Pancho Gonzalez (center) at the 2009 US Open (photo: Rob Loud/usopen.org)

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced it will award an annual Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant to one male and one female high school student of Hispanic heritage in honor of the tennis pioneer and Hall-of-Famer. The $5,000 grant -- $2,500 to each student -- was created to recognize students who aspire to reach excellence in both competitive tennis and the academic arena, and is part of the USTA's initiative to grow the game of tennis among Hispanic youth across the country.

The USTA recently honored Gonzalez's life and legacy during an on-court tribute at the 2009 US Open.

The two grant recipients must be currently enrolled in high school or home schooled with a high school equivalent curriculum, ranked in the Top 200 in their age categories in their USTA section or nationally, or have an ITF, ATP or WTA ranking, and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. The USTA will receive input from its Player Development coaches and staff during the selection process, and upon receiving the grants, regular reports detailing the recipients' progress will be required.   

"We are very proud to announce the Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant," said Lucy S. Garvin, chairman of the board and president, USTA. "Pancho Gonzalez was a trailblazer for Hispanic-American tennis players, and this grant will both further his legacy and assist those student athletes who continue to be inspired by his accomplishments."

"The Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant will help open doors for young Hispanic-Americans who have shown great abilities in both the classroom and on the tennis court," said Kevin Clayton, chief diversity officer, USTA. "We believe there is potential for extraordinary growth of tennis in Hispanic communities in this country, and the Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant will help realize this potential, and hopefully help us find a new generation of Pancho Gonzalezes."

The application deadline for initial Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant is Dec. 31, 2009, and the male and female recipients will be announced in February 2010. To apply for the Pancho Gonzalez Scholar Athlete Grant, or to find information on other awards and grants that might be available, please go to http://www.usta.com/USTA/Home/AboutUs/AwardsandGrants.aspx.