2011
SquashSmarts Celebrates 10th Anniversary
11-2011
Last Friday, 60 students blew out of the candles on the cake as SquashSmarts officially turned 10 years old at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Highlights from the event include:
-Speeches from 9th Grade Students Monisha Das and Yassir Jackson who spoke about how thankful they are for the opportunities SquashSmarts has given them and how being part of this team has improved their lives.
-Inspiring words from parents Daphne Young and Ken Bowden who talked about the influence SquashSmarts has had on their struggling families over the years and from Molly Pierce and Chase Lenfest, our Honorary Co-Chairs and long-time supporters.
-An updated student video which details the accomplishments of our outstanding Alumni, many of whom are graduating college soon!
-Squash exhibition featuring SquashSmarts' Alumna Sakora Miller and Senior Captain Dewon Flythe, Drexel's John White and Eric Ziller, Trinity's Paul Assainte, Catalina Pelaez, and Andres Vargas, Young Friends Radhika Cobb and Chris O'Connell, members of the Pierce Family, and over a dozen squash professionals from the area.
While the candles might be out, the celebration continues this year! If you're not already involved, now's the perfect time. See below for ways to get involved!
Students and Citizens Bank Give Back on GPC Day
On Saturday, October 22nd, our 5th through 7th grade students were excited to partner with Citizens Bank for Greater Philadelphia Cares Day. We started the day with a communication exercise to teach the
kids to actively listen, broke into small groups for a serving learning lesson about the environment and finally, hit the neighborhood for some street beautification. Students were so inspired by the
transformation that one even remarked, "I'm going to go back to my street and do this!" After their service, our students taught the volunteers how to play their favorite game- squash!
Thank you Citizens Bank for continuing to support us and Greater Philadelphia Cares for organizing this wonderful city-wide initiative!
Bigs and Littles Partner with SquashSmarts
Last Saturday, we were thrilled to welcome a new partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters, to the Lenfest Center for a squash clinic, tournament and pizza party. Highlights include:
-Introducing the sport of squash to forty Bigs and Littles
-A warm welcome from BBBS Chief Executive Officer, Marlene Olshan, and Big Brother Mentor and squash player Shanin Specter.
-A tournament run by 14 members of our High School Team in which Big/Little pairs competed in squash-related challenges like target hitting, hitting above the line, and of coure, sprints!
Thank you Big Brothers Big Sisters for a wonderful day!
Register Today for U.S. Squash Sanctioned Junior Tournament
From December 2nd to December 4th, SquashSmarts will host the Pierce Junior Silver Tournament at the Lenfest Center. Please click here for the entry form which should kindly be submitted by Monday, November 28th. We hope to see you there!
Internship Opportunities Available
SquashSmarts is currently accepting applications for Interns and Volunteers for Winter, Spring, and Summer. If you are a high school or college student and are interested in a meaningful opportunity, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.221.6860. Those with and without squash experience will be considered. We look forward to meeting you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
SquashSmarts will be closed from Wednesday, November 22 to Sunday, November 27th. Happy Thanksgiving from our staff and students!
October Updates
10-2011
SquashSmarts Class of 2019
US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University
10th Anniversary Ticket Information
Volunteer this Saturday with SquashSmarts
SquashSmarts Welcomes Class of 2019
Last month, SquashSmarts opened the Lenfest Center doors to over 60 eager students, all hoping for a spot in the Class of 2019. After a series of activities that allowed students to demonstrate their commitment, effort and attitude, we are pleased to welcome 28 of the most dedicated students. Practices for new students have begun and they couldn't be more excited! We encourage you to stop by to meet them! Please see below for our program schedule.
SquashSmarts Program Schedule for 2011-2012 Year
Monday through Thursday from 4:15pm to 6:15pm
-Mon/Wed: 8th-12th Grades
-Tues/Thurs: 5th-7th Grades
Most Saturdays from 10am to 12pm: 5th-12th Grades
Location: The Lenfest Center, 2nd Floor - 3890 N. 10th Street - Philadelphia, PA 19140
SquashSmarts Participates in US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University
SquashSmarts was thrilled to participate in the first ever US Open Squash Championships in Philadelphia from October 1st to 6th at Drexel University. Some of the highlights include:
-SquashSmarts Kids Day, the kickoff event in which 80 students and over 30 volunteers saw their first all-glass court, tested their speed and accuracy and competed in a US Open academic game.
-Shaking hands and getting autographs from squash professionals includingPSRA #1 Nick Matthew, WISPA #1 Nicol David, and WISPA #6 (and Tournament Finalist) Kasey Brown.
-Alumni Quinetta Bowden, Tempest Bowden, and Mithun Das volunteering for the tournament alongside Drexel students.
-Amazing seats for the semi-final and final matches. Congratulations US Open Squash Champions Amr Shabana and Laura Massaro.
Thank you to everyone who made our students' participation in this event possible including US Squash, Drexel University, and Julie Harris for her wonderful photography.
10th Anniversary Celebration: Have You Purchased YOUR Ticket Yet?
Join us on 11/11/11 for our 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. The event with feature a squash exhibition with World Champion John White, a live auction with Jon Freeman, casino games, young friends activities, a student performance, video and more! Buy tickets online here. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are also available. Please contact us with any questions at 215.221.6860 or [email protected].
Volunteer this Saturday with SquashSmarts
Please join us this Saturday, October 22nd, from 10am to 12:30pm as SquashSmarts teams up with Citizens Bank as part of Greater Philadelphia Cares Day. Activities include one-on-one mentoring with our students and facility and neighborhood beautification. To sign up as a volunteer, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.221.6860.
SquashSmarts Returns Home from Urban Squash Nationals!
06-2011
Forty-one student-athletes proudly represented the Philadelphia’s SquashSmarts program at the 2011 National Urban Squash Championships this past weekend at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
On-court sweat and sportsmanship + off-court life-lessons and camaraderie ruled the three-day weekend which featured 370 inner-city students and staff from 10 National Urban Squash & Education Association (NUSEA) member programs around the country.
Students toured the Williams College campus, slept in the college dormitories, ate meals in the cafeteria, and enjoyed downtime in the pool and basketball courts throughout this action-packed weekend that is the culmination of the SquashSmarts season.
Of particular note, 23 SquashSmarts middle school students made their rookie debut at Nationals while 30 of our athletes won over 50 individual squash matches! Highlights below.
An enormous thank you to SquashSmarts Board Member Chase Lenfest for making his 3rd consecutive trip to Urban Nationals to cheer on our students, and to Alex Buxbaum, Tim Regetta and Mithun Das who each gave their time to travel with the team as volunteer chaperones and inspirational coaches!
