NEW MEXICO NATIVES JULIANA GUERIN AND MICHAEL TRAN
CHOSEN AS 2014 SOUTHWEST TENNIS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Both to receive $2,000 scholarships from Southwest Tennis Foundation
Two New Mexico natives were recently awarded Southwest Tennis Foundation college scholarships for excellence both on and off the tennis court.
Graduating high school seniors Michael Tran (Albuquerque, NM) and Juliana Guerin (Las Vegas, NM) each received these one-time $2,000 scholarship awards from the Foundation to be used for college expenses.
Tran (La Cueva High School) - pictured, right - has been a stalwart USTA player ever since he was a small boy, participating in USTA tournaments locally, sectionally, and nationally. He's been a member of Jr. Team Tennis squads, several USTA Southwest travel teams, and high school state championship teams for La Cueva.
Tran has been a perennial top 5 in the Southwest, and among the top 75 nationally in just about every age division since Boys' 12s.
Off the court, Tran is just as successful, posting a 3.857 GPA at La Cueva. Among his other lofty academic credentials, Tran is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, English Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society, and has volunteered with Rally for the Cure, an annual event held in conjunction with the Coleman Vision USTA Pro Circuit event in Albuquerque, as well as with the Roadrunner Food Bank.
Tran will be attending University of New Mexico this fall, with an anticipated major in Biology, and goals of medical school in his future.
"Throughout my life, I have always wanted to become a UNM Lobo and play tennis for them," said Tran. "I've worked pretty hard athletically and academically to get to where I am now. College is expensive and medical school will be as well. I've been applying for scholarships all over. I was quite pleased to get this award."
Guerin - of Robertson High School in Las Vegas, NM - was also a dynamo both on and off the tennis court, with multiple distinctions and awards already bestowed upon her by several different organizations.
Last year she was named the 'Mayor of Las Vegas Award for Outstanding Athlete in the Community'. She was the No.1 player on her Robertson High team from eighth grade until her senior year, captured multiple state 3A singles championships, played Jr. Team Tennis, and was a consistent Top 20 USTA Southwest-ranked performer in all age groups.
A three-sport athlete at Robertson (tennis, track and field, volleyball), Guerin still managed to find time for several extra-curricular activities, including National Honor Society, Dream Makers, the 4-H Club, and volunteered at nursing homes, hospitals and animal shelters, toy drives, and several relays and charity walks for community causes.
She also volunteers as a tutor for Paul D. Henry Elementary in Las Vegas an hour a day.
Guerin was a 4.0 student, and already has 30 hours of college credit taken care of already. Like Tran, she plans on majoring in Biology.
"No matter what I've done, I've never been able to get enough tennis in my life, and it's become a huge part of who I was an am today," said Guerin. "Tennis taught me how to set goals for myself and do whatever it takes to achieve. I'm very proud and humbled to receive this award."
Both are pictured below with USTA Northern New Mexico president Joe Felice, who presented both with their checks from the Southwest Tennis Foundation.
About the Southwest Tennis Foundation
The Southwest Tennis Foundation is a 501 (c)3 organization and the charitable, fundraising arm of USTA Southwest. It awards several scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding abilities on the court and in the classroom each year. The Foundation is 100% reliant on contributions and donations to fulfill its charitable good works in our Southwest Tennis communities.
For more information on both SWTF scholarship recipients, contact USTA Southwest Marketing & Communications Manager, Jeff Sikes at sikes@southwest.usta.com or (480) 289-2351 x. 109.