hometown: Memphis, TN

High School: White Station High School

College: University of Florida

Major Area of Study: Neuroscience

Essay Excerpt: I picked up my first racket when I was seven years and ever since then, I have not been able to put it down. I always strive to be the best I can be and enjoy the competitive nature of the sport. I also have learned many things from tennis such as time management, wisdom, and determination. I am excited to take all these skills and everything else that I have learned from this sport to the next level. I will continue my educational and tennis career at the University of Florida majoring in Neuroscience.

Activities and Awards

Eagle Scout

HS Tennis Team Captain

2011 Arthur Ashe Art Contest Winner

2017 Tennessee State Jr. Qualifying Doubles Champion

2018-2019 Commercial Appeal Player of the Year

2018 TSSAA Large Class Tennis Singles State Champion

High School Orchestra

Tennis Memphis NJTL

Motto or Quote: "If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle." - Morgan Freeman

Favorite Tennis Memory: My favorite memory was last year when our team won our sectional match with only 3 out of the 6 varsity players showing up. This resulted in our team automatically defaulting 3 matches in a format where the first team to win 4 matches wins. We ended up clutching the victory with the score of 4-3. What is amazing about this is that every match was close and competitive and our number 6 player who was a freshman had to be moved up to our number 3 spot.

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Hometown: Columbus, GA

High School: Hardaway High School

College: Berry College

Major Area of Study: Kinesiology, Exercise Science, and Athletic Training

Essay Excerpt: Out of all the communities that I am a part of, the tennis community holds the most importance to me. Throughout the years, I have learned a lot from tennis such as discipline, responsibility, sportsmanship, and dedication. The coaches and mentors I have had along the way, have helped me on the tennis court and in the classroom. With their help I was able to excel on the tennis court and maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout high school. Tennis has shown me the importance of physical education in a person's life. With this being said, I am excited to be attending Berry College to purse a degree in Kinesiology, and to play tennis.

Activities and Awards

CORTA (Columbus Regional Tennis Association) Volunteer

Teen Council

National Honor Society

High School Choir

Highlands Church Outreach Volunteer

Beta Club Member

National English Honor Society Member

Principal's Honor Roll

Motto or Quote: "You can't win them all, but you sure can try." - Connie Mack

Favorite Tennis Memory: Meeting my college teammates for the first time

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Hometown: Cary, NC

High School: Crossroads Flex High School

College: North Carolina A&T

Major Area of Study: English-Creative Writing

Essay Excerpt: This sport requires grace and one skill I had to learn, forgiveness. Tennis is a constant game of momentum shifts, and when the momentum was not in my favor or mistakes set in, I would blame myself. It made me question my competence, but I had to learn that mistakes do not define who you are. Once I realized this, my whole perspective change and I was able to learn more than just grace and forgiveness from tennis. I gained time-management skills, confidence, communication skills, and even improved my physical fitness. I am grateful for what it has taught me. I will continue to carry these skills and lessons with me, as I will play tennis and purse my degree in English-Creative Writing at North Carolina A&T.

Activities and Award

Ranked in the Top 50 in North Carolina

Captain of Junior Team Tennis

National Honor Society Member

DECA- Public Relations Chair

NSHSS Member

2019 Kappa Alpha Psi Scholar

Wake County Public Schools Honor

Young Adult Author

Motto or Quote: Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." - Oprah Winfrey

Favorite Tennis Memory: When I joined the Ebony Racquet Club Advanced junior tennis league, I was able to meet peers that enjoyed the game just as much as I do. I remember one tournament we travelled to Georgia to compete in the sectionals JTT tournament. That weekend was filled with laughter, competition and intensity. We played doubles on the court and relaxed afterwards by sharing embarrassing stories and past experiences. That weekend was the first time I truly was able to experience the team/family environment that can be created within the game of tennis.

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Nyesha Nealon

Hometown: Greenville, MS

High School: Greenville High School

College: Jackson State University

Major Area of Study: Accounting or Nursing

Essay Excerpt: Tennis and education has been important in the development of the person I am today. I have been a USTA and NJTL member for the past six years. I have won the Arthur Ashe Tennis Essay Contest twice and attended the NJTL Leadership Camp for two years. Tennis has exposed me to new experiences such as traveling, watching professional tennis matches, and meeting professional tennis player, Frances Tiafoe. Tennis has also taught me skills such as being steadfast, enhanced my critical thinking, and to never give up. These are skills that I will not only continue to use on the tennis court, but also in my educational ventures. Tennis and education are very important to me, as I will continue my academic and tennis career at Hines Community College.