2011 SquashSmarts Results
Dewon Flythe B19 Round of 16
Shenae Walters G17 Round of 16
Gopal Mondol B17 Consolation Quarterfinalist
Marcus Major B17 Round of 16
Koffi Yetoh B15 Quarterfinalist
Oscar Merino B15 Quarterfinalist
Fahim Ali B15 Consolation Quarterfinalist
Tyron Rivers B15 Consolation Plate Champion
Dodanim Garcia B15 Consolation Plate Finalist
Niangel Thompson G13 Consolation Plate Finalist
Tatyana Neal G13 Quarterfinalist
Colesto Williams G13 Consolation Semifinalist
2011 SquashSmarts Academic Contest Nominees
Shenae Walters Creative Writing
Dewon Flythe Creative Art
Malik Davis Creative Writing
Phech Kong Loa Creative Art
Xavier Herrera Creative Writing
Kyah Flythe Creative Art
2011 SquashSmarts Sportsmanship Awards
Monisha Das
Dewon Flythe
Dionis Herrera
Xavier Herrera
Wayne Hill
Andrew Holliman
Oscar Merino
Tatyana Neal
Kenney Outlaw
Justin Roebuck
Danielle Smith
Shenae Walters
Get Involved this Summer
The school year may be over, but the summer is just getting started! The following opportunities to get involved with SquashSmarts are available this summer:
Embrace Camp Players and Counselors (Week of July 18-22): For beginner squash players going into grades 6-8, join us for a week filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment. High school and college players welcome as chaperons.
Summer Practice Volunteers (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm, June 29th through August 4th, Lenfest Center and Daskalakis Athletic Center): As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support in the areas of music and the arts as well as remedial math and literacy skills are also needed in our classroom. Exact summer practice dates are below:
Student Updates
06-2011
SquashSmarts Celebrates a Wonderful Year
Last Saturday, we were pleased to celebrate the end of an incredible program year with our students, their families, and many of our supporters. Students were inspired by the encouraging words of Keynote Speaker, Jim Ellis, legendary founder of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation Swim Team. We were thrilled to recognize all of students' hard work and dedication, but were especially pleased to reward the following students for their outstanding efforts this year:
Player of the Year and Ford Williams Scholarship Winner
Dewon Flythe
Community Service and Leadership Stars
Raven Whitaker, Alleisha Outlaw, Justin Roebuck
Squash Stars
Rabbi Awsan, Tyzja Faison, Oscar Merino
Academic Stars
Monisha Das, Estreanna Green, Hanief Henderson-Gaskins
Rookies of the Year
Tatyana Neal and Dionis Herrera
Additionally, we want to recognize our outstanding 8th grade students who graduated from Morton McMichael School yesterday (Chris Neal and Myles Young pictured) and Charles Drew and Roberto Clemente tomorrow!
Get Involved this Summer
The school year may be over, but the summer is just getting started! The following opportunities to get involved with SquashSmarts are available this summer:
Embrace Camp Players and Counselors (Week of July 18-22): For beginner squash players going into grades 6-8, join us for a week filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment. High school and college players welcome as chaperons.
Summer Practice Volunteers (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm, June 29th through August 4th): SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support in the areas of music and the arts as well as remedial math and literacy skills are also needed in our classroom.
Off We Go!
42 students and 8 adults will represent SquashSmarts this weekend at Williams College for the National Urban Squash and Education Association's Urban Individual Tournament in Williamstown, Massachusetts. This is the culmination of a fantastic year and our kids could not be more excited! Please be thinking of them this weekend!
Volunteers Make All the Difference
SquashSmarts wishes to thank all of our amazing volunteers! We are thrilled that this year, 267 volunteers gave an astounding 3280 hours of their time to our students. Special recognition goes out to the following volunteers who completed 40 or more hours this year:
May Updates
05-2013
Students Run For A Cause
On April 10th, SquashSmarts partnered with Legs Against Arms who are “committed to changing the social norm that celebrates violence by focusing on violence prevention” and hosts an annual 5K run/walk. On that Sunday morning, 11 students, 3 staff members, and 1 volunteer woke up extra early that day to participate in the event. Students and staff paired up, both walking and running in the event. SquashSmarts even had its own star that day, Bairon Garcia, a 6th grade student who finished in 4th place for his age group with a time of 27 min and 06 seconds. SquashSmarts celebrated afterwards, filling up on post race snacks and playing a game of catch on the track field of St. Joe’s University. The students were so proud of themselves that day, and are eager to do more 5Ks to stand up for what they believe in!
Help Our Kids Have A Summer To Remember
Student Summer Opportunities Available:
-Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 1 position still available. Click here for a detailed job description.
-Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
-Summer Practice Volunteer (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm): SquashSmarts SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support is also needed for the classroom.
Camp Sponsorship Opportunities Available
SquashSmarts takes pride in the work we do to create a remarkable summer experience for each of our students. In addition to running programming throughout the summer, we are sending our kids to a variety of camps ranging from squash to theatre! By sponsoring a camp experience for a student, you will make their summer an unforgettable one! The following sponsorship opportunities are available.
Berwyn Squash Camp
College Settlement
Cynwyd Club Squash Camp
Germantown Cricket Club Squash Camp
Holleran Squash Camp
Merion Cricket Club Squash Camp
Nicol Squash Camp
Outward Bound
Philadelphia Cricket Club Squash Camp
Philly Improv Theatre Teen Improv Camp
Universal Squash Camp in London
For more information on student summer opportunities or to sponsor a camp, please contact Katie at[email protected] / 215.895.4963
High School Acceptances Coming In!
Every year we take our 8th grade students through the rigorous high school acceptance process which includes navigating the School District of Philadelphia's intensive application process, writing essays, learning interview skills and visiting and applying to charter schools. Though many of our 8th grade students are still deciding, we are pleased to announce where the following students will be embarking on their high school journey:
Rabbi Awsan: Science Leadership Academy
Monisha Das: Science Leadership Academy
Phech Kong Loa: Central High School
Chris Neal: Randolph Career Academy
April Updates
04-2011
Ladies Empowerment Lunch A Sucess
On March 19th, the Ladies of SquashSmarts celebrated our 2nd Annual Ladies Empowerment Lunch in which 20 female students, 2 alumni, 4 board members, 7 volunteers, and 4 staff members came together to discuss what it means to be a remarkable woman. After eating a delicious potluck lunch, we split into 5 breakout groups in which the ladies discussed notable women in history, self esteem issues and what women’s empowerment means to them. A special thank you goes out to Molly Pierce for hosting and to the following board and volunteers for their support: Zeba Ahmed, Delma Broussard, Laurie Etherington, Susan Lerman, Robin Matlin, Arlene Pereira, Lisa Stokes, Judi Stuffick, Amanda Urena, and Ellen Wann.
