Local Eastside High School senior, Nylee Alston, was one of just 10 students across the county to win the United States Tennis Association Foundation’s National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) nationwide essay contest. She was chosen for top honors out of 1,000 other entires and will be getting a $5,000 award.

Nylee has been participating in the Aces in Motion program which is a free after-school program that according to its website “promotes academic achievement, life skills development and healthy lifestyles.” The program mainly uses tennis and other enrichment activities to teach these skills.

“The program and the coaches really push you to be the best you can be,” said Nylee in a press release. “It’s helped me feel more confident.”

Nylee’s prompt for the NJTL essay competition was: “Everyone measures success differently. How do you measure success in your academics, tennis and character development?” And in her essay, she wrote about how a ‘tennis mindset’ has helped her achieve success by working with people, learning patience, learning leadership and pushing herself.

“We are so proud of Nylee, not only for winning such a prestigious award but for being the first AIM participant to do so,” said Executive Director Addison Staples.

There were four other state-level winners in the essay competition from local schools. They include: Howard Bishop Middle 8th-grader Jadah Clark in the 14 and Under Female category; Eastside High senior Audrianna Mosley in the 16 and Under Female category; Eastside High junior Javon Marshall in the 16 and Under Male category; and Eastside High junior Jeffery Hamilton in the 18 and Under Male category. Nylee was also the state winner in the 18 and Under Female category.

Picture of Nylee Alston, provided by ACPS

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