Reading Programs

Individual Reading Program

The HCCTA partners with local libraries in Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville to support their summer youth reading programs. We promote library programs to our own players and donate tennis- related prizes to each library to encourage kids to read, set and attain reading goals, and build an interest in tennis. Children who meet the reading criteria set by each library are eligible to win prizes. Prizes have included tickets to the RCA Championship tournament, tennis racquets, tennis lessons, and other equipment. We thank all our sponsors for their help and donations for these programs. In the photo at right Jeff Easton, Carmel Racquet Club, presents tennis equipment to Melissa Stewart, Fishers and Noblesville libraries, and Linda Lewis, Westfield Public Library, to assist with their summer youth reading programs.

Community Reading Program

HCCTA sponsors an annual community reading program for Hamilton County high school tennis teams, coaches, families and friends. Our community reading program reinforces the value of reading, builds team unity and fosters a sense of community by reading books like Arthur Ashe's autobiography Days of Grace.

In a recent program, college and professional football legend Barry Krauss spent thirty minutes with the Hamilton Southeastern High School Royals boys tennis team during practice. Barry played college football for the University of Alabama under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and is well known for his goal line stop in the national championship game versus an undefeated Penn State team. Barry talked with the players about the keys to having a successful life. He spoke to them about getting ready for those “big plays” that occur at random times, and talked about how the fundamentals are how to be ready when the moment arrives. Click here for the full story.

Barry’s talk was sponsored by the Hamilton County Community Tennis Association as part of their Community Reads program. Barry Krauss will also be speaking about his book as part of the Spirit and Place Festival at a free event at The Hawthorns Country Club on Wednesday, November 14th from 6-8 PM.

This program is supported by our own student-advisory panel, made up of members from local schools. The goals of the HCCTA Community Reads program are to:

• Promote education through tennis.
• Promote community service through tennis.
• Promote diversity and inclusion through tennis.

HCCTA donates tennis racquets, balls and other tennis related items to the summer youth reading programs at Westfield, Noblesville and Fishers libraries. At the beginning of the program, each participant is provided with the selected book and a schedule of activities. During the program there are a series of book discussion meetings at local libraries led by a facilitator to discuss topics such as diversity, human relationships, and more. Participants complete the program with an enhanced awareness of these important topics and a greater love of reading. As follow-up activities the teams may participate in team community service projects in Hamilton county.

In 2006, our program covered Gale Sayer's book  I am Third  and focused on how athletes make their communities better places to live by serving others in humanitarian ways.  Arthur Ashe's Days of Grace was the 2005 HCCTA Community Reads book. Indianapolis diversity leaders led public discussions and Ms. Chris Beck, life long friend of Ashe's, gave a public lecture at the Hawthorns Golf & Country Club about Ashe's humanitarian work throughout the world.

The HCCTA Reading Programs are funded through a grant from the United States Tennis & Education Foundation. Students who participate in the HCCTA Community Reads activities may count them as HCCTA Community Service when applying for HCCTA College Scholarships (see Scholarships for more information).

The HCCTA Community Reads program is administered by the HCCTA Student Advisory Committee (SAC). SAC the selects the book, organizes the public event, coordinates special events for the individual tennis teams in Hamilton county and promotes education and community service throughout their high schools. Serving on the 2007 HCCTA Student Advisory Committee are Kat Brinegar (Noblesville), Alicia Cousins (Carmel), Michael Farley (Hamilton Southeastern), Kush Govani (Carmel), Harrison Hines (Carmel), Eric Hudson (Carmel), Mandy Learned (Noblesville), Meelyn Pandit (Noblesville), Emily Rehberg (Westfield), Christy Rubeiz (Carmel).

Our next community reading program is under development and we expect to partner will be scheduled soon. We will post information on this site as well as through our email newsletter. For more information about HCCTA Community Reads and Individual Reads contact Helen Moser Petersen at .

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