Boarding School Makes An Impression On Students
Every year in the classroom, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students prepare for their high school process. From doing extra curriculum and getting homework to help to better their grades to visiting charter and public high schools to see where they will be interested in going, SquashSmarts’ Academic Directors, volunteers and students all work together to make the high school process run smoothly. This year, there was a great addition added, as select 6th and 7th grade students were invited to St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, DE. On March 26th, students were given a tour and ate lunch with members of St. Andrew’s squash team, as they learned what it would take to get into boarding school and what the typical high school experience is like for a St. Andrew’s student. SquashSmarts’ students were more than impressed and very motivated to continue to do well academically and possibly apply this fall!
The Shamrock Scrimmage
This St. Patrick's Day, SquashSmarts was proud to host both the West Philadelphia and North Philadelphia teams for an afternoon of matches, food, and celebration of the holiday. The day provided our new 6th and 7th graders with an exclusive event to showcase their squash skills and learn more about Irish culture. West Philadelphia middle schoolers edged out their North Philadelphia counterparts in a tight match. After a fun day of squash, river-dancing, and green cupcakes, we're looking forward to making the Shamrock Scrimmage an annual tradition. A special thanks goes out to the Rutgers Alternative Spring Break Group for joining us for this event!
Career Speaker Series - Abigail Henry
SquashSmarts is happy to announce that the Career Speaker Series has been running very smoothly for its first year as part of the high school curriculum! From board members to community members, high school students have been learning about not only what it takes to succeed in and out of college, but what careers and options are out there in the working world. This past month, Abigail Henry, a local architect and volunteer, came to speak to the students about how she chose her field of interest, and what it takes to be a successful architect. The students had many questions for Abigail after her presentation--and what made it even more engaging, was that students were already so comfortable with Abigail, who volunteers weekly at SquashSmarts in West Philadelphia. After the presentation, students had lots of input! The next speaker they would like to hear from is someone from the medical field, especially a nurse or doctor. Anyone who is interested in speaking in our Career Speaker Series, please feel free to call Jessica at 215.221.6860. We are hoping to get one last speaker in this school year! Also, a special thanks to David Adelman, Ryan Cobb and Abigail Henry who participated in the Career Speaker Series this year!
Student Summer Opportunities Available
Do you play squash either competitively or recreationally at your school? Do you want to share your passion for the game and have an experience that you can talk about for lifetime? If so, why not spend the summer with SquashSmarts? We are offering three unique opportunities for Summer 2011; choose which ones works best for you!
Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 3 positions available. Click here for a detailed job description.
Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
March Updates
03-2011
Student Summer Opportunities Available
Do you play squash either competitively or recreationally at your school? Do you want to share your passion for the game and have an experience that you can talk about for lifetime? If so, why not spend the summer with SquashSmarts? We are offering three unique opportunities for Summer 2011; choose which ones works best for you!
Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 3 positions available. Click here for a detailed job description.
Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
Summer Practice Volunteer (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm): SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support is also needed for the classroom.
For more information, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.895.4963.
6th Grade Celebrates Presidents Day
The sixth grade classes came together on Presidents Day for their annual field trip and were very excited! As the newest class to SquashSmarts, students had a chance to bond at the National Constitution Center with staff and fellow teammates. There, students spent the day at the interactive history museum, exploring and learning about the Constitution and what it means to be "We the People." SquashSmarts wrapped up the day by having lunch at the historic Bourse Building where they were able to sit, enjoy lunch and recap their day!
Squash Match Recap
The month of February was filled with high school duel matches both home and away! On February 9th, the girls and boys of SquashSmarts traveled to the Racquet Club of Philadelphia to play St. Joe’s Preparatory Academy. They came in focused and it showed as they won for the second time as a team! Most of the kids had never been to this club so it was a great experience and so much fun! Students and other members welcomed us as they gave SquashSmarts a tour and explanations of the rare sports of racquets and court tennis. On Valentine’s Day, the High School Team was excited to play former SquashSmarts Coach, Guillermo Mortonta, and his new team from the Cynwyd Club. The event took place at the Lenfest Center and was the closest match we’ve had this season with all matches going to four or five games! SquashSmarts was determined to win and they pulled it out with a five to four match victory! Our last high school match of the month was against The Shipley School away at the Fairmont Athletic Club. SquashSmarts had played this team earlier in the year and had won, but now we were playing on their courts. and we were one man down. Coming in with only eight players, the kids were prepared to play their hardest. It turned out that Shipley also only had eight players and they were very well matched to us. The end result was a tie, but the kids were happy that they played their hardest and got to play at another club!
Ending the Squash Season with a Bang!
February 12th marked our second annual SquashSmarts "Club" Championship. The students had a great day of matches and furthered their journeys towards national rankings.
Winners of their divisions were:
Dewon Flythe (BU19)
Jonathan Garland (BU15)
Aisha Sanchez (GU15)
Congratulations to all our participants!
SquashSmarts Ladies Empowerment Lunch Coming Up!
On Saturday, March 19th, SquashSmarts will host our 2nd Annual Ladies Empowerment Lunch for all female students and alumni, staff and board, volunteers, and friends of SquashSmarts. The ladies of SquashSmarts will gather together to participate in a variety of activities ranging from gender equality to women in history and to give advice on pertinent life skills for our young ladies. For more information, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.895.4963.
February Updates
02-2011
Students Travel to Mercersburg for Match
On January 29th, SquashSmarts braved the snow and traveled to the Mercersburg Academy in Central Pennsylvania for a team match. Playing against a varsity lineup that included other Urban Squash Players, the SquashSmarts team had a competitive match in a losing effort. Despite the disappointing finish, SquashSmarts is glad to renew the Mercersburg partnership, and looks forward to hosting the school for a rematch next season.
SquashSmarts Students Share Mayor's Passion
On one of the coldest days of the year, January 22nd, eight 6th grade students walked 45 minutes each way from West Philadelphia to Center City to participate in the Mayor’s 2011 Volunteer Impact Challenge with ServePhiladelphia. Serving alongside Mayor Nutter at the Free Library on Vine Street, our students organized a heaping pile of books and wrote letters to 1st grade students about the importance of reading. Despite the freezing weather and sacrifice of squash time, our kids were happy to give back to the less fortunate and represented the program with pride.
