Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida - Youth Sports, Tennis, College Scholarships. Cedar Key, FL

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John Van Ryn Scholarship

The YTF presents each year a scholarship to a deserving person who in some way demonstartes an extraordinary commitment to youth tennis in the State of Florida. The scholarship is named after one of the organization's most generous and significant benefactors, John Van Ryn.

Download the 2012 Scholarship Application HERE.

Mr. Van Ryn (at left and below on the left), who passed away in 1999 in West Palm Beach, Florida, had a remarkable tennis career in the 1920's and 1930's. His 24 doubles matches and 22 wins are highs in U.S. Davis Cup history. He also won multiple U.S., French and Wimbledon doubles championships and was consistently ranked in the U.S. top ten for his singles play. In 1963, Mr. Van Ryn was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. We are most grateful for Mr. Van Ryn's dedication and enthusiasm for youth tennis and honored that he entrusted the YTF to continue his legacy.

-2011-

The Youth Tennis Foundation is proud to name Laura Ospina of Holiday and Michael Beiler of Dunedin as the winners of the 2011 John Van Ryn Scholarship.

Laura was the team captain for East Lake High School’s tennis team and is a freshman at Flagler College. Through the summer, Laura assisted in tennis camps for beginners and prided herself on passing her joy of playing to young players.

C.J. Obartuck, Laura’s high school coach, praised her academic drive, community service record and innate leadership and said she was of indescribable value to the school community and will match and surpass this in all that she does.

“I have been fortunate in being Miss Ospina’s tennis coach during her time at East Lake High School,” said Obartuck, “and can honestly say she has ignited in me alone a newfound confidence in sending young adults into future endeavors that I know will positively shape this world and its future.”

Michael graduated from Dunedin High School and is a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University where he received a partial tennis scholarship. He defended the top position for the Falcons and was named St. Petersburg Times 2011 Player of the Year – quite an achievement in that Michael started tennis late at a late age (10) for tennis players!

Aaron Currin, lead pastor at Michael’s church, praised his dedication to hard work in his passions.

“I have never come across a more upstanding and hard-working young man than Michael Beiler,” said Currin. “His grades, achievements and relationships speak for themselves. I would like to add as his pastor the last four years, that there is no more deserving recipient of any award or scholarship than this young man.”

-2010-

The 2010 Van Ryan Award was presented to Lindsay Hodgdon, a 2010 graduate of Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg. Lindsay will attend St. Petersburg College and study hospitality management. She has also earned a spot on the women’s tennis team.

Lindsay defended the No. 1 singles position on the high school squad three of four years. She started playing tennis at the Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis Club in Treasure Island when she was eight years old and has participated in every season of USTA Junior Team Tennis starting first in the 12-and-under division, then 14s and 18s, as well as playing numerous sanctioned tournaments.

When not playing tennis, Lindsay has served as a camp counselor for Phil Girardi, Director of Tennis at Treasure Bay while juggling a part-time job at a local Outback Steakhouse. Phil describes Lindsay as “a great person on and off the court who has helped other players whenever asked. Phil, who is the St. Petersburg College’s women’s tennis coach, is extremely pleased that Lindsay has earned a position on the team.

-2009-

The YTF proudly presents its John Van Ryn Scholarship to Nateesha Hurtt of Jacksonville. Nateesha is a freshman at Florida Community College at Jacksonville where she is working on her associate degree.

FCCJ women’s tennis coach Mike Stroud recommended Nateesha try out for the team and she is one of six freshmen on the squad. Nateesha’s enthusiasm for tennis and her dedication to improving are combined with her desire to help others learn the game she loves.

Nateesha played high school tennis at Robert E. Lee and defended the No. 1 position two seasons. In the summers, Nateesha participated in clinics at the Boone Park Tennis Complex and helped with beginner and advanced beginners classes.