The Midwest Youth Tennis & Education Foundation is excited to announce it has changed its name to the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation.  Founded in 1992 as the charitable arm of the USTA/Midwest Section, the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation is expanding its mission and reach.  

The USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation will spend 2016 finalizing a new logo, mission and vision for the future in preparation to service specific adult populations which include Adaptive Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis, and Wounded Warriors beginning in 2017.

During this transition, the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation is excited to award the first Anne Krupp Memorial Scholarship to one or more players of any age in 2016 who need additional training or assistance with travel to participate in Adaptive Tennis, Special Olympics, or Wheelchair Tennis.

Over the years, the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation has been supporting communities, programs and individuals to provide greater tennis and educational opportunities for youth through grants and scholarships as well as other funded initiatives. 

The USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation is excited to continue making a difference in the lives of many youth across the USTA/Midwest Section as well as various adult populations with its expanded mission.

AMOUNT RAISED AS OF NOVEMBER 30 – $721

The CrossCourt Youth Tennis program was started in 2009 with the goal of promoting fitness and healthy lifestyle choices through tennis. Using courts at Martin Luther King Park and Mackay Jaycee Park, the program has reached over 300 youth in the community. The program continues to grow, and although it uses tennis to educate youth and their families on the importance of exercise, it also focuses on helping participants build confidence while teaching the principles of good sportsmanship.

CrossCourt Youth Tennis hopes to reach 400-500 youth in the inner city and surrounding areas of Grand Rapids. Additional funds will be used to help secure new equipment and transportation for participants. Money also will be used for marketing the program and providing scholarships to deserving youth in the community.

Each year the Midwest Youth Tennis & Education Foundation (MYTEF) awards scholarships to high school seniors who are in need of financial assistance to further their college educational pursuits. MYTEF is excited to award six scholarships this year including the inaugural Richard Bradley Memorial Scholarship.

John Armstrong – Carmel, Indiana – Tim & Tom Gullikson Scholarship Armstrong has played varsity tennis all four years at Carmel High School. He is a team co-captain, IHSAA Boys’ Tennis Team state finalist last fall, and was named to the All-Conference team. In addition to playing varsity high school tennis, Armstrong participates in the USTA Junior Team Tennis program in his community and USTA/Midwest tournaments throughout the Midwest.

Off the tennis court, Armstrong won the DECA (student centered organization for those in marketing education classes) District First Place competition this past January. Armstrong is a member of the National Honor Society, and named Academic All State and All District. Armstrong is involved with the Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council, Carmel Lions Club, and Boy Scouts. He plans to study Geosciences and play collegiate tennis when he attends Denison University in Granville, Ohio, this coming fall.

Morgane Flournoy – Grosse Pointe, Michigan – Tim & Tom Gullikson Scholarship

Flournoy has played varsity tennis all four years at Grosse Pointe South High School. She was her team’s Most Valuable Player in 2014, named Conference All Team and Honorable Mention All State. In addition to playing varsity high school tennis, Flournoy participates in the USTA Junior Team Tennis program in her community and USTA/Midwest tournaments throughout the Midwest.

Off the tennis court, Flournoy received AP Scholar with Distinction honors. She is a member of the French Honors Society, French Culture Club, Key Service Club, and Literary Magazine Club. Flournoy plans to double major in International Studies and French at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, this coming fall. She will also play collegiate tennis at Vassar College.

Matthew Brumbaugh – West Milton, Ohio – Hooked on Tennis Scholarship

Brumbaugh has played varsity tennis all four years at Milton Union High School. Brumbaugh was named his team’s Most Valuable Player for three years, and named All State. In addition to playing varsity high school tennis, Brumbaugh also competes in USTA tournaments, and participates in a USTA Junior Team Tennis program in his local community.

Off the tennis court, Brumbaugh has been involved in Show Choir, High School Musical, and a church youth group. A two-sport athlete, he also played three years of varsity basketball during high school. Brumbaugh has also served as an instructor with local summer tennis camps. He plans to major in Pre-Medicine while attending Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, this coming fall.

Alexis Allen – Anderson, Indiana – Hooked on Tennis Scholarship

Allen is a native of Anderson, Ind., and has played varsity tennis all four years at Franklin Lapel High School. She has been a team captain for two years, and was named All Conference, All District, and All State Honorable Mention. In addition to playing varsity high school tennis, Allen competes in USTA tournaments, and participates in a USTA Junior Team Tennis program in her local community.

Allen is a member of the National Honor Society at her high school. Allen’s activities outside of tennis include volunteering at a local food pantry, and involvement with a local youth ministry. She plans to attend Huntington University in Huntington, Ind., this coming fall majoring in Pre-Law concentrating on a double major in History and Political Science. Allen also plans to play collegiate tennis at Huntington University.

Marissa Klein – Evansville, Indiana – Rick Van Horn Scholarship

Klein has played tennis in a USTA Junior Team Tennis program in her community as well as various USTA/Midwest tournaments throughout the Midwest. She has given back to tennis by volunteering as the Bosser & Harrison Middle School Girls’ Tennis Coach for the past three seasons. Klein was named the 2014 Evansville Courier & Press Silver Star Student.

Klein has volunteered in the community with various tennis fundraisers, at a local food co-op, and with local church activities. Klein plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ind., in the fall, and major in Business Management or Sports Management. She also plans to play collegiate tennis at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Cameron Raglin – Columbus, Ohio – Richard Bradley Memorial Scholarship

Raglin is a native from Columbus, Ohio, and has played varsity tennis all four years at Reynoldsburg High School. In addition to playing varsity high school tennis, Raglin also competes in USTA/Midwest tournaments throughout the Midwest.

Off the tennis court, Raglin is a member of the National Honor Society. He was named a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. Raglin’s extracurricular activities in high school include the Robotics Club. A two-sport athlete, Raglin also plays soccer at a local indoor club. Raglin has volunteered with a local Community Tennis Association which provides tennis programs to youth players, and volunteers at a local recreation center. He plans to major in Bio-Medical Engineering while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, this coming fall.

We appreciate the $2,500 grant we received, which enabled us to purchase equipment, pay high school coaches, and buy necessary supplies. We offered a seven-week after-school intramural tennis program for sixth graders at six Ann Arbor Public Middle Schools. We surpassed our goal of 150 participants, reaching 190 students in total. The program concluded with an all-school tournament. Most students were beginners and learned tennis for the first time. Many have mentioned they’re now asking for a tennis racquet for their next birthday so they can continue playing with their friends.

“We appreciate the $2,500 grant we received which was used to purchase equipment, pay high school coaches, and buy necessary supplies. We offered a seven week after school intramural tennis program for sixth graders at six Ann Arbor Public Middle Schools. We surpassed our goal of 150 participants as our total number of youth was 190 students. We concluded the program with an all-school tournament. Most of our students were beginners and introduced to the sport of tennis for the first time. Many students have told us they are asking for a tennis racquet for their next birthday present so they can continue playing with their friends.”

Ann Arbor Area Community Tennis Association

“Our organization received a $3,000 grant which enabled us to hire a program director and adequate staff to provide a high quality tennis program for our participants. Our tennis program takes place five days a week as part of the Chicago Park District summer day camp activities, and 300 children were introduced to tennis. We also collaborated with the Chicago Park District, and the objective of the program was to implement a new program to improve the quality of tennis in the parks by providing certified junior instructors. Fifteen of our teens who had been program participants went through the Professional Tennis Registry certified training curriculum.”