SquashSmarts Hosted 2011 Urban Team Championships
01-2011
A Great Weekend!SquashSmarts is thrilled to announce that the Urban Team Championships were a huge success! We want to thank all of our supporters, especially our sponsors, NUSEA and Aramark, who made this event possible. Whether each student received a trophy or simply a high five from a teammate, they were all winners this weekend as they displayed incredible sportsmanship and an eagerness to do their best. The "squash bug" is going around this week as the kids are already talking about the next NUSEA event this June!
By The Numbers...48 staff brought
286 students representing
56 teams from
9 programs that played in close to
500 matches with the help of
81 volunteers providing
346 hours of service!
Writing Contest Winners
U13 Age Division
CitySquash: Nicole Lara
METROSquash: Samya Cooke
Mile High Squash: Marisol De Luna-Martinez
Squash Haven: Diovanni Prophet
SquashSmarts: Colesto Williams *(winner)
SquashWise: Tiffany McGhee
StreetSquash: Kiran Budhiraja
U15 Age Division
Access Youth Academy: Julie Nguyen * (winner - tie)
CitySquash: Julian Willmore
METROSquash: Nubia Beasley – Bartee’
Mile High Squash: Jessica Valles-Lopez
SmartsBusters: Simone Pinnock
Squash Haven: Seth R Ortiz
SquashSmarts: Monisha Das * (winner - tie)
SquashWise: Tremayne Nelson
StreetSquash: Daniel Ramirez
U17/19 Age Division
Access Youth Academy: Sharon Vongvanith
CitySquash: Helen Avila * (winner)
METROSquash: Khadijah Muhammad
SmartsBusters: Tyianne Mendes
SquashSmarts: Shenae Walters
StreetSquash: Nicholas Watkins
Squash Results
GU13
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: CitySquash B
Consolation Winner: SquashSmarts A
GU15
Winner: SquashHaven A
Finalist: StreetSquash A
Consolation Winner: Mile High Squash
GU19
Winner: Access Youth Academy
Finalist: StreetSquash A
Consolation Winner: StreetSquash B
BU13
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: SquashHaven
Consolation Winner: CitySquash C
BU15
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: SquashHaven A
Consolation Winner: SquashBusters A
BU19
Winner: StreetSquash A
Finalist: SquashBusters A
Consolation Winner: SquashBusters B
Urban Team Championships MLK Weekend!
01-2011
We told you last month and we're telling you again!
ONLY 5 DAYS FROM NOW!!!!
Support Our Students! Volunteer For Them! Cheer Them On!
On the weekend of January 15-17, 2011, SquashSmarts will be hosting the National Urban Squash and Education Association (NUSEA) Urban Team Championships at the Lenfest Center for the second time since opening the facility.
The NUSEA Urban Team Championships afford their programs a chance to meet and interact annually in a competitive setting. The matches provide valuable squash experience for the players, encourage the students' pride in their teams, and foster a greater awareness of the Urban Squash community. By rotating the location each year, students have the opportunity to travel beyond their hometowns, often for the first time. In addition to the SquashSmarts teams, students will travel from NUSEA programs in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New Haven, Harlem, The Bronx and San Diego to compete in Philadelphia at SquashSmarts.
Leading up to this competition, students from the nine programs have been writing essays about the three items that most represent them. The winners will be revealed over the weekend!
SquashSmarts is a proud member of NUSEA, whose mission is to promote squash and education among urban youth. The greater mission of NUSEA is to further develop the students' sportsmanship, teamwork and ability to socially interact in order to further prepare them for a life beyond their local neighborhoods.
If you're new to urban squash or have been involved for years, this is an event you will want to attend!
For more information on how you can contribute, volunteer or get involved, please contact Brett Camarda at [email protected].
Pierce Junior Bronze Highlights
Thanks to all the players, parents, and volunteers, the Pierce Junior Bronze was an enormous success! We had 111 players in seven age groups, 21 of which were from SquashSmarts! Our largest age division was the Boy’s Under 15, where our very own Jonathon Garland won against Arjun Dravid in a close four game final. The Pierce Junior Bronze showcased a range of players. It was the perfect tournament to start competitive squash along with providing challenging matches for those that were more experienced. All of the participants and parents were excited and impressed with the results and organization of the weekend, which could not have run so smoothly without the help of our volunteers. The Pierce Junior Bronze was a great event and we hope everyone can make it out next year!
Squash Matches an Incentive for Kids
December and the first half of January has been full of high school matches. Currently the SquashSmarts High School Team has a perfect record! Defeating Radnor High School, Shipley School, and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School has excited SquashSmarts and demonstrated that hard work does pay off. We are now continuing to train and prepare for future high school matches! On the calendar for January is a second match with St. Joe’s at the Lenfest Center on the January 26th. Then, on January 29thSquashSmarts will travel to Mercersberg Academy. If you would like to come cheer on SquashSmarts at our matches, please contact Britt Hebden at 215.221.6860 for upcoming schedules. Please wish our students luck!!
Students Proud of Academic Success in 2010
In December the middle school students worked diligently on their fall test, which reviewed units such as figurative language, parts of speech, basic order of operations, and geometry. The students also completed an essay for the annual NUSEA academic contest, where they had to choose three items that represented them and why. The next unit that students will cover is geography.
SquashSmarts Community Health Fair
On December 15th, SquashSmarts was excited to host a health fair for the North Philadelphia Community. With close to 40 SquashSmarts participants and several community members, our staff was thrilled with the amount of services provided to our youth. It was fantastic to see kids excited about their new heights (many of whom have outgrown our staff already!), eager to eat an avocado, anxious about diabetes testings, and much more! Thank you to all of our partners including the Belmont Center, our main partner which provided most hands-on services and goodie bags, CHIP, the Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program, Pediatric Dental Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Jefferson University. Please mark your calendars for our next health fair scheduled for March 15 from 4pm to 6pm.
Getting Into The Holiday Spirit
On December 22, 2010, the Lenfest Center was filled as SquashSmarts’ family celebrated with its annual Holiday party. There, students, staff, family, and volunteers all came together to celebrate the Holiday Season. Tables were filled with lots of delicious foods and treats, while students were busy on the courts playing friendly matches and showing their little brothers and sisters how to play. Each student received a personalized stocking, made by the staff, filled with gifts for them to enjoy. The Holiday party was a great way to mark the end of another wonderful together.
11-2011
Last Friday, 60 students blew out of the candles on the cake as SquashSmarts officially turned 10 years old at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Highlights from the event include:
-Speeches from 9th Grade Students Monisha Das and Yassir Jackson who spoke about how thankful they are for the opportunities SquashSmarts has given them and how being part of this team has improved their lives.
