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ATACP’s Annika Pandey Named National Merit Commended Student

ATA College Prep senior Annika Pandey has been named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing her in the top 5{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition.

“This recognition is a tribute to Annika’s long-term dedication to her studies, work ethic, and perseverance,” said ATACP Director Carol Hagar.

Around 50,000 Commended Students are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, all of whom entered the competition by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“I think the biggest factors that contributed to my success were my parents because they always push me to do my best and set high goals and academics have always been really important to us,” Annika said. “I also think Carol and College Prep have helped me keep up with the material a lot. Mr. Rutherford and Coach Tommy have also kept me really challenged in the classroom so that has definitely helped.”

Annika is currently narrowing her college choice as she moves through her second to last high-school semester. Over the past month, she has visited Claremont McKenna College in California, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and MIT in Boston.

“I really liked all of them, but I found that campus atmosphere and student body were two things that were really important to me so I think I will be making my final decision based on those two criteria,” Annika said.

Wherever she lands, Annika is angling for a well-rounded experience in college. While medical school is the post-grad plan, a major in anything from International Studies to Business or Economics over biology or chemistry spikes her interest most at the moment.

“I want to be challenged in college of course and being in an area where there is a lot to do is important to me,” Annika said. “I’m really excited to be a little bit more independent and sort of gain my footing in the world while learning a lot and spending time with interesting and ambitious people.”

Congratulations, Annika!

2017 ATA Scholarship Shootout: Info, Sponsorship Levels, & More!

The 2017 Austin Tennis Academy Scholarship Shootout is approaching quickly! The festivities this year will mark the 17^th annual party and pro-am tennis tournament in support of ATA and the Austin Athletic Scholarship Foundation.

Each year, the community comes together for a fun-filled weekend that raises money to provide need-based financial aid for the wonderful programming that happens year-round at the Austin Tennis Academy.

DATE

Friday, October 27^th – Player Party, Dinner, Silent and Live Auction at Sonesta

Saturday, October 28^th – Pro-Am Team Tennis Tournament at ATA

ENTRY FEE

$300 – 1 tournament entry, 2 tickets to the Player Party

$100 – per person for Player Party only / just watching the tennis on Saturday

$750 – Table of 10 seats at the Player Party / just watching the tennis on Saturday

SPONSORS

Local businesses have the opportunity to support the event as banner sponsors at a variety of levels. This is an excellent opportunity to support the program and families who otherwise couldn’t access it while exposing the wider ATA community to a local brand or business.

Championship Level Sponsor – $3000

3 x 8 Banner with business logo on ATA fences all weekend
4 Tournament Entries
10 total seats at the Player Party
Promotional items at Sponsors table
Recognition on ATA website

Grand Slam Level Sponsor – $2000

3 x 6 Banner with business logo on ATA fences all weekend
2 Tournament Entries
5 total seats at the Player Party
Promotional items at Sponsors table
Recognition on ATA website

Masters Level Sponsor – $1000

3 x 4 Banner with business logo on ATA fences all weekend
1 Tournament Entry
2 Seats at the Player Party
Promotional items at Sponsors table
Recognition on ATA website

Community Level Sponsor – $300

Banner placement with business logo on ATA fences all weekend
Promotional items at Sponsors table

RAFFLE PRIZES

Racquets

Coaches Lessons

Tennis Bags

And more!

SILENT AUCTION –

Lesson Packages

Spa Packages

Coach Newman Dinner

Catered Paella by Cecy Abboud

Ladies Team Clinic with 2 coaches, lunch included

And more! (Anything you or your business would like to offer for an Auction item? Reach out!)

To register for the Shootout tournament and party, please reach out to Deb.Cahill@AustinTennisAcademy.com. For questions or to sign up as a Banner Sponsor, please reach out to Tommy.Collins@AustinTennisAcademy.com.

See you at the 2017 Scholarship Shootout!

