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Junior Team Tennis Project--The "Kelley" Awards
Each year the YTF Junior Team Tennis Scholarship Award program will award a minimum of four $500 scholarships
that are chosen by our board from candidates submitting Scholarship applications. (The application can be found
on the website HERE.) The application may be submitted starting
May 1st of each year and the winners will be announced on July 1st.(eliminate rest of sentence). The purpose of this
program is to help those children who show promise, ability and desire to receive the instruction necessary to
improve their games. Junior Team Tennis involves thousands of youngsters from around the state. The recipients
can use the $500 for any kind of tennis instruction they choose including camps and private lessons (eliminate
travel, etc). The checks are made out to the tennis instructors or the local tennis organization, not the winners.
We have kept the process as simple as possible to make this flow as smoothly as possible. The first winners were
picked in 2006.
In 2007, the board voted to rename the project The "Kelley" Awards in honor and recognition of it's past president,
Pierce Kelley. The concept of team tennis has always been near and dear to Pierce's heart. In 1976, Pierce initiated
through the YTF the first team tennis program in the State of Florida that was later picked-up and administered by the
FTA. The program continues to thrive today due to Pierce's leadership, passion and efforts that started some 30 years
ago. As such, the board thought it only fitting that the Kelley name be associated in perpetuity with junior team tennis.
Download the 2012 Scholarship Application HERE.
-2011-
The Youth Tennis Foundation is proud to announce the 2010 winners of the Kelley Scholarships. The winners of the six
$500 2011 Kelley Scholarships have been announced: Jayla, Ezryel and
Alexis Thompson of Spring Hill, David Britt of Jacksonville, Raven Novak of Cape Coral, Claire Whitman of Hobe Sound,
Cassi Johnson of North Miami, and Davina Sisouphavong of Deltona.
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( Left to Right ) Jeff Horn, Davina Sisouphanouvong, and coach Kurt Collis |
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(L-R) coach Jamiie Davidson, Britt Shortle, Jeff Horn |
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letter from David Britt, $500 award winner |
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Louise Downey with Ezryel, Jaylen and Alexis Thompson
(shared $500 winner)and coach John Downey |
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Ryan Solters ($250 winner), coach Ray Belmudez
and Stephanie Solters |
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Winner Cassi Johnson of Miami with her coach Youlian Nikolov, Lynn Jaimes,
CEO of Jaimes Tennis Management and Cassi's Mom, Jeannette Johnson |
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Winner Raven Novak with her Coach, Bob Nelson |
-2010-
In 2010, there were over 50
applications and many, many fine candidates for the awards. There are 6 $500 scholarship winners and 2 $250 scholarship
winners this year. Listed below are the winners:
$500 winners:
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Lydia Arflin Yulee, Florida |
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Jordan DeSanctis, Port Orange |
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Coach Desi Pierre, Paulina & David Reitman, Hollywood |
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Adam Shugar, Newberry |
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Coach Gerri Braxton, Caprice Thomas, Pembroke Pines, Tug Miller |
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Shawn Wilson, Tallahassee |
$250 winners:
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Chrissy Texidor, Coral Gables |
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Andrea Lansdale, Punta Gorda and Coach Tony Geraci |
-2009-
In July, the Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) announced the 2009 Kelley Scholarship Winners. The Youth Tennis
Foundation has awarded the following players a $500 scholarship:
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Rafael Alvarez -- Miami |
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Jake Cole -- Plant City |
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Brooke DeMorat -- Merritt Island |
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Tristan Mignogna -- Melbourne |
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Heather Peele -- Apopka |
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Courtney Zeng -- Orlando |
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Courtney Zeng with her coach, Juan Palacius |
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Rafael Alvarez with his coach, Pablo Arraya and YTF Board Member Dr. Von N. Beebe |
-2008-
It is with great pleasure that the Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) announces the 2008 Kelley Scholarship Winners. There were
over 40 applicants from outstanding young tennis players. The choice of winners was extremely difficult because of so many
fine candidates. The seven players have been awarded $500 to use to improve their tennis game! Congratulations to each of you!
Two of the winners of the YTF Scholarships were recognized at the Lakeland Summer Section Jr. Team Tennis Tournament on Friday,
August 1st during the player’s party, which the YTF has also sponsored.
The YTF Scholarship Winners are:
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Steve Allen -- Ft. Meyers. |
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Andrew and Aletha Smith -- Daytona Beach |
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Dominic Salamone -- Orlando |
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Samantha and Danielle Powell -- Jacksonville |
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Garrison Goodland -- Palm Harbor |
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Steve Allen |
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Andrew Smith, Tug Miller, Paul Salamone |
-2007-
The Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) is pleased to announce 10 winners of the second annual Jr. Team Tennis Scholarship
Award for 2007. Out of 42 applications submitted between March 1 – May 31, 2007 by USTA Florida Jr. Team Tennis youth,
six players have been awarded $500 while four received $300 to apply toward their tennis training of choice. This
includes tennis lessons, tennis camps and other tennis related activities.
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$500 YTF Scholarship Recipients: |
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$300 YTF Scholarship Recipients: |
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Tyra Fairley of Pembroke Pines |
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Devin Baker of Jacksonville |
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Kinga Gartner of Pompano Beach |
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Kristen Howell of Sarasota |
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Liz Renteria of Miramar |
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Austin Basque of Wendermere |
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Anna Soltren of Longwood |
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Arrice Robinson of Daytona Beach |
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Yana Wolter of St. Petersburg |
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Zachary Yonker of Venice |
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The winners of the YTF Scholarships will be recognized at the Lakeland Summer Section Jr. Team Tennis Tournament on
Friday, July 29th during the player’s party, which the YTF has also sponsored.
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Anna Marie Soltren, Tug Miller, and Tyra Fairley |
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Tug Miller, Kinga Gartner, and Eddie Herman |
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Rafael James, Liz Renteria, and Tug Miller |
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Devin Baker and Bob Jagger |
-2006-
On Tuesday December 5th, James Edwards was presented with a check for $500, which is the first award the YTF
has presented to a Junior Team Tennis scholarship winner. In the picture from the left, YTF Board member Tug Miller,
James Edwards, his mother Ruth, and his Team Tennis Coach Jerri Braxton.
The second YTF Junior Team Tennis scholarship was presented to the Smith sisters of St. Petersburg. Twins Jade
and Jayla and older sister Jasmyne Smith split the $500 award. The Smith's coach is Matez Robinson. Pictured below
are YTF board member Nancy Morgan, winner Jasmyne Smith, Joe Smith (Father), St. Petersburg Tennis Center dierctor
Jackie Keller and Tennis Foundation of St. Petersburg board member Ann Sackett.
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