-Inspiring words from parents Daphne Young and Ken Bowden who talked about the influence SquashSmarts has had on their struggling families over the years and from Molly Pierce and Chase Lenfest, our Honorary Co-Chairs and long-time supporters.
-An updated student video which details the accomplishments of our outstanding Alumni, many of whom are graduating college soon!
-Squash exhibition featuring SquashSmarts' Alumna Sakora Miller and Senior Captain Dewon Flythe, Drexel's John White and Eric Ziller, Trinity's Paul Assainte, Catalina Pelaez, and Andres Vargas, Young Friends Radhika Cobb and Chris O'Connell, members of the Pierce Family, and over a dozen squash professionals from the area.
While the candles might be out, the celebration continues this year! If you're not already involved, now's the perfect time. See below for ways to get involved!
Students and Citizens Bank Give Back on GPC Day
On Saturday, October 22nd, our 5th through 7th grade students were excited to partner with Citizens Bank for Greater Philadelphia Cares Day. We started the day with a communication exercise to teach the
kids to actively listen, broke into small groups for a serving learning lesson about the environment and finally, hit the neighborhood for some street beautification. Students were so inspired by the
transformation that one even remarked, "I'm going to go back to my street and do this!" After their service, our students taught the volunteers how to play their favorite game- squash!
Thank you Citizens Bank for continuing to support us and Greater Philadelphia Cares for organizing this wonderful city-wide initiative!
Bigs and Littles Partner with SquashSmarts
Last Saturday, we were thrilled to welcome a new partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters, to the Lenfest Center for a squash clinic, tournament and pizza party. Highlights include:
-Introducing the sport of squash to forty Bigs and Littles
-A warm welcome from BBBS Chief Executive Officer, Marlene Olshan, and Big Brother Mentor and squash player Shanin Specter.
-A tournament run by 14 members of our High School Team in which Big/Little pairs competed in squash-related challenges like target hitting, hitting above the line, and of coure, sprints!
Thank you Big Brothers Big Sisters for a wonderful day!
Register Today for U.S. Squash Sanctioned Junior Tournament
From December 2nd to December 4th, SquashSmarts will host the Pierce Junior Silver Tournament at the Lenfest Center. Please click here for the entry form which should kindly be submitted by Monday, November 28th. We hope to see you there!
Internship Opportunities Available
SquashSmarts is currently accepting applications for Interns and Volunteers for Winter, Spring, and Summer. If you are a high school or college student and are interested in a meaningful opportunity, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.221.6860. Those with and without squash experience will be considered. We look forward to meeting you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
SquashSmarts will be closed from Wednesday, November 22 to Sunday, November 27th. Happy Thanksgiving from our staff and students!
October Updates
10-2011
SquashSmarts Class of 2019
US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University
10th Anniversary Ticket Information
Volunteer this Saturday with SquashSmarts
SquashSmarts Welcomes Class of 2019
Last month, SquashSmarts opened the Lenfest Center doors to over 60 eager students, all hoping for a spot in the Class of 2019. After a series of activities that allowed students to demonstrate their commitment, effort and attitude, we are pleased to welcome 28 of the most dedicated students. Practices for new students have begun and they couldn't be more excited! We encourage you to stop by to meet them! Please see below for our program schedule.
SquashSmarts Program Schedule for 2011-2012 Year
Monday through Thursday from 4:15pm to 6:15pm
-Mon/Wed: 8th-12th Grades
-Tues/Thurs: 5th-7th Grades
Most Saturdays from 10am to 12pm: 5th-12th Grades
Location: The Lenfest Center, 2nd Floor - 3890 N. 10th Street - Philadelphia, PA 19140
SquashSmarts Participates in US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University
SquashSmarts was thrilled to participate in the first ever US Open Squash Championships in Philadelphia from October 1st to 6th at Drexel University. Some of the highlights include:
-SquashSmarts Kids Day, the kickoff event in which 80 students and over 30 volunteers saw their first all-glass court, tested their speed and accuracy and competed in a US Open academic game.
-Shaking hands and getting autographs from squash professionals includingPSRA #1 Nick Matthew, WISPA #1 Nicol David, and WISPA #6 (and Tournament Finalist) Kasey Brown.
-Alumni Quinetta Bowden, Tempest Bowden, and Mithun Das volunteering for the tournament alongside Drexel students.
-Amazing seats for the semi-final and final matches. Congratulations US Open Squash Champions Amr Shabana and Laura Massaro.
Thank you to everyone who made our students' participation in this event possible including US Squash, Drexel University, and Julie Harris for her wonderful photography.
10th Anniversary Celebration: Have You Purchased YOUR Ticket Yet?
Join us on 11/11/11 for our 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. The event with feature a squash exhibition with World Champion John White, a live auction with Jon Freeman, casino games, young friends activities, a student performance, video and more! Buy tickets online here. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are also available. Please contact us with any questions at 215.221.6860 or [email protected].
Volunteer this Saturday with SquashSmarts
Please join us this Saturday, October 22nd, from 10am to 12:30pm as SquashSmarts teams up with Citizens Bank as part of Greater Philadelphia Cares Day. Activities include one-on-one mentoring with our students and facility and neighborhood beautification. To sign up as a volunteer, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.221.6860.
SquashSmarts Returns Home from Urban Squash Nationals!
06-2011
Forty-one student-athletes proudly represented the Philadelphia’s SquashSmarts program at the 2011 National Urban Squash Championships this past weekend at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
On-court sweat and sportsmanship + off-court life-lessons and camaraderie ruled the three-day weekend which featured 370 inner-city students and staff from 10 National Urban Squash & Education Association (NUSEA) member programs around the country.
Students toured the Williams College campus, slept in the college dormitories, ate meals in the cafeteria, and enjoyed downtime in the pool and basketball courts throughout this action-packed weekend that is the culmination of the SquashSmarts season.
Of particular note, 23 SquashSmarts middle school students made their rookie debut at Nationals while 30 of our athletes won over 50 individual squash matches! Highlights below.
An enormous thank you to SquashSmarts Board Member Chase Lenfest for making his 3rd consecutive trip to Urban Nationals to cheer on our students, and to Alex Buxbaum, Tim Regetta and Mithun Das who each gave their time to travel with the team as volunteer chaperones and inspirational coaches!