ATA College Prep Hustles To Help With Harvey Relief

Over the first week of school, the ATA College Prep community combined their efforts to try to make a small positive impact amid a large and ongoing tragedy. After thousands upon of thousands were displaced from south east Texas following Hurricane Harvey, the CP community focused on families heading to Austin. Together with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, the group donated two packed van loads of essential supplies to those most in need.

In total, ATA College Prep gathered and compiled 30 full Welcome Kits (1 per family), 8 boxes of organized essential supplies, 10 cases of diapers, 14 bags of clothes, blankets and kids toys, 6 cases of baby food and 4 cases of water.

The group will continue to engage in opportunities to serve those affected by this disaster throughout the year. Check back here for updates, or feel free to reach out with any possible opportunities or interest to participate.

And, most of all, a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to those of you who donated and/or helped over the last week.

ATA College Prep Students Zip Through Orientation

The 2017-2018 school year at ATA College Prep kicked off late last week with two fun-filled days of orientation. Beyond the standard class schedules and syllabus discussions, the time together was packed with everything from Woosh. Bang. Pow., to tangled human knots, to zip-lining through the Texas hill-country. Here are a few pictures from the fun.

Carol introduces the students to the rules of Woosh. Bang. Pow.

After linking each left arm to a teammate’s right arm who was not immediately next to you, the groups worked to untangle the knot of arms.

Callie, Kristin, Sydney and Jordan smile for a picture while secured to the platform at the top of a tree between lines.

Mac and Alex race through the tree tops on the longest line of the day.

Mac, Jackson, Alex, Christian, Harrison and James casually lean off of the platform as they wait for the next line.

Sophia hangs on as she repels through the trees to the next landing.

The students and teachers enjoyed two action-packed days together and are primed and ready for an amazing start to the year. Check back here for regular updates on the action in the classroom and out as the ATA College Prep year kicks off.

How ATA Can Help With Hurricane Harvey Relief

Dear ATA Players, Parents and Patrons,

We can’t do everything, but we can do something.

One of our goals is to produce citizens of significance, not just accomplishment. Being a good citizen means being a good neighbor. We talk to our students about this all the time and it’s important that we demonstrate character as well as talk about it.

The news from Hurricane Harvey’s impact continues to be hard to fathom. The death toll is going up. The number of people displaced is climbing by 10s of thousands. I know that many of you have family and friends in the area who are suffering, and all of you have some sort of personal connection to this disaster.

As a community, we do our best to respond in ways that contribute positively to our neighbors who are suffering, mourning and vulnerable.

To start, ATA has pledged to match the first $5,000 raised by the community through our partnership with the American Red Cross. If you feel compelled to contribute financially to disaster relief efforts, please follow this link to the ATA campaign page:

https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/austintennis-emp

Secondly, ATA College Prep students are gathering supplies to create welcome kits for displaced families seeking shelter in Austin through the Austin Disaster Relief Network. If you’d like to donate supplies to help with these welcome kits, these are the specific items needed for each kit:

Towel
Washcloth
Soap
Tissue
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Feminine Products
Shampoo
Comb
Blanket
Pillow
Wipes
Baby Bottles/Formula
Diapers
Baby Food
1 plastic container with a lid to hold the above items

Any donations for welcome kits should be dropped off at ATA College Prep before Wednesday the 6th. Feel free to contact Tommy Collins with questions.

Lastly, ATA’s Jackie Zapien is organizing donations to help animals that are ending up in shelters or homeless as a result of Hurricane Harvey. This Sunday, she will be driving a load of supplies to the Houston area to help relief efforts focused on animals. If you are able to donate any dog food, cat food, treats, toys, litter, leashes, blankets, or pet bedding, please drop it off at ATA before this Sunday and she will make sure it is put to good use.

Together as a community, we hope to make a small positive impact on what has become the largest natural disaster this country has ever seen. Thank you all for participating.

ATA Adds Experience, Energy With Coach Shaimaa Elsisi

The Austin Tennis Academy has hired Coach Shaimaa Elsisi as the latest addition to its standout coaching staff, CEO Jack Newman announced recently.

