Ten Arthur Ashe Essay Contest winners were chosen by USTA Texas for submission to the national contest with Kari Burt’s essay named as one of the 14 national winners of the 2011 Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest.
Winners were chosen from 600-plus entries nationwide to answer in writing or by drawing “Why do you think Arthur Ashe created the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, and how has your NJTL chapter impacted your life?”
Burt of Stafford, Texas, a 17-year old from the Zina Garrison Academy NJTL chapter, submitted an essay that referenced the 1960s as “hectic years” with the highs of the moon landing, Jimmy Hendrix and Rod Laver becoming a Grand Slam Champion; to its lows with the Vietnam War, John F. Kennedy’s assassinations and racial inequality. She wrote that out of this, Arthur Ashe created his vision of NJTL preparing children for life and how she learned to be a leader from NJTL’s First Serve program.
The contest was open to students age 18 and younger who participate in an NJTL program. The national winners, who range in age from 10 to 18, each received a travel package for themselves and a parent / legal guardian to New York to attend the 13th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the Awards Banquet and a Broadway show all scheduled for Sat., Aug. 27, however travel was canceled due to Hurricane Irene hitting the northeast that same weekend.
The 10 USTA Texas winners, which included Burt were selected from hundreds of entries in Texas. A USTA sub-committee selected the winning essays and art pieces based on their knowledge of Arthur Ashe, message clarity, and writing style demonstrated in each submission.
USTA Texas is extremely proud of our section and national winners and we offer our sincerest congratulations to the listed winners below:
Girls 10 and under: Debbie Muzchil, Dallas
Boys 10 and under: Silas Sandles, DeSoto, Texas
Girls 12 and under: Carlynn Greene, DeSoto, Texas
Boys 12 and under: Christopher Armstead, DeSoto, Texas
Girls 14 and under: Mikayla Smith, DeSoto, Texas
Boys 14 and under: Ransom Medina, Houston
Girls 16 and under: Sijin Kim, Duncanville, Texas
Boys 16 and under: Laquan Macklin, Dallas
Girls 18 and under: Kari Burt, Stafford, Texas (National winner)
Boys 18 and under: Juan Amaya, Houston
For more information on the Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest, please visit www.usta.com/njtl