2011 SquashSmarts Results
Dewon Flythe B19 Round of 16
Shenae Walters G17 Round of 16
Gopal Mondol B17 Consolation Quarterfinalist
Marcus Major B17 Round of 16
Koffi Yetoh B15 Quarterfinalist
Oscar Merino B15 Quarterfinalist
Fahim Ali B15 Consolation Quarterfinalist
Tyron Rivers B15 Consolation Plate Champion
Dodanim Garcia B15 Consolation Plate Finalist
Niangel Thompson G13 Consolation Plate Finalist
Tatyana Neal G13 Quarterfinalist
Colesto Williams G13 Consolation Semifinalist
2011 SquashSmarts Academic Contest Nominees
Shenae Walters Creative Writing
Dewon Flythe Creative Art
Malik Davis Creative Writing
Phech Kong Loa Creative Art
Xavier Herrera Creative Writing
Kyah Flythe Creative Art
2011 SquashSmarts Sportsmanship Awards
Monisha Das
Dewon Flythe
Dionis Herrera
Xavier Herrera
Wayne Hill
Andrew Holliman
Oscar Merino
Tatyana Neal
Kenney Outlaw
Justin Roebuck
Danielle Smith
Shenae Walters
Get Involved this Summer
The school year may be over, but the summer is just getting started! The following opportunities to get involved with SquashSmarts are available this summer:
Embrace Camp Players and Counselors (Week of July 18-22): For beginner squash players going into grades 6-8, join us for a week filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment. High school and college players welcome as chaperons.
Summer Practice Volunteers (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm, June 29th through August 4th, Lenfest Center and Daskalakis Athletic Center): As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support in the areas of music and the arts as well as remedial math and literacy skills are also needed in our classroom. Exact summer practice dates are below:
- June 29 and 30
- July 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 27, 28
- August 1, 2, 3, 4
Student Updates
06-2011
SquashSmarts Celebrates a Wonderful Year
Last Saturday, we were pleased to celebrate the end of an incredible program year with our students, their families, and many of our supporters. Students were inspired by the encouraging words of Keynote Speaker, Jim Ellis, legendary founder of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation Swim Team. We were thrilled to recognize all of students' hard work and dedication, but were especially pleased to reward the following students for their outstanding efforts this year:
Player of the Year and Ford Williams Scholarship Winner
Dewon Flythe
Community Service and Leadership Stars
Raven Whitaker, Alleisha Outlaw, Justin Roebuck
Squash Stars
Rabbi Awsan, Tyzja Faison, Oscar Merino
Academic Stars
Monisha Das, Estreanna Green, Hanief Henderson-Gaskins
Rookies of the Year
Tatyana Neal and Dionis Herrera
Additionally, we want to recognize our outstanding 8th grade students who graduated from Morton McMichael School yesterday (Chris Neal and Myles Young pictured) and Charles Drew and Roberto Clemente tomorrow!
Get Involved this Summer
The school year may be over, but the summer is just getting started! The following opportunities to get involved with SquashSmarts are available this summer:
Embrace Camp Players and Counselors (Week of July 18-22): For beginner squash players going into grades 6-8, join us for a week filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment. High school and college players welcome as chaperons.
Summer Practice Volunteers (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm, June 29th through August 4th): SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support in the areas of music and the arts as well as remedial math and literacy skills are also needed in our classroom.
Off We Go!
42 students and 8 adults will represent SquashSmarts this weekend at Williams College for the National Urban Squash and Education Association's Urban Individual Tournament in Williamstown, Massachusetts. This is the culmination of a fantastic year and our kids could not be more excited! Please be thinking of them this weekend!
Volunteers Make All the Difference
SquashSmarts wishes to thank all of our amazing volunteers! We are thrilled that this year, 267 volunteers gave an astounding 3280 hours of their time to our students. Special recognition goes out to the following volunteers who completed 40 or more hours this year:
- Todd Brown
- Cory Czuczman
- Mithun Das
- Devonte Harris
- Virginia Hedden
- Anne Hilton
- Mariska Idema-de Korne
- David Kanter
- Arlene Periera
- Molly Pierce
- Indra Pukyte
- Tim Regetta
- Brad Reilly
- Lee Serpas
- Amy Slater
May Updates
05-2013
Students Run For A Cause
On April 10th, SquashSmarts partnered with Legs Against Arms who are “committed to changing the social norm that celebrates violence by focusing on violence prevention” and hosts an annual 5K run/walk. On that Sunday morning, 11 students, 3 staff members, and 1 volunteer woke up extra early that day to participate in the event. Students and staff paired up, both walking and running in the event. SquashSmarts even had its own star that day, Bairon Garcia, a 6th grade student who finished in 4th place for his age group with a time of 27 min and 06 seconds. SquashSmarts celebrated afterwards, filling up on post race snacks and playing a game of catch on the track field of St. Joe’s University. The students were so proud of themselves that day, and are eager to do more 5Ks to stand up for what they believe in!
Help Our Kids Have A Summer To Remember
Student Summer Opportunities Available:
-Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 1 position still available. Click here for a detailed job description.
-Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
-Summer Practice Volunteer (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm): SquashSmarts SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support is also needed for the classroom.
Camp Sponsorship Opportunities Available
SquashSmarts takes pride in the work we do to create a remarkable summer experience for each of our students. In addition to running programming throughout the summer, we are sending our kids to a variety of camps ranging from squash to theatre! By sponsoring a camp experience for a student, you will make their summer an unforgettable one! The following sponsorship opportunities are available.
Berwyn Squash Camp
College Settlement
Cynwyd Club Squash Camp
Germantown Cricket Club Squash Camp
Holleran Squash Camp
Merion Cricket Club Squash Camp
Nicol Squash Camp
Outward Bound
Philadelphia Cricket Club Squash Camp
Philly Improv Theatre Teen Improv Camp
Universal Squash Camp in London
For more information on student summer opportunities or to sponsor a camp, please contact Katie at[email protected] / 215.895.4963
High School Acceptances Coming In!
Every year we take our 8th grade students through the rigorous high school acceptance process which includes navigating the School District of Philadelphia's intensive application process, writing essays, learning interview skills and visiting and applying to charter schools. Though many of our 8th grade students are still deciding, we are pleased to announce where the following students will be embarking on their high school journey:
Rabbi Awsan: Science Leadership Academy
Monisha Das: Science Leadership Academy
Phech Kong Loa: Central High School
Chris Neal: Randolph Career Academy
April Updates
04-2011
Ladies Empowerment Lunch A Sucess
On March 19th, the Ladies of SquashSmarts celebrated our 2nd Annual Ladies Empowerment Lunch in which 20 female students, 2 alumni, 4 board members, 7 volunteers, and 4 staff members came together to discuss what it means to be a remarkable woman. After eating a delicious potluck lunch, we split into 5 breakout groups in which the ladies discussed notable women in history, self esteem issues and what women’s empowerment means to them. A special thank you goes out to Molly Pierce for hosting and to the following board and volunteers for their support: Zeba Ahmed, Delma Broussard, Laurie Etherington, Susan Lerman, Robin Matlin, Arlene Pereira, Lisa Stokes, Judi Stuffick, Amanda Urena, and Ellen Wann.