“Shaimaa will be an excellent addition to the ATA coaching staff,” Newman said. “She brings college coaching experience and an incredibly positive, high energy level to practice.”

Elsisi joins the ATA community after spending the past year as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at Baylor University, where she landed after moving from Florida. While in the sunshine state, Shaimaa took the court for Troy University where she competed for the Trojans and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees.

A native of Cairo, Elsisi was one of the top ranked junior players in Egypt before moving to the United States to play college tennis. She helped the Trojans to a winning record each year that she played at Troy.

“Tennis has taught me everything,” Shaimaa said. “Matches have given me mental strength, practice has given me stamina, tournaments have given me social skills, team competition has given me spirit, traveling has given me experience, participation has given me the best friendship…. tennis has given me my soul!”

After serving as a graduate assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Troy, Shaimaa moved on to a head coaching position at Hillsborough Community College where she stayed until relocating to Baylor.

“I am a coach because of my passion for tennis,” Shaimaa said. “I chose to become a coach to give back to the sport, to impact my student-athletes’ lives in a positive way, to help them succeed on and off the court, and to give them the opportunity that my own coaches gave me as a student-athlete.”

That passion she mentions stems from a family full of tennis players including her sister, who is the head coach at Troy, her brother, who coaches professionally back in Egypt, but all started with her father.

Shaimaa, center, pictured with her sister and brother.

“I learned how to walk on a tennis court,” Shaimaa said. “My late father (my favorite person in the whole world) was a tennis coach and he took me to his work every day and I fell in love with tennis because of him! It was our special place! I love tennis and it’s my happy place and every time I stepped on the court in my playing years it felt like it was my first time!”

In addition to being an accomplished tennis coach and player, Elsisi is an exceptional student, earning her bachelor’s degree in sport and fitness management with a minor in recreation and her master’s degree in sports and fitness management with a concentration in sports administration. She now applies this love of learning to her students.

“As a coach, I learn everything I can about every student-athlete—not every individual responds in the same way,” Shaimaa said. “My goal is to learn what motivates them and keeps them engaged to give them the opportunity to develop their skill level in a structured learning environment that constantly challenges them while providing them with both encouragement and support.”

Off the court, Shaimaa loves traveling and visiting family and friends. She enjoys playing golf, softball, watching Disney movies with friend’s kids, and reading about nutrition and health issues.

After her first few weeks around ATA, one thing has stuck out to her that distinguishes this place from the rest.

“It’s culture! I loved it right away and I felt home the minute I walked in and I loved how welcoming everyone was right away,” Shaimaa said. “Everyone is very professional and very friendly. Kids are respectful, and they work hard on and off the court. They have great attitudes and are very coachable. The staff is great and passionate about what they do and they care about the kids on and off the court. It’s definitely a place that I can call home and family! I feel very lucky to be part of the ATA family and I’m very grateful to Coach Newman for this wonderful opportunity.”

Welcome to the ATA community, Coach Shaimaa!!

ATA Coach Lucie Schmidhauser Accepts Assistant Coach Role At Brown University

Founding member and long-time Austin Tennis Academy coach Lucie Schmidhauser will continue her coaching career at Brown University, where she has accepted a role as the Women’s Assistant Coach beginning this fall.

Schmidhauser, a former NCAA National Champion, 2-time All-American and number 1 ranked player in college tennis at the University of Texas, is fulfilling a dream by entering the college-coaching ranks while returning to the world where she earned so much success as a player.

“I am excited to work with a small group of highly motivated student-athletes who are elite level players,” Lucie said. “I also look forward to having the opportunity to impact players during matches through on-court coaching.”

Schmidhauser joined the Austin Tennis Academy when it was first created, offering her passion to the community both on the court and through her Pilates instruction.

