NEW YORK, N.Y. (Thursday, September 1, 2022) - The 2022 ITA Leadership Awards Weekend came to a close this past Sunday after an eventful two days of celebration, networking, and humanitarianism in and around the US Open. Included in this group was the inaugural winner of the Sally Ride STEM Award, Anna Tifrea (Fullerton, Calif. / Troy), a four-year player and two-year captain of the women's tennis team. Tifrea was honored with a postgraduate scholarship of $8,000 and an additional $2,000 donation was made to the Caltech women's team in her honor.
Prior to the ITA's first ever Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, where dignitaries from all
levels of tennis came together to celebrate the accomplishments of the national award winners, fourteen scholar-athletes, including Tifrea, took part in the Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open. They worked hand-in-hand with kids to teach basic tennis skills to many first-time players. Part of the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis and Learning Network, Arthur Ashe Kids Day brings kids and parents to the US Open where many are exposed to the sport of tennis for the first time in a fun and exciting way.
"The ITA Awards Weekend was an amazing experience," Tifrea said. "Getting the chance to volunteer on court at Arthur Ashe Kid's day, as well as to hit with a group of kids aspiring to become college tennis players at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, was really inspiring. It was incredible to work with them and provide mentorship and guidance. It was also an honor to receive the ITA Sally Ride STEM Award! It has definitely inspired me to keep playing tennis as I move forward in my career and continue to follow my dreams in science! I'm beyond excited to start in the MD/PhD program at UCSD next week, the home of the Sally Ride STEM Foundation. The weekend in New York was an incredible experience and was also a bit of a Caltech Tennis reunion. Kana Moriyama (2019) was captain of the women's team my freshman year, and Kevin Yu (2021) (far right) and Matthew Gonzalgo (2022) from the men's team were also there. It really set just the right tone as I transition to this next phase in my life!"
"College tennis continues to develop championship human beings on and off the court," said Dr. Timothy Russell, CEO of the ITA. "We are honored to acknowledge
Anna Tifrea as the winner of this prestigious, first-time award, named in honor of American icon, and first American woman in space, Sally Ride. Anna stands as a testament to the value that college tennis players bring to their campuses and communities and will bring to our American society and to the world."
