USTA Eastern Announces 2011 Annual Award Winners

Dec. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- White Plains, NY – USTA Eastern will honor 26 outstanding volunteers, tennis pros, players and organizations at its Annual Awards Dinner on Jan. 29, 2011 at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains. The award recipients will be recognized for the range of ways they helped grow tennis in the section: from providing free tennis lessons to kids to organizing programs for players with special needs.

“All of the award winners have had a major impact in their tennis communities,” said D.A. Abrams, Executive Director of USTA Eastern. “Whether they are teaching kids, coordinating adult teams or volunteering at special events, their dedication and hard work has allowed players of all ages and abilities to learn and play this great sport.”

The dinner marks the end of USTA Eastern’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Development Workshop, Jan. 28-29, 2011. The meeting this year is entitled “Serving Aces,” and will feature workshops on writing grant applications and running USTA-sanctioned tournaments. There will also be a high school coaches workshop and a special session on the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative.

To register for the meeting or the dinner, visit www.eastern.usta.com.

USTA Eastern Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement Award: Arvelia Meyers, New York, NY
Tennis Woman of the Year: Katrina Adams, White Plains, NY
Leslie J. FitzGibbon Tennis Man of the Year: Jim Neal, Schenectady, NY
Tennis Family of the Year: Thyroff Family, Rochester, NY
Corporate Service Award: Longines, Weehawken, NJ

Clinician of the Year: Billy Nealon, Rochester, NY
Club Service Award: Sportime-Randall’s Island, New York, NY
Collegiate Award: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
George Seewagen Award: Mark Savage, Wallkill, NY
Jr. Team Tennis Area League Coordinator of the Year: Steve Abbondondelo, Hicksville, NY
League Award: Fran Hart, Albany, NY
Louise Cilla Award: Diane Kohout, Wykoff, NJ
Member Organization of the Year: Ramapo Parks and Recreation, Ramapo, NY
Multicultural Participation Leadership Award: Lou Reid, New York, NY
Press Service Award: The Tennis Channel, New York, NY
Regional Volunteer of the Year (Long Island): Marian Morris, Atlantic Beach, NY
Regional Volunteer of the Year (Metro): Pablo Sierra, Brooklyn, NY
Regional Volunteer of the Year (New Jersey) Steve Diamond, Montville, NJ
Regional Volunteer of the Year (Northern region): Tom Chin, Latham, NY
Regional Volunteer of the Year (Southern region): Sharon Weiner, Pound Ridge, NY
Regional Volunteer of the Year (Western region): Shawna McFarlane, Lewiston, NY
Service to People with Disabilities Award: Melanie Fauchet, Pittsford, NY
Special Service Award: Martin McMahon, Clifton Park, NY
Umpire Service Award: Bill George, Webster, NY
USTA Community Service Award: Charles DeNicola, Cranford, NJ
Virginia and Chuck Landis High School Coach of the Year: Rich Johns, Saratoga Springs, NY

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The USTA Eastern Section, based in White Plains, New York, is a not-for-profit community service organization whose mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The section encompasses all of New York State, Northern New Jersey and Greenwich, Connecticut. It is one of 17 geographic sections of the United States Tennis Association, the governing body of tennis in the United States, and supports more than 48,000 members. The section also establishes and maintains rules of fair play, high standards of sportsmanship and represents, in its jurisdiction, the programs and policies of the USTA. More information about the USTA Eastern section is available by visiting: www.eastern.usta.com.