Giving Kids the Advantage

UPCOMING TENNIS EVENT -

COURTSIDE CREATIVITY

Graphic courtesy of the US OPEN

Join us for a day of fun and excitement at our first:

Courtside Creativity - Family Tennis & Art Event. This event is perfect for families and tennis enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Enjoy a variety of tennis activities, engaging games, and a creative art project inspired by the vibrant 2024 US OPEN artwork. Pizza will be provided for lunch!

Date: September 7, 2024

Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm

Location: Central Park Tennis Courts, Schenectady NY

Cost: $5 / person (no more than $20 per family – up to 2 adults

& children).

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, there’s something for everyone. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fantastic day filled with laughter, creativity, and tennis fun!

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the US OPEN while enjoying quality time with your friends and loved ones. See you on the courts!

We Applaud our Amazing Tennis Instructors

What a fantastic Summer! We would like to give a shout out to our amazing staff of tennis instructors! They did an excellent job this summer leading fun and engaging on and off court instruction.

Their training began by attending an American Red Cross CPR and AED training class, a USTA on-court training, meeting with members of our board of directors to discuss the game of life, and many more learning opportunities. Then they were off and running, leading tennis instruction at courts all around the region. This summer we saw over 4,000 kids on our courts and in our office, which included partnerships with many different camps and schools.

We are so proud of them and how well they work with each other and the participants. Take a moment to scroll down to meet this year's summer team.

You can view the full gallery of photos on our Facebook Page.

Azia Sky Barao

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Participant / junior instructor

Where do you attend school? Albany High School - 10th grade

What sites do you teach at? Hoffman Park and ASH

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 4 years, this is my first year as an instructor.

Who is your role model? My mom.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookies and Cream

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? the learning activities within 15-LOVE, not only do you get to play tennis you get to do activities that involve STEM.

Lila Boukarim

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Instructor

Where do you attend school? Binghamton University - I’m entering my Senior year!

What sites do you teach at? Frear Park, Prospect Park, Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club, and Albany School of Humanities

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 8 years, 6 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? Malala Yousafzai

Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Cookie Crumble!

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? I really love seeing the kids return year after year. I feel lucky to be able to watch them grow and develop into amazing people and tennis players. Seeing their enthusiasm about the program makes me feel really special!

Sven Ceniza

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Instructor

Where do you attend school? Maria College -  Junior

What sites do you teach at? Albany

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 14+ years, 8 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? Domingo Montes

Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? STEM activities

Theodore Ceniza

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Instructor

Where do you attend school? Albany High School - 10th grade

What sites do you teach at? Albany

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 13 years, 1 year as an instructor

Who is your role model? My Dad

Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? STEM

JJ Dalzell

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Coach

Where do you attend school? It will be my first year at Siena College

What sites do you teach at? Arbor Hill/Westland Hills

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 12 years, 2 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? Clinton

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookie dough ice cream

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? My favorite part of 15-LOVE are the STEM activities.

Juan Camilo Díaz

What is your role at 15-LOVE? trainee for coach

Where do you attend school? Guilderland High School - 11th Grade

What sites do you teach at? Jerry Burrell

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 1 year, this is my first year working at 15-LOVE

Who is your role model? My parents

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookie Dough

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? Drawing

Steven Gomez

What is your role at 15-LOVE? I am a tennis instructor.

Where do you attend school? Bethlehem High School  -  11th Grade

What sites do you teach at? Riverfront and Frear Park/Prospect Park

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? This is my first year as an instructor.

Who is your role model? My older brother.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Peanut butter pandemonium

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? How social everyone is with each other off of the court.

Jenifer Lalman

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Excellence student and tennis instructor



Where do you attend school? Schenectady High School - 12th grade

What sites do you teach at? Michigan Ave and Jerry Burrell/Central Park

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? I’ve been with the program for about 13 years and this is my second year working with them as well.

Who is your role model? My older brother

Favorite ice cream flavor? Right now it’s cotton candy.

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? The friendships I’ve made through my time with the program.

Daniel Lovely

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Coach

Where do you attend school? Texas A&M - Sophomore

What sites do you teach at? Camps

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? 3 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? My mom.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Chip

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? Interacting with other coaches and kids.

Benjamin Marino

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis instructor

Where do you attend school? Guilderland High School -  12th grade

What sites do you teach at? ASH, Sheridan prep, Giffen, Camp Metro

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? Pretty much my whole life, second year as an instructor

Who is your role model? I try to be like my mom and dad every day, I look up to them a lot.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate (or chocolate with peanut butter)

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? I enjoyed helping out at the camps over breaks.

Hasan Serville

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Instructor

Where do you attend school? HVCC -  Junior

What sites do you teach at? Michigan Avenue and Central Park courts.

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? This will be my third year working at 15-LOVE, but I have been apart of 15-LOVE for 6 or 7 years.

Who is your role model? My role model is my Grandma on my mother’s side, who we call Nanima.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Either Rocky Road or Pistachio Ice Cream.

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? Lunches at the office/Getting to pet Luna.

Matthew Marino

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Junior Instructor/Volunteer

Where do you attend school? Guilderland High School  -  Sophomore

What sites do you teach at? I go to ASH, Giffen, Sheridan Prep and Camp Metro.

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? Before I was born, first year as an instructor

Who is your role model? My Dad.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? I had fun with the kids doing the snap-copters (Flarbles) this summer

Josiah Spivey

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Instructor

Where do you attend school? HVCC - Junior

What sites do you teach at? Michigan Ave

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? Since I was about 6, 2 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? Domingo

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookie Dough



What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? Having fun with kids

Noah Spivey

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Instructor



Where do you attend school? Schenectady - Senior

What sites do you teach at? Schenectady

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? Since I was 4, 3 years as an instructor

Who is your role model? My dad

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookie Dough

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? The 15-LOVE Garden

Tirzah Spivey

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Tennis Instructor



Where do you attend school? Russell Sage College -  Junior

What sites do you teach at? Schenectady

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? I’ve been apart of the program since I was four! I have been teaching for the past four years.

Who is your role model? My parents

Favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate

What is your favorite off-court or other non-tennis part of 15-LOVE? The Jamboree

Chase Starker

What is your role at 15-LOVE? Coach/Instructor

Where do you attend school? Shenendehowa - Sophomore

What sites do you teach at? Jerry Burrell Park and Central Park

How long have you worked/been with 15-LOVE? I volunteered last year and this is my first year working

Who is your role model? The older employees here

Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla

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