USTA’s Champions of Character

USTA NorCal Uses Four Scholarships To Reward Students Of The Game

Located in Alameda, the United States Tennis Association, Northern California Section is a not-for-profit volunteer-based organization with approximately 34,000 adult members, 16,000 junior members and over 300 organization members. USTA Northern California is one of the 17 sections of the USTA, the governing body of tennis in America.

As one of the larger geographic sections, USTA NorCal has been promoting, servicing, and administering tennis programs since 1953. With our volunteer Board of Directors, a staff of over 35 members, and hundreds of volunteers, USTA NorCal is devoted to promoting and developing the growth of tennis as an inclusive and inviting lifetime activity in Northern California and Northwest Nevada.

Part of that promotion and development includes the annual Champions of Character Scholarships. These four scholarships are designed to support and encourage multicultural tennis participation among high school students entering college. 

Even though applicants must be tennis players, the scholarships are awarded based on the merit of the character of the applicant, and how they embody and connect with the scholarship’s namesake. The review committee looks at the following criteria.

>> Academic Merit

>> Written Narrative

>> Financial Need

>> Unusual Force of Character — X-Factor

>> Community Service Leadership

USTA NorCal began awarding these scholarships over two decades ago, making a difference in the lives for many our youth.

“There are more students of colors playing, but having financial help like this scholarship will definitely facilitate making tennis and higher education more possible for them,” said Kindness Nwakudu of Oakland, the 2013 Althea Gibson Scholarship recipient.

The four different college scholarships are:

ARTHUR ASHE SCHOLARSHIP (Value: $2,000/year; Open to: All): In 1994, the section enacted in perpetuity the Diversity Committee Arthur Ashe College Scholarship in memory of the valuable contributions Arthur Ashe made to tennis and the world at large.

MICHAEL CHANG SCHOLARSHIP (Value: $2,000/year;  Open to: Asian-American applicants): In 2003, USTA NorCal enacted the Diversity Committee Michael Chang College Scholarship in honor of the valuable contributions Michael Chang has made to tennis for his play and his sportsmanship.

PANCHO GONZALEZ SCHOLARSHIP (Value: $2,000/year; Open to: Hispanic applicants): In 2005, USTA NorCal enacted the Diversity Committee Pancho Gonzalez College Scholarship in honor of the valuable contributions Pancho Gonzalez made to tennis for his play and his sportsmanship. As the only Latino player of his time, Pancho Gonzalez experienced great adversity and obstacles in his life. It could be argued that this helped his tennis career.

ALTHEA GIBSON SCHOLARSHIP (Value: $2,000/year; Open to: African American applicants): In 2007, USTA NorCal enacted the Diversity Committee Althea Gibson College Scholarship in honor of the valuable contributions Althea Gibson made to tennis, as well as in honor of her memory, life, and achievements of this exceptional pioneer who paved the way for millions who followed.

The deadline to apply is April 14, 2017.  The application, list of requirements, past recipient spotlights, and much more can be found at www.norcal.usta.com/scholarships. 

“I wasn’t very outgoing and had no self-confidence,” 2015 Michael Chang Scholarship recipient Taylor Chan said. “But, like Michael Chang said: ‘You know, I feel like if I don’t change something, then the results maybe are going to continue the way they have. That for me is not something I want to really be a part of.’ I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life standing in the corner. I wanted to stand out.”

— All photos and copy provided by USTA NorCal