Activities and Awards

Cross-County Team

Beta Club

Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winner, 2014 & 2019

EMT Program

Keep Greenville Clean

Teenette Art and Civic Club

USTA Junior Team Tennis

Greenville NJTL

Motto or Quote: "What's the world for you, if you can't make it up the way you want it." - Toni Morrison

Favorite Tennis Memory: Attending the USTA Southern Leadership Camp at Ole Miss

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Myesha Nealon

Hometown: Greenville, MS

High School: Greenville High School

College: Jackson State University

Major Area of Study: Biomedical Engineering

Essay Excerpt: Playing tennis and maintaining good grades have opened-up many opportunities for me to explore the world. I have been a NJTL member for over five years and have attended the NJTL Leadership Camp for the past two years. I have won the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest, been named Most Valuable Player on my high school team over the past three years, and I help assist younger inspiring tennis players in my community. I have reached my future goal of being able to pursue my degree in Biomedical Engineering and tennis career at Hinds Community College.

Activities and Awards

Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winner 2015

Rookie of the Year 2016

Most Valuable Player, 2017 & 2019

Technology Student Association-Vice President

100 Black Men Volunteer Hostess

Teenette Leadership Group

USTA Junior Team Tennis

Greenville NJTL

Motto or Quote: "We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist." ~James Baldwin

Favorite Tennis Memory: My favorite tennis memory is the time I advanced to play at the state level. The spring of my 10th grade year was the first time that I got the chance to advance to state competition. I was very excited because I knew that passing district meant that I was making progress. Unfortunately, I lost in the first round at the state competition, but I was so grateful to have made it to that moment. I made my teammates and coaches very proud. This will always be a tennis memory that I will never forget.

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Hometown: Greer, SC

High School: Riverside High School

College: Duke University

Major Area of Study: Computer Science/Engineering or Electrical Engineering

Essay Excerpt: Tennis has always been a learning experience for me, just like being in the classroom. I took away skills like how to handle certain situations, how to handle being under pressure, team building skills, and many more. School has also provided me with the knowledge that will ultimately help me achieve my goals. My sister has Down's Syndrome and because of it, it has created one of my biggest goals. This goal is to integrate electronic devices with artificial intelligence technology into the hands of people with disabilities to help them be less dependent. Having the opportunity to play tennis and accomplish my biggest goal is important to me, and I am excited that I will be able to do both at Duke University.

Activities and Awards

#1 Player & Captain on HS Tennis Team

Mu Alpha Theta- President

National Honor Society

Beta Club

French Honor Society

2020 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

AP Scholar with Distinction Award

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award

Motto or Quote: "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."- George S. Patton

Favorite Tennis Memory: My favorite tennis memory occurred when I won the Boys 14 doubles title at the SC state qualifier tournament after saving match points in the final.

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Cherisse Trapp

Hometown: Columbia, SC

High School: Fairfield Central High

College: University of South Carolina

Major Area of Study: Computer Science

Essay Excerpt: I started playing tennis at a late age, but as soon as I started, I fell in love with the sport. It was very challenging at first, but I never would I have though I would have been able to accomplish what have accomplished while playing this sport. Tennis taught me how to believe in myself and that hard work pays off. I have worked so hard over the past 4 years, as I played number one for 3 years and I became captain of the team my senior year. I am happy to say that I will pursing a degree in Computer Science and playing tennis at the University of South Carolina.

Activities and Awards

All-Region HS Tennis

HS Tennis Team-MVP

HS Tennis Team Captain

FBLA

Beta Club

National Honor Society

Student Body Government

Griffin Ambassador

Motto or Quote: "Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."- John Wooden

Favorite Tennis Memory: When playing high school tennis there was this girl I had to play from another school, and she was really good. I played her three times that season, and I lost all three times. This just made me work harder, so then I signed up for a tournament where I was assigned to play her. I do not know what went on in my body, but I felt different this day. I went out there confident and with the knowledge that I was going to beat her, and I did. This day made me realize that if you put in hard work you can achieve greatness!

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