USTA Long Island Awards Dinner Nominations Now Open

May 28, 2022 | By Press Release
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USTA Eastern’s Long Island Region celebration of Long Island’s tennis community will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at Chateau Briand Caterers in Westbury, N.Y. Th

With this event, the Long Island Region looks forward to recognizing the achievements of individuals, facilities and organizations who have gone above and beyond, both on the court and off. Some awardees will be honored for their tennis play and/or rankings, while our Prestigious and Excellence award recipients are nominated by the Long Island tennis community. 

USTA Long Island  is accepting nominations for the 2022 ceremony. They can be emailed to ustaonlongisland@gmail.com and must include the following:

 

►Name of nominee and nominee’s email address

►Nominee’s address and phone number

►Award for which you are nominating this person/organization

►Short paragraph on why the nominee is deserving of this award

►Your name and email address in case we have any questions


 

Please note that all communications with awardees will be electronic, so email addresses are required for all nominees.

Please remember that awardees should be USTA members or member organizations. Click here for a list of past winners. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Nominations can be made in the following categories:


 

Prestigous Awards

Hy Zausner Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement both on and off the tennis court on Long Island. It is given in memory of Mr. Zausner, the founder of the Port Washington Tennis Academy in 1966. A former Boy Scout leader, he believed in the philosophy of giving back to others and built his tennis academy to give the community an activity, keep children out of trouble and steer them away from alcohol and drugs. Hy Zausner passed away in 1992.

 

Vitas Gerulaitis “For the Love of Tennis” Award: This award honors an individual who demonstrates his or her love of the game through volunteering, supporting tennis programs and helping grow tennis throughout Long Island. It is given in recognition of Long Island tennis supporter and former world #3 professional tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis, who passed away at the age of 40 in 1994. 

 

Arthur Ashe Multicultural Award: This award is given to a tennis player who embraces diversity, serves as an ambassador for the game of tennis, exhibits unmatched sportsmanship and shares his or her love of the game with others. It is given in memory of former world #1 player Arthur Ashe, the first African American player selected to the US Davis Cup Team.

 

Rose Buck Scalamandre Tennis Family of the Year Award: This award recognizes a family whose members foster the love of the game among new generations. Recipients support tennis on Long Island by either playing or volunteering their time and abilities to grow the game and serve the community. Ms. Scalamandre, the owner of Freeport Indoor Tennis, was an avid supporter of the USTA Long Island Region and, for many years, donated court time free of charge to the Nassau County high school counties’ tennis tournament in case of inclement weather.


 

Excellence Awards

Adult Volunteer of the Year: This award recognizes an adult’s exemplary volunteer efforts on behalf of Long Island tennis.

Charles Karp Memorial Award for Overcoming Adversity: Given to a tennis player who has overcome a serious medical condition or disability, this award was created in memory of Mr. Karp, an avid supporter of tennis on Long Island and the USTA Long Island Region. Mr. Karp overcame adversity by returning to the courts to enjoy his favorite sport after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis.

Daniel Burgess, Sr. Community Service Award: This award is bestowed upon an individual, group or organization whose dedication to serving the tennis community is outstanding and unique. The award is named in memory of longtime USTA Long Island volunteer, board member and three-term president Daniel Burgess. Mr. Burgess was a fixture on the local courts for many years and devoted his life and career to helping his community through tennis. He passed away in the fall of 2020.

Corporate/Retail/Press Service Award: This award goes to an individual, company, retailer or news organization that has gone above and beyond to support Long Island tennis.

Good Samaritan Award: This award goes to an individual or organization that has done something above and beyond to help a tennis player, facility or the general tennis community.

Innovative Tennis Program of the Year: This award goes to a new, unique or unusual tennis program.

Junior Team Tennis Award: This award recognizes a junior team tennis program for its achievements both on and off the court.           

Junior Volunteer of the Year: This award recognizes a young adult’s exemplary volunteer efforts on behalf of tennis. 

Madeline Zausner Junior Tournament Director Award: This award recognizes a junior tournament director for outstanding service and effort. It is given to someone who goes above and beyond to schedule and run junior tournaments as well as ensure they operate smoothly and focus on sportsmanship. Mrs. Zausner, the most familiar face at the Port Washington Tennis Academy for 40 years, was the tournament director at hundreds of Eastern Tennis Association tournaments for l8-and-under players.

Outdoor Tennis Site of the Year: This award is given to an outdoor public tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

Private Club of the Year: This award is given to a private tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

10-and-Under Tennis Award: This award recognizes an individual or program that is focused on introducing tennis to young children.

Tennis Club of the Year: This award is given to a public or private indoor tennis facility that has demonstrated its support for growing the game.

Tennis Professional of the Year (Adult): This award recognizes an outstanding teaching pro for their work with adults.

Tennis Professional of the Year (Junior): This award recognizes an outstanding teaching pro for their work with juniors.

USTA School/Child Care Tennis Program: This award recognizes a unique school or child care tennis program that brings tennis learning into the community or schools.

Long Island High School Tennis Team of the Year: This award is given to a public or private high school on Long Island that exemplifies sportsmanship and encourages the growth of the game by ensuring that young players experience the fun of representing their school tennis teams and participating in community service events.  

Birdie Tarulli League Captain Sportsmanship Award: This award is given to a female USTA League Captain who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship both on the court and off.  Ms. Tarulli was an active USTA League captain for many years, leading both adult and senior teams out of Rockville Racquet Club in Rockville Centre, as well as participating in the North Shore Tennis League out of Hempstead Country Club. As a captain, she always played her teammates first; she would put herself in the line-up only if needed.  She could always be seen at the window cheering on her teammates.

Blane Magee League Captain Sportsmanship Award: This award is given to a male USTA League Captain who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship both on the court and off. Blane Magee loved playing tennis throughout his life. He was a member of several USTA League teams over the years and was a dedicated and unselfish captain at Rockville Racquet Club for almost two decades. He also enjoyed playing in Rockville’s Sunday morning “Ego League” for many years.

 


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