Six Richmond-area high school players have been chosen as finalists for the first Richmond Tennis Association Tennis Community Scholarship, worth $1,000 each to one girl and one boy who is graduating from a public school in June.
The scholarship was the brainchild of Eric Perkins, who started the local business firm of Perkins Law, and his group is contributing $1,500 toward the two scholarships. The remaining $500 will come from the RTA.
“The scholarship is intended to promote greater awareness and appreciation of the high school tennis community, which features hundreds of RVA’s finest young men and women each year,” said Perkins, a former president of the RTA.
“The video component of the scholarship application was intended both to leverage the power of social media to promote tennis and also to tap into the passion and creativity of the area’s top high school players.”
Each of the six finalists submitted a two-minute video expressing what tennis means to them, why tennis is a great sport or why Richmond is such a great tennis town. Links to those videos are included in this article.
Matthew Cousins Paul Mendoza Grant Sarver
Morgan Fuqua Rachel Summers Katherine Weber
In addition to their video clips, the finalists will be judged on their accomplishments in tennis, academics and community service.
Rachel Summers played No. 1 singles and doubles for James River last year but chose to forego her senior season. She is headed to Mary Washington in the fall. She was a member of the Junior Team Tennis squad out of the Westwood Club that finished second in the nation in the 18-under division last year.
Morgan Fuqua plays No. 3 singles for Mills Godwin and plans to attend college at Shenandoah University. Fuqua has played a major role in helping the Eagles capture three consecutive state championships.
Katherine Weber is Glen Allen’s No. 4 singles player and also helps out the Jaguars at No. 2 doubles.
On the boys’ side, Paul Mendoza has led Cosby for the past four years at No. 1 singles and doubles, and has the Titans positioned for another strong run at the 6A regional title.
Matthew Cousins is Midlothian’s top player in singles and doubles, while Grant Sarver plays the No. 1 positions for Mills Godwin. Sarver is planning to continue his career at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland.
The RTA has appointed a scholarship committee of three people, and the winners will be announced on or around May 1.
“It is my hope that the tennis community embraces this new program and that other sponsors will step up to allow the RTA to increase the scholarship amounts each year,” said Perkins.
The scholarship awards are a noble idea and perhaps long overdue for such a tennis-oriented city as Richmond.