2021 NJTL Essay Contest presented by Deloitte: Application Now Open
The USTA Foundation NJTL Essay Contest application launched on March 24, 2021. NJTL student participants are invited to write their essay answering the following question:

Robert Ryland was an accomplished tennis player and coach. He was known for seeing the possibilities in those he coached and within himself. Mr. Ryland was the first African-American professional tennis player and the first African-American to play in the NCAA National Championships.

What facts about his story inspire you to break boundaries and excel in
school, sports, and to follow your dreams? What are your possibilities?


Deadline: NJTL Chapters must submit all entries via the USTA Foundation Funding and Program Portal no later than 12:00 PM EDT on Monday, July 21, 2021.*

Attached below are the materials to help NJTL chapters promote this special opportunity for NJTL youth. Each NJTL chapter is encouraged to set a local deadline for its Essay Contest entries, and to include that on the customizable poster provided. 

For 2021, we have put together helpful tools for administering the 2021 NJTL Essay Contest to your organization's youth participants. That document, downloadable here and below, contains the following:

  • Full submission instructions
  • Additional Resources that includes a supplementary video and articles on Mr. Ryland. The aforementioned brief video about Mr. Ryland's life can also be viewed here.
  • Discussion points and questions to ask on both Mr. Ryland and the NCAA to help with your youth's content and structure of their essays.

*NJTL Chapters are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2021 USTA Foundation NJTL Essay Contest.
Instructional Webinar on Process
To review the submission process, we are hosting a webinar on March 31, 2021 at 1 PM EDT.

A zoom link for the webinar will be sent via calendar invitation to the Executive Director/Leader and primary contacts designated in the most recent NJTL Enrollment cycle.

If you would like to add additional staff member to the webinar invitation, please email njtl@usta.com.
Award Selection and Notification
USTA Sections will provide their list of Section winners to the USTA Foundation on or before 12:00 PM EDT on Friday, August 20, 2021.

The National Essay Contest Judging Committee will review and select the National winners on or before Friday, August 27, 2021.

The National winners and their NJTL Chapter Executive Director will be notified the week of August 30, 2021.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the 2021 NJTL Essay Contest presented by Deloitte, please contact us at njtl@usta.com.
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