Charles Taylor, enjoyed an expense free trip to New York City as one of 10 winners in the 18th Annual National Junior Tennis and Learning Arthur Ashe Essay Contest. Contest winners received round-trip airfare to New York City for themselves and a guardian, plus a two-night stay at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan and VIP Status in the President’s Box during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The essay winners, ranging in ages from 10 to 18, were selected out of more than 2,800 entries submitted this summer. Taylor, 17, won in the category for Boys age 18. Contestants were asked to write an essay of 350 words or less on the question; “How have your skills in tennis impacted the development of your character and how you address your personal challenges on and off the court?”
Taylor, who plays on the Boys Varsity Tennis Team at Valley Center High School, grew up learning tennis as part of the McAdams Tennis Foundation’s summer NJTL program. He was encouraged to take up the game by his uncle Ron Thompson, one of the McAdams NJTL instructors.
Like many youngsters who have almost unlimited access to something, Taylor says at first, he didn’t take tennis seriously. After he tried out for and made his high school tennis team, he says his attitude changed. “I found out tennis was really fun and decided to really take it seriously.”
Now he’s one of the senior youth in the McAdams NJTL program, where he assists with the younger players. “I get to help them learn how fun tennis can be.”
The annual essay contest is open to participants in NJTL programs across the country. NTJL, a program of the USTA Foundation, was founded by Arthur Ashe in 1969. The program provides free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 225,000 under-resourced youth through more than 500 nonprofit youth development organizations.
Taylor is the third McAdams NJTL member to win the contest. Previous winners included Azani Fitten and Alisha Harrison.
Taylor, took his uncle Ron along on the trip as his guardian.