December 6th, 2024
USTA Florida Awards Second HBCU Program Support Grant to Florida A&M University
TALLAHASSEE, FLA., DECEMBER 5 – USTA Florida is proud to announce that Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) has been selected as the recipient of the organization’s second-ever Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program Support Grant. This grant, which provides $100,000 to help support and grow the tennis program, continues USTA Florida’s commitment to fostering growth, diversity, and inclusion in tennis through targeted support of HBCU institutions across the state.
“This grant was created based on direct input from staff delivering tennis programs at HBCUs in Florida. It’s important that we understand unique challenges that HBCUs face in recruiting students to play tennis, and we are committed to working alongside your team to support them in growing the tennis program at FAMU,” said Chuck Gill, President of USTA Florida.
FAMU can use the funding to support student-athlete engagement by applying the funds toward various needs, including court improvements, tennis equipment, scholarships for Florida students, and additional coach education. The grant can also enable the university to expand outreach to local youth, encouraging participation in tennis while building a stronger connection between FAMU and the surrounding community.
Following the presentation of the grant, FAMU representatives joined Play Tennis Gainesville Director of Tennis George Henry for a Q&A session. FAMU Head Coach, Rochelle “Coach Nikki” Houston, Assistant Coach, Earl Wade, Athletic Director Angela Suggs, and a player, Genesis Whitelock all shared their thoughts on the future of Florida tennis at FAMU, other HBCUs, and expressed their gratitude.
“This grant is the largest grant ever. Thank you, for your forward thinking, for believing and giving us a chance,” Earl Wade, FAMU Assistant Tennis Coach said. “We want to keep these dialogues going and talk about our progress and how the FAMU program continues to grow.”
USTA Florida launched its HBCU Program Support Grant initiative earlier in 2024 to strengthen relationships with HBCUs and provide meaningful resources that enhance tennis programming on their campuses. The program seeks to create sustainable pathways for students of all backgrounds to engage with tennis, whether recreationally or competitively.
FAMU is the second institution to receive this support, following a successful grant awarded to Edward Waters University (EWU) in Jacksonville in October. The EWU grant has already impacted the team’s recruiting efforts, and USTA Florida anticipates similar success with FAMU.