“No matter where she travels to, Coach Lucie Schmidhauser will always hold the position of founding coach of the Austin Tennis Academy,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said. “She has had a tremendous impact on our program through her coaching and through her influence on our curriculum.”

Before she was commonly referred to as Coach, Schmidhauser logged a Longhorn career that left her in the UT Athletics Women’s Hall of Honor.

“When I look back at my tennis playing career, the accomplishments I cherish the most are winning 2 team Conference Championships and 1 National Championship over any individual accomplishments I had,” Lucie said. “There’s nothing better than a group of individual players coming together and competing hard for a common goal.”

Brown, located in Providence, Rhode Island, is the seventh-oldest college in the United States and is a member of the prestigious Ivy League.

Once there, Lucie will lean on her mastery of the game’s technical fundamentals, her many years of experience coaching young women (and being a mother to a 17-year-old college freshman), her understanding of the mental side of the game as well as her Pilates teaching background. Her worldwide path as a junior, collegiate and professional player combined with her extensive coaching knowledge makes Lucie a valuable addition to the Brown coaching team.

“I’ve gained perspective on what type of players are able to successfully transition from junior tennis to college tennis,” Lucie said.

While she has passionately served the ATA community for years, Lucie will take with her some lasting lessons of her own.

“I’ve been fortunate to have colleagues who have helped me grow as a coach. In particular, Coach Doug Davis has been an incredible mentor for me to learn the technical aspects of the game and Coach Newman has taught me a lot about the mental and motivational aspects of the game, as well as how to build a culture of substance,” she said.

This mutual support is a major theme throughout the ATA community, and one Coach Newman works to maintain even amongst his all-star staff.

“Both our students and our coaches will miss Coach Lucie, but also understand that every coach needs to follow their own passions. Just as we encourage our students to set and work towards their goals, so too we encourage our coaches. We are excited for Coach Lucie to begin her college-coaching career and will be pulling for her to continue to grow and we all will follow her career with special interest.”

For Lucie, the look back on her time at ATA is all about the people.

“I’ve developed so many great relationships over the years with so many players, parents, coaches and staff at ATA. I will always cherish these relationships and memories, from the founding of ATA in 2002 through the present. It’s been a great ride!”

Good luck at Brown, Coach Lucie, and go Bears!!

The Feeling, The History, The Nats at the Zoo by Jack Newman

Before things got too busy here at Kalamazoo, I wanted to give everyone a sense of what it feels like to be at the biggest junior tournament in the United States: the Boy’s 16s and 18s USTA National Hardcourts, hosted by Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University for the past 75 years.

I have personally traveled to Kalamazoo over 25 times for this tournament, with my only misses to attend the Girl’s 16s and 18s Hardcourt Nationals.

The things that set this tournament apart from other junior tournaments are the history, the environment and the level of play. With a U.S. Open main draw wildcard on the line for the winner, the Nats at the Zoo draws Americas best junior players. Each match has a chair umpire. The sites are run like a Swiss watch. Blueberries and cream are served at the concession stand. College coaches surround matches like bees around Texas bluebonnets.

Coach Newman with Denver Head Coach Ricardo Rubio

ATA has been lucky to have players in this tournament each year for the past 14 years of its existence and, prior to that, many of our students from Saint Stephen’s and Fretz Tennis Center earned a chance to play this tournament.

The tournament has many traditions and, in parallel, our trip to this tournament also has had many traditions. One such tradition is where we stay. The Stewart Avenue Inn is a bread and breakfast across the street from Kalamazoo College. Our visits to Stewart Avenue include a made-to-order breakfast and living in a house rather than hotel room.

The Stewart Ave Inn

We have stayed at the Stewart Avenue through the tenure of three different innkeepers. Chris and Dana, the current innkeepers, have always had a dog, first Belvedere now Arlo. The Stewart Avenue Inn offers us a home away from home and a very comfortable environment in a very high-stress level tournament.

