First Serve Memphis provides academic, life skills and tennis programming that challenges and inspires underserved young people who are dedicated to succeed in life.
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Whitehaven Community Center
2318 Graceland Drive
Memphis, TN 38116
Program Coordinator: Kent Smith
E-mail: ksmith@tennismemphis.org
Phone: (901) 230.2084
| Bellevue Tennis Center
1239 Orgill Road
Memphis, TN 38106
Program Coordinator: Kent Smith
E-mail: ksmith@tennismemphis.org
Phone: (901) 237.5677
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First Serve Student Spotlight
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| Curtis Bell, age 11 |
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Bellevue Center Student
Curtis Bell, Age 11
5th Grader at Hamilton Elementary
Curtis Bell is becoming a familiar face in our after-school program. He was a student at Orleans Elementary when he was enrolled in an after school tennis and education program that was sponsored by Tennis Memphis and was a joint project with Orleans Elementary and LeMoyne Owen College. Curtis is part of a neighborhood organization, Census Track 61 Neighborhood Council. Curtis was also a part of the summer tennis program during the summer of 2008. He is a very enthusiastic tennis student and learns very quickly. He said what he most enjoys about tennis is the competition.
Curtis’ best subject in school is Math and especially multiplication. He hopes to be doctor one day. While not at school Curtis enjoys watching the Disney channel. Oh, and by the way, his favorite shot is his forehand!
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| Johnathan Green, age 10 |
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Whitehaven Center Student
Johnathan L. Green, age 10
4th Grader at Robert R. Church Elementary
Johnathan is the most enthusiastic student to enter the First Serve Memphis program in a long time. He is an exciting young man with a lot of energy and charisma for someone his age. This is his first year with the program. He is a good student and his grades have already improved in the short time that he has been with us.
Said former First Serve Memphis Coordinator Aaron Mayo, "He has quickly developed a love for the game of tennis that is unsurpassed by any child currently attending the First Serve Memphis program. He is a joy to have around and a role model for the other students to aspire to be. It is my pleasure to work with such a young gentleman as he is." Johnathan was asked what he thought about the program:
How has First Serve Memphis helped you in school?
It has helped me improve my grades in math, spelling, and grammar.
What do you like most about First Serve Memphis?
I like being able to learn how to play tennis.
What would you be doing after school if you were not in the program?
I would be at home playing video games.
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First Serve Program Details: Daily Activities
Education:
Students participate in daily tutoring/homework assistance, and the First Serve National Student Athlete Competition. All report cards are collected and each student’s academic performance is closely monitored. Scholarship Information
Life Skills:
A select group of students participate in the nationally acclaimed First Serve Life Skills Curriculum™ and progress through the 3 levels of the program, GAME, SET, & MATCH. Each level takes approximately one school year from which to graduate. For a sample lesson from the First Serve Life Skills Curriculum™, please click here.
Tennis:
Students participate in tennis practice a minimum of two times perweek during the school year. Students also participate in “play days” and matches with the First serve Memphis site and other local tennis programs. A number of students play on the high school tennis team and compete in USTA sanctioned tournaments locally and out of town. The goal of First Serve Memphis tennis program is to foster the enjoyment of the lifetime sport of tennis in its participants, not to produce tennis champions.
First Serve National Student Athlete Competition
First Serve Student Athlete Competition Rankings
Field Trips
First Serve Memphis students have the opportunity to participate in several activities such as trips to the Regions Morgan Keegan and Cellular South Cup tennis tournaments, college tennis team matches and other local events.
Background:
First Serve Memphis is a partnership between the First Serve National Office and Tennis Memphis. Tennis Memphis, a 501 c 3 not for profit organization, operates First Serve Memphis and manages the public tennis centers in Memphis. Programming takes place after school and during the summer at the Ed Rice Community Center, Frayser Tennis Center, Whitehaven Community Center and Eldon Roark Tennis Center in the Frayser and Whitehaven neighborhoods.
First Serve Memphis first opened its Frayser site in December 2007. This was made possible through grants and contributions from the United States Tennis Association,The John Dustin Buckman Charitable Trust, Allen Morgan and the Thomas Briggs Foundation. Secondly, our Whitehaven site opened in June of 2008 through grants from the United Parcel Service and the United States Tennis Association and the Ford Foundation as part of a Community Building Initiative pilot project. In the Winter of 2009, the Bellevue Center was opened.
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| Aaron Mayo, Stephen Lang, Kent Smith, Mark Ottinger |
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2009 - 2010 NJTL National Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Winners!
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| Sherita Bell |
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| Shaundrica Carter |
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First Serve Graduation Ceremony at the Learning Center in Whitehaven (May 2009)
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| Mural of tennis greats at the Frayser Center |
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