THE 2022 ESSAY CONTEST IS CLOSED!
2022 ENTRIES & WINNERS WILL BE POSTED SOON!
TAKE A LOOK AT THE MATERIALS FOR THIS YEAR'S CONTEST AND START PLANNING TO ENTER IN 2023!
Open to all children 5-18 years, who are signed up for LEE CTA tennis programs.
CLICK HERE for the entry form
CLICK HERE FOR THE ESSAY SHEET (for those wishing to handwrite the essay)
put pen to paper for a chance to win a trip to new York City!
September 29-October 2, 2022
Winners are chosen from the following age categories:
10&Under, 11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18
(1 boy and 1 girl from each category).
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: JULY 25, 2022
EMAIL ESSAYS W/ ENTRY FORMS TO:
info@leecta.com
AWARD & PRIZES!
GRAND PRIZE FOR 10 NATIONAL WINNERS!
The 10 USTA National winners (one from each age group above) are awarded a 4 day/3 night trip with parent/legal guardian to New York City to celebrate their accomplishments. All ground/air transportation, hotel, meal expenses are covered. Winners are given access to up to three (3) cultural, historical, or theatrical experiences, such as a Broadway show, museum, or other NYC experiences. The event ends with a luncheon in honor of the winners.
(Average Retail Value: $2200)
PRIZES FOR 10 NEW ENGLAND WINNERS
Ten (10) winners from New England will be awarded a plaque in their honor.
(Average Retail Value: $25)
Children are encouraged to write an essay about lessons they have learned which relate to the life and ideals of such leaders as tennis legend Arthur Ashe, the first African American man to be ranked #1 in the world and founder of National JR Tennis & Learning (NJTL). "For every hour a child spends on the court, an hour should be spent with a book." - Arthur Ashe
OR
David Dinkins, the the 106th mayor of NYC, the first black man to hold that office, who supported tennis for children. He was, convinced that tennis instills confidence, character, sportsmanship and teamwork.
The example of these two men to help children develop skills for leadership and academic excellence motivated me to organize the Lee CTA/NJTL Chapter in 1992. We hope to maintain that focus for many more years!
- Clare "Bunnie" Lahey, Founder Lee CTA/NJTL
A FEW PAST WINNERS
2000: Laura Griffin, Age 15 - NATIONAL WINNER - Girls 15/16 years
"Why is Arthur Ashe a sports legend? One definition of a sports legend is an athlete that succeeds against great odds. That is what Arthur Ashe did. He overcame a racial society by becoming the first, and only African American tennis player to be ranked number one in the world. He is a legend, not just because of how well he played the game, but also how he used his status to make positive changes in both the game and in society." CLICK HERE to read the full essay. Congratulations Laura!!!
2018: Sophia Puntin, Age 11 - WINNER - USTA/NEW ENGLAND - Girls 11/12
"The most important lesson I have learned through NJTL is you have to be focused. As a tennis player you have to keep your eye on the ball, and you can't get distracted or else you will most likely lose the game. In tennis, you must stay focused if you want to do your best. And doing you best is just as important as staying focused. If you do your best, then you will probably do better than if you just swing your racket around and not try your best. In tennis, you also have to be respectful to the other players and you should always put effort into tennis." CLICK HERE to read the full essay. Congratulations Sophia!!!
2018: Sadie Burrows, Age 6 - WINNER - LEE CTA - Girls 10 & Under
"I want to respect the world...I want to respect my friends...I want to respect the world, you see, so I can meet new friends...If I don't meet new friends, you see, I will be lonely...If I'm lonely, you see, how will I learn to play tennis?" CLICK HERE to read the full essay. Congratulations Sadie!!!
2013: Surianna Lee, Age 14 - WINNER - USTA/New England - Girls 13/14
"Tennis at first may seem like an individualized sport, and that every man is for himself. Especially by playing on a high school tennis team, I have realized that you all work together to win each point and each match and every player is crucial, even if you play the last spot on the team. From this, I have learned to face challenges by looking at them from multiple points of view instead of just mine and taking others into consideration before acting by myself." CLICK HERE to read the full essay.
Congratulations Suri !!!