Boarding School Makes An Impression On Students
Every year in the classroom, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students prepare for their high school process. From doing extra curriculum and getting homework to help to better their grades to visiting charter and public high schools to see where they will be interested in going, SquashSmarts’ Academic Directors, volunteers and students all work together to make the high school process run smoothly. This year, there was a great addition added, as select 6th and 7th grade students were invited to St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, DE. On March 26th, students were given a tour and ate lunch with members of St. Andrew’s squash team, as they learned what it would take to get into boarding school and what the typical high school experience is like for a St. Andrew’s student. SquashSmarts’ students were more than impressed and very motivated to continue to do well academically and possibly apply this fall!
The Shamrock Scrimmage
This St. Patrick's Day, SquashSmarts was proud to host both the West Philadelphia and North Philadelphia teams for an afternoon of matches, food, and celebration of the holiday. The day provided our new 6th and 7th graders with an exclusive event to showcase their squash skills and learn more about Irish culture. West Philadelphia middle schoolers edged out their North Philadelphia counterparts in a tight match. After a fun day of squash, river-dancing, and green cupcakes, we're looking forward to making the Shamrock Scrimmage an annual tradition. A special thanks goes out to the Rutgers Alternative Spring Break Group for joining us for this event!
Career Speaker Series - Abigail Henry
SquashSmarts is happy to announce that the Career Speaker Series has been running very smoothly for its first year as part of the high school curriculum! From board members to community members, high school students have been learning about not only what it takes to succeed in and out of college, but what careers and options are out there in the working world. This past month, Abigail Henry, a local architect and volunteer, came to speak to the students about how she chose her field of interest, and what it takes to be a successful architect. The students had many questions for Abigail after her presentation--and what made it even more engaging, was that students were already so comfortable with Abigail, who volunteers weekly at SquashSmarts in West Philadelphia. After the presentation, students had lots of input! The next speaker they would like to hear from is someone from the medical field, especially a nurse or doctor. Anyone who is interested in speaking in our Career Speaker Series, please feel free to call Jessica at 215.221.6860. We are hoping to get one last speaker in this school year! Also, a special thanks to David Adelman, Ryan Cobb and Abigail Henry who participated in the Career Speaker Series this year!
Student Summer Opportunities Available
Do you play squash either competitively or recreationally at your school? Do you want to share your passion for the game and have an experience that you can talk about for lifetime? If so, why not spend the summer with SquashSmarts? We are offering three unique opportunities for Summer 2011; choose which ones works best for you!
Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 3 positions available. Click here for a detailed job description.
Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
March Updates
03-2011
Student Summer Opportunities Available
Do you play squash either competitively or recreationally at your school? Do you want to share your passion for the game and have an experience that you can talk about for lifetime? If so, why not spend the summer with SquashSmarts? We are offering three unique opportunities for Summer 2011; choose which ones works best for you!
Summer Intern (8 weeks throughout summer): 3 positions available. Click here for a detailed job description.
Embrace Camp Counselor (Week of July 18-22): 10 positions available. Volunteer for a week with 30 students from the National Urban Squash and Education Association who will come together for an experience filled with competitive squash, community service, and academic/cultural enrichment.
Summer Practice Volunteer (Any Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm): SquashSmarts runs squash and academic practices 4 days a week for our kids over the summer. As a volunteer, help us run drills with the kids and play games with them. Academic support is also needed for the classroom.
For more information, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.895.4963.
6th Grade Celebrates Presidents Day
The sixth grade classes came together on Presidents Day for their annual field trip and were very excited! As the newest class to SquashSmarts, students had a chance to bond at the National Constitution Center with staff and fellow teammates. There, students spent the day at the interactive history museum, exploring and learning about the Constitution and what it means to be "We the People." SquashSmarts wrapped up the day by having lunch at the historic Bourse Building where they were able to sit, enjoy lunch and recap their day!
Squash Match Recap
The month of February was filled with high school duel matches both home and away! On February 9th, the girls and boys of SquashSmarts traveled to the Racquet Club of Philadelphia to play St. Joe’s Preparatory Academy. They came in focused and it showed as they won for the second time as a team! Most of the kids had never been to this club so it was a great experience and so much fun! Students and other members welcomed us as they gave SquashSmarts a tour and explanations of the rare sports of racquets and court tennis. On Valentine’s Day, the High School Team was excited to play former SquashSmarts Coach, Guillermo Mortonta, and his new team from the Cynwyd Club. The event took place at the Lenfest Center and was the closest match we’ve had this season with all matches going to four or five games! SquashSmarts was determined to win and they pulled it out with a five to four match victory! Our last high school match of the month was against The Shipley School away at the Fairmont Athletic Club. SquashSmarts had played this team earlier in the year and had won, but now we were playing on their courts. and we were one man down. Coming in with only eight players, the kids were prepared to play their hardest. It turned out that Shipley also only had eight players and they were very well matched to us. The end result was a tie, but the kids were happy that they played their hardest and got to play at another club!
Ending the Squash Season with a Bang!
February 12th marked our second annual SquashSmarts "Club" Championship. The students had a great day of matches and furthered their journeys towards national rankings.
Winners of their divisions were:
Dewon Flythe (BU19)
Jonathan Garland (BU15)
Aisha Sanchez (GU15)
Congratulations to all our participants!
SquashSmarts Ladies Empowerment Lunch Coming Up!
On Saturday, March 19th, SquashSmarts will host our 2nd Annual Ladies Empowerment Lunch for all female students and alumni, staff and board, volunteers, and friends of SquashSmarts. The ladies of SquashSmarts will gather together to participate in a variety of activities ranging from gender equality to women in history and to give advice on pertinent life skills for our young ladies. For more information, please contact Katie at [email protected] / 215.895.4963.
February Updates
02-2011
Students Travel to Mercersburg for Match
On January 29th, SquashSmarts braved the snow and traveled to the Mercersburg Academy in Central Pennsylvania for a team match. Playing against a varsity lineup that included other Urban Squash Players, the SquashSmarts team had a competitive match in a losing effort. Despite the disappointing finish, SquashSmarts is glad to renew the Mercersburg partnership, and looks forward to hosting the school for a rematch next season.
SquashSmarts Students Share Mayor's Passion
On one of the coldest days of the year, January 22nd, eight 6th grade students walked 45 minutes each way from West Philadelphia to Center City to participate in the Mayor’s 2011 Volunteer Impact Challenge with ServePhiladelphia. Serving alongside Mayor Nutter at the Free Library on Vine Street, our students organized a heaping pile of books and wrote letters to 1st grade students about the importance of reading. Despite the freezing weather and sacrifice of squash time, our kids were happy to give back to the less fortunate and represented the program with pride.