Arlo

Another tradition is coming up a few days early to get acclimated to the weather and the courts. Another tradition is team meetings each evening in the living room of the Stewart Avenue Inn where we go over the day’s events and plan for the next days matches. One final tradition is at the end of the tournament, many players are still in the middle of the college process, so we have college coaches come to visit and we sit with them in the Stewart Avenue Inn and talk recruiting.

To make it to Kalamazoo or SoKalamazoo for the girls is the pinnacle of junior tennis in the United States. Any player who makes it to this tournament, one or multiple times, is one of the best players in the United States. Many of America’s top professional champions made their first splash on the center courts at Stowe Stadium at Kalamazoo College. As you can see from the pictures enclosed, the Nats at the Zoo has a tremendous history and flavor to it.

Wilson Hamilton, Roger Chou, Juan Abboud, Alejandro Rodriguez and Harrison Chiu pose at this year’s Natz at the Zoo

I have watched many matches at the Nats at the Zoo with parents of players, with college coaches recruiting players, and with other members of the team supporting. Tres Davis has had the best results at Kalamazoo. Jake Berber and Payton Holden were two points away from the doubles semi finals one year. Adam Slagter and Santiago Montoya also had a great match on center court here one year. I remember Jeff Offerdahl and Chase Curry battling here. I remember sitting with Notre Dame coach Ryan Sachrie talking about Josh Hagar.

Congratulations to all of the current ATA players who have made it to Hardcourt Nationals, you have truly distinguished yourself among your junior tennis-playing peers. And, congrats to all our alumni, we remember your exploits as well.

Academy Players Set To Slide Into ClayCourt Nationals

Many of the top Academy players have logged long hours on the Chiu Family Clay Courts at the Austin Tennis Academy over the past weeks. The group has worked to get their footing on a different surface in preparation for the USTA National ClayCourt Championships, beginning this coming weekend. Here are the ATA players who earned a spot in this prestigious event:

Boy’s 18s

Wilson Hamilton

Alejandro Rodriguez

Bailey Forgus

Boy’s 16s

Juan Abboud

Harrison Chiu

Max Schmidhouser

Boy’s 14s

James Cockrell

Nico Jamison

Boy’s 12s

Ross Cockrell

Girl’s 18s

Annika Pandey

Callie Creath

Girl’s 16s

Anushka Dania

Megha Dania

Caroline Wernli

Jaclyn Cockrell

Girl’s 14s

Santianna Chrysopoulo

Sasha Malashava

Good luck to all of the ATA athletes competing over the next week, and check back here for updates and results after the events!

Extra Week Of Summer Camp Aug 14-18

ATA Summer Tennis Camps are in full swing! From QuickStart to Afternoon Tournament Tough Camp, kids of all ages and levels are having a great time while quickly improving their tennis skills.

We are excited to announce that we are offering an extra week of Summer Camps this summer at the end of our normal schedule. WEEK 10 of camps will take place August 14th – 18th, with all camps available: QuickStart, Morning Camp and Afternoon Camp. Click here to learn more and sign up!

Pictures From ATA Summer Camps

ATA Summer Camps are off to a great start! Check out a few pictures from some of the action below. We have camps for kids of all ages and skill levels – learn more about camps here and see more pictures on the ATA Facebook page!

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The ATA College Prep Community Honors The Class of 2017

The ATA College Prep community came together last week to celebrate the graduating class of 2017.

Set in the serenity of the Spanish Oaks hills, a few hundred family members and friends of the graduates attended the commencement ceremony. Before Head Coach Doug Davis offered his customary invocation, Director of ATA College Prep Carol Hagar opened the evening and welcomed the guests. An excerpt:

“I hope that during your years at College Prep you have learned to be more mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions… and of their effects on yours and others’ well-being. …that you have learned to help yourself and be of service to others. … that you have learned to be compassionate and optimistic. …that you have learned to possess hope and to engender hope in others. … that you have learned to be grateful for the gifts you have been given and to honor them by continuing to develop them within you.

It is for your transformation that you are here to study and to learn. It has been an honor to witness and participate in a portion of the transformation within each of you. I know that you will choose to forever follow in this way.”

