Bethune-Cookman University is poised to make history as the U.S. Tennis Association prepares to donate $100,000 to construct the university’s first on-campus tennis courts. The check presentation ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bethune-Cookman Performing Arts Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. This funding is pivotal for the B-CU athletics program and its student-athletes.
B-CU is home to a women’s tennis team that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but the university has yet to establish a men’s tennis program. The Wildcats have so far struggled with off-site practice and competition, which has limited student involvement and presented logistical issues. The institution hopes that the on-campus facilities will improve its recruiting efforts, support player development, and create a culture of championship-winning athletics.
At the ceremony, USTA leaders will speak about their dedication to promoting tennis at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and university officials will stress the importance of the new courts.
The women’s team has participated in prominent competitions, including the HBCU National Championships in September and the SWAC Fall Tournament in October. Their season resumed in January, culminating in the team’s pursuit of success at the SWAC Championship in New Orleans this April.
This donation comes after tennis champion Coco Gauff launched a similar $100,000 scholarship program earlier this month to support HBCU students playing competitive tennis through the UNCF.
In addition to being a positive move for B-CU, the funding supports the USTA’s overarching goal of fostering the sport of tennis at HBCUs.