For a program called Tennis Success, one would think it’s whole mantra would be: tennis. However, here, it is homework first, tennis second.
“It is not going to be all tennis and fun because we want you to learn,” Executive Director Jacquelyn Robles Jones said.
The program is recognized by the United States Tennis Association.
Education, tennis and healthy living are the three aspects the program likes to stand by and education is their cornerstone. They do all they can to make sure their students are in a good place in school.
“We do monitor their grades and we help them in the areas each student needs,” Robles Jones said.
The program has an astonishing 63% college graduation rate among their low income families, that is 49% higher than the national average.
While education is at the forefront of the program, there is plenty of tennis practice involved. The majority of the older students in the program are a part of their high school tennis teams and use Tennis Success to improve their skills.
“My serving has got a lot better,” Freshman Valeria Quezada said. “We are still working on my swing.”
The program has kids that range from elementary to high school. Kids come in after school and there are a variety of different reasons kids come to the program. Some are strictly there to improve on their tennis while others are their due to poor family situations. Nonetheless the program welcomes each and every student with open arms.
“It’s a beautiful way of making new friends beautiful way of making a new family but also to develop more life skills,” Volunteer and former student Celeso Gonzales said.
The program runs Monday through Thursday after school until 6:30 p.m. You can find all their information on their website mytennissuccess.com.