As the sun set behind the trees, the community personally honored and celebrated each graduate. Wilson Hamilton, Alejandro Rodriguez and Abigail Chiu were each recognized through commemorative video tributes, introduced by two loved ones who know them well and finished by addressing the audience with a few words of their own.

Continuing a CP tradition, each graduate selected a Senior Legacy Quote that will be installed as pavers in the campus garden. Their selections are below.

Wilson Hamilton will attend Trinity University in San Antonio next Fall. Long-time friend Chase Bartlett and coach and teacher Brian Notis spoke on behalf of Wilson. Each highlighted the academic transformation and confidence Wilson has accomplished during his time at College Prep.

No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how hard you fall… you are never out of the fight. -Marcus Luttrell

Alejandro Rodriguez will attend the University of Chicago next Fall. Teacher and coach Tommy Collins and mentor Clifford Chiu spoke on his behalf and reflected upon Alejandro’s tireless efforts to reach excellence in study, relationship and as an athlete.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. -Winston Churchill

Abigail Chiu will attend Dartmouth College next Fall. Coach Doug Davis and brother Harrison Chiu spoke on her behalf. Each shared the lessons of perseverance and compassion that they have learned from Abigail.

Be great, not ordinary. Embrace diversity, not security. Live fully, not fearfully. Once chance you write your story; make it one worth reading. ~Abigail Chiu

Following the presentation of the graduates, Santiago Montoya, current Glimmer Chief Investment Officer and ATA alum, offered the commencement address. Reflecting on some of his past failures, he reminded the graduates to fall forward and embrace great attempts that may fall seemingly short. And that these are the moments that teach us the greatest wisdom.

CEO Jack Newman closed the graduation ceremony by initiating the Passing Of Leadership To The Class of 2018. This tradition of handing off the ATA ball symbolizes the handoff of responsibility for leadership within the greater Academy group for the next year.

A year from now, this group of leaders will look to continue the CP tradition of 100{37ef6ac642fae6f93f343032eb62785d28fa7a25a4a4f0267a12512c541c53a9} college matriculation to some of the top schools in the world.

Following the ceremony, the group once again came together in community to share a meal surrounded by story tables celebrating each senior and their past accomplishments.

Congratulations to each of the ATA College Prep graduates of the class of 2017! Check the ATA College Prep Facebook page for more pictures from the evening.

ATA Players Featured on Local News at Sectionals

Check out a quick clip of a couple ATA players, including an interview with Alexandria Mjos, featured on local news in Abilene talking about the Texas GrandSlam!

ATA College Prep Graduation 2017 – Tuesday Night

2017 ATA End Of Year Party

The ATA community came together on Thursday evening at the beautiful Malyshev family home to celebrate a wonderful year of growth together.

With delicious food and drinks, speeches from returning alumni and outgoing seniors, Academy Awards and a slideshow of highlights from the year, the ATA family enjoyed a few fun-filled hours together as the scenic Austin skyline faded into the evening in the background.

Here are the highlights:

ATA Parent Of The Year – Sheri Gorden

ATA Coach Of The Year – Brandon Davis

ATA Most Improved Player Award – Larry Li, Devan Sabapathy, James Burdick, Sydney Marin, Sarah Schaal, and Savannah Baptiste

ATA Mentorship Award – Bailey Forgus and Kristin Kerrigan

The ATA Student-Athlete Award – Caroline Wernli and AJ Valenty

The Spirit of ATA Award – Denver Holden, James Burdick, Abigail Gorden and Claire Wernli (not pictured)

ATA Ambassador Award: Sasha Malysheva, Shriniket Maddipatla, and Synclair Larson

ATA Work Ethic Award: Bailey Forgus, Jett Hampton, Hannah Harrod, Kristin Kerrigan and Alejandro Rodriguez

ATA Competitor Award: Max Schmidhauser, Callie Creath, Harrison Chiu, and Santianna Chrysopoulo

ATA Leadership Award Winners: Abigail Chiu, Kristin Kerrigan, Alejandro Rodriguez and Marcus Sweeney

ATA MVP’s – Alejandro Rodriguez and Alexandria Mjos

Erik Kerrigan in Semis of DIII Doubles National Tournament

ATA College Prep alum and current University of Chicago freshman Erik Kerrigan is currently competing in the DIII Men’s Individual National Championships this week.