SquashSmarts Hosted 2011 Urban Team Championships
01-2011
A Great Weekend!SquashSmarts is thrilled to announce that the Urban Team Championships were a huge success! We want to thank all of our supporters, especially our sponsors, NUSEA and Aramark, who made this event possible. Whether each student received a trophy or simply a high five from a teammate, they were all winners this weekend as they displayed incredible sportsmanship and an eagerness to do their best. The "squash bug" is going around this week as the kids are already talking about the next NUSEA event this June!
By The Numbers...48 staff brought
286 students representing
56 teams from
9 programs that played in close to
500 matches with the help of
81 volunteers providing
346 hours of service!
Writing Contest Winners
U13 Age Division
CitySquash: Nicole Lara
METROSquash: Samya Cooke
Mile High Squash: Marisol De Luna-Martinez
Squash Haven: Diovanni Prophet
SquashSmarts: Colesto Williams *(winner)
SquashWise: Tiffany McGhee
StreetSquash: Kiran Budhiraja
U15 Age Division
Access Youth Academy: Julie Nguyen * (winner - tie)
CitySquash: Julian Willmore
METROSquash: Nubia Beasley – Bartee’
Mile High Squash: Jessica Valles-Lopez
SmartsBusters: Simone Pinnock
Squash Haven: Seth R Ortiz
SquashSmarts: Monisha Das * (winner - tie)
SquashWise: Tremayne Nelson
StreetSquash: Daniel Ramirez
U17/19 Age Division
Access Youth Academy: Sharon Vongvanith
CitySquash: Helen Avila * (winner)
METROSquash: Khadijah Muhammad
SmartsBusters: Tyianne Mendes
SquashSmarts: Shenae Walters
StreetSquash: Nicholas Watkins
Squash Results
GU13
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: CitySquash B
Consolation Winner: SquashSmarts A
GU15
Winner: SquashHaven A
Finalist: StreetSquash A
Consolation Winner: Mile High Squash
GU19
Winner: Access Youth Academy
Finalist: StreetSquash A
Consolation Winner: StreetSquash B
BU13
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: SquashHaven
Consolation Winner: CitySquash C
BU15
Winner: CitySquash A
Finalist: SquashHaven A
Consolation Winner: SquashBusters A
BU19
Winner: StreetSquash A
Finalist: SquashBusters A
Consolation Winner: SquashBusters B
Urban Team Championships MLK Weekend!
01-2011
We told you last month and we're telling you again!
ONLY 5 DAYS FROM NOW!!!!
Support Our Students! Volunteer For Them! Cheer Them On!
On the weekend of January 15-17, 2011, SquashSmarts will be hosting the National Urban Squash and Education Association (NUSEA) Urban Team Championships at the Lenfest Center for the second time since opening the facility.
The NUSEA Urban Team Championships afford their programs a chance to meet and interact annually in a competitive setting. The matches provide valuable squash experience for the players, encourage the students' pride in their teams, and foster a greater awareness of the Urban Squash community. By rotating the location each year, students have the opportunity to travel beyond their hometowns, often for the first time. In addition to the SquashSmarts teams, students will travel from NUSEA programs in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New Haven, Harlem, The Bronx and San Diego to compete in Philadelphia at SquashSmarts.
Leading up to this competition, students from the nine programs have been writing essays about the three items that most represent them. The winners will be revealed over the weekend!
SquashSmarts is a proud member of NUSEA, whose mission is to promote squash and education among urban youth. The greater mission of NUSEA is to further develop the students' sportsmanship, teamwork and ability to socially interact in order to further prepare them for a life beyond their local neighborhoods.
If you're new to urban squash or have been involved for years, this is an event you will want to attend!
For more information on how you can contribute, volunteer or get involved, please contact Brett Camarda at [email protected].
Pierce Junior Bronze Highlights
Thanks to all the players, parents, and volunteers, the Pierce Junior Bronze was an enormous success! We had 111 players in seven age groups, 21 of which were from SquashSmarts! Our largest age division was the Boy’s Under 15, where our very own Jonathon Garland won against Arjun Dravid in a close four game final. The Pierce Junior Bronze showcased a range of players. It was the perfect tournament to start competitive squash along with providing challenging matches for those that were more experienced. All of the participants and parents were excited and impressed with the results and organization of the weekend, which could not have run so smoothly without the help of our volunteers. The Pierce Junior Bronze was a great event and we hope everyone can make it out next year!
Squash Matches an Incentive for Kids
December and the first half of January has been full of high school matches. Currently the SquashSmarts High School Team has a perfect record! Defeating Radnor High School, Shipley School, and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School has excited SquashSmarts and demonstrated that hard work does pay off. We are now continuing to train and prepare for future high school matches! On the calendar for January is a second match with St. Joe’s at the Lenfest Center on the January 26th. Then, on January 29thSquashSmarts will travel to Mercersberg Academy. If you would like to come cheer on SquashSmarts at our matches, please contact Britt Hebden at 215.221.6860 for upcoming schedules. Please wish our students luck!!
Students Proud of Academic Success in 2010
In December the middle school students worked diligently on their fall test, which reviewed units such as figurative language, parts of speech, basic order of operations, and geometry. The students also completed an essay for the annual NUSEA academic contest, where they had to choose three items that represented them and why. The next unit that students will cover is geography.
SquashSmarts Community Health Fair
On December 15th, SquashSmarts was excited to host a health fair for the North Philadelphia Community. With close to 40 SquashSmarts participants and several community members, our staff was thrilled with the amount of services provided to our youth. It was fantastic to see kids excited about their new heights (many of whom have outgrown our staff already!), eager to eat an avocado, anxious about diabetes testings, and much more! Thank you to all of our partners including the Belmont Center, our main partner which provided most hands-on services and goodie bags, CHIP, the Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program, Pediatric Dental Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Jefferson University. Please mark your calendars for our next health fair scheduled for March 15 from 4pm to 6pm.
Getting Into The Holiday Spirit
On December 22, 2010, the Lenfest Center was filled as SquashSmarts’ family celebrated with its annual Holiday party. There, students, staff, family, and volunteers all came together to celebrate the Holiday Season. Tables were filled with lots of delicious foods and treats, while students were busy on the courts playing friendly matches and showing their little brothers and sisters how to play. Each student received a personalized stocking, made by the staff, filled with gifts for them to enjoy. The Holiday party was a great way to mark the end of another wonderful together.