USTA News

 

By Emily Schaefer

Houston

 

Reading Aces has received the prestigious Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) Gold/Crystal Award that recognizes the achievement of organizations as a leader in developing innovative partnerships. Reading Aces, in conjunction with the NJTL, and in partnership with the Houston Tennis Association, is an after-school reading program designed to help at-risk children between the ages of 6-12 improve their reading and literacy skills. The program promotes strong literacy skills and works to improve oral reading in elementary school children and emphasizes the importance and benefits of community service, while promoting the power of one-on-one oral reading. 

 

As high school seniors prepare college applications the prompt titled extracurricular activities places a unique challenge on elite tennis players. As most know, competing at the highest level of junior tennis demands tireless commitment and sacrifice. For many juniors, tennis is no longer an extracurricular rather everything else, including school, volunteering and childhood discovery has become supplementary activities. 

 

One of the co-founders of NJTL was the late Arthur Ashe, Jr. Ironically, Ashe emphasized the importance of academic excellence for young people including an emphasis on reading.  A quote from Arthur that is often used with NJTL students is, "For every hour spent on the playing field, two should be spent with a book."  While much has changed since Arthur Ashe won the U.S Open, some junior players are recognizing the value of balancing tennis with other interests.

 

When Lamar High School honors student and USTA Texas Girls’ 18 Super Champ, Brette Machiorlette approached the Houston Tennis Association NJTL  about adding an oral reading program called "Reading Aces" to several neighborhood tennis sites, it was a perfect match. Gradually, Brette recruited more high school mentors to adopt park sites and read orally with children ages 6-12.  The program has grown from one site and a handful of mentors to nine  sites, over sixty teenage mentors and over 250 elementary readers!  Since 2009, high school volunteers carry books and snacks to Houston parks and elementary schools and  experience the magic of volunteerism and shoulder-to-shoulder oral reading. 

 

"I never thought that Reading Aces could make such a huge impact on the community. While I definitely use the life skills I learned playing competitive tennis in helping me grow Reading Aces, it is frustrating that I have had to depend on non-tennis players to grow the organization. Most of my tennis peers feel they can’t take one day off of tennis," adds Brette Machiorlette.

 

Todd Folsom, Director of King Daddy Sports Junior Tennis Academy in Houston encourages his students to be well-rounded. "Brette has led several recruitment speeches to our academy kids and we know the players who balance the pressures of tennis with life experiences stay in the game longer and reap the true benefits of tennis."  King Daddy Sports sponsors Reading Aces and is helping provide mentors for the Nottingham and Bendwood Parks.  

 

Reading Aces addresses the reality that many at-risk children do not have parents to read with, and many do not have books at home. The program runs throughout the school year and culminates with children receiving "reading" trophies that symbolize the life champions they will become as strong readers. If you would like more information about the organization please visit the new website designed by Brette www.ReadingAces.org.