Erik worked his way to the quarterfinals of the singles draw before going down to the #1 seed 7-6, 6-3, ending his run in the final 8.

He and partner Ninan Kumar won their first two matches in the doubles draw to earn a spot in the final four today. Good luck to Kerrigan and Kumar in the semifinals! Check back here for updates.

ATA’s Roger Chou Wins 6A UIL State Title For Westlake HS

ATA Academy standout and current Westlake High School junior Roger Chou claimed the 6A UIL State Championship crown on Friday, outworking Kevin Zhu of Pearland Dawson 7-6 (3), 6-3 in the final.

Chou is the first boy’s singles champion from Westlake since 2010, and only the sixth in the history of the school.

The State tournament unfolded on the Texas A&M University courts in College Station. Chou entered ranked in the top 5 of the boy’s 18s in the USTA Texas rankings and adds to his already 5-star tennis resume.

Congratulations to Roger and the rest of the ATA Academy players who competed in the UIL State tournament in all divisions.

Donna Berber of Glimmer Speaks To ATA – See The Video Here

Yesterday evening, Donna Berber, Founder and CEO of A Glimmer of Hope, spoke to the ATA community about her story of exposure and inspiration that led to the creation and growth of Glimmer. She also discussed the role ATA has played in contributing to the impact Glimmer has made so far in rural Ethiopia and beyond.

‘Mrs. Berber’s speech was amazing and inspiring,’ said Juan A, a student at ATA CP. ‘She painted a vivid picture in my mind of the living conditions in Ethiopia and it was really effective,’ said Max S.

In case you weren’t able to attend or if you’d like to see the speech again, here is a video:

Sweeney, Perim, Valenty, Chou To Compete in 6A State Tourney

When the UIL 6A Texas State High School individual tennis tournament unfolds this weekend at Texas A&M University, four ATA Academy players will take the court – all from Westlake High School.

Marcus Sweeney and Loli Perim will combine forces to try to earn a Mixed Doubles title.

AJ Valenty will compete in the Boys Doubles draw.

Roger Chou is set to battle in the Boy’s Singles draw.

With 8 entries in each draw, each will need to win 3 matches to take the State title. The players will serve it up over May 18th and 19th. Good luck to all!!

Donna Berber of Glimmer To Speak To ATA Community

Donna Berber, founder and CEO of A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, will speak to the community on Tuesday evening May 16 from 6-7pm.

“I am extremely excited and pleased to announce that we will be hosting a short speech and Q&A session with Donna Berber,” ATA CEO Jack Newman said. “It’s been a number of year’s since we had Donna speak at ATA and you will not want to miss it.”

The Austin Tennis Academy has a long standing relationship with A Glimmer of Hope Foundation and the Berber family. All three Berber children, Ryan, Shane and Jake, were members of the Academy program and Donna and Philip have been long-time advisory board members as well as multifaceted supporters of the Austin Tennis Academy. The Austin Tennis Academy has made a pledge to raise $1,000,000 for A Glimmer of Hope over 20 years.

Our current funds raised for A Glimmer of Hope are: $532,487.

The breakdown of how those funds were allocated include:

2 School Projects
A Heath Post
34 hand-dug wells
3 shallow Borehole wells
Daletti Reservoir
Gonok Deep Borehole well
Famine Relief
Microfinance loans

“A Glimmer of Hope Foundation has a unique model of helping,” Coach Newman said. “Donna is a dynamic and moving speaker. I hope you and your ATA player will plan on attending.”

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