USTA New England (United States Tennis Association) recently awarded Scott Barker of Warren with the 2013 Vermont Volunteer of the Year award at the annual Awards Luncheon on February 8th in Marlborough, Mass.
Barker has been involved with tennis in Vermont for decades. He has worked with the likes of Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, and Stan Smith and is the current Tennis Director for the City of Montpelier Recreation Department where he has increased junior participation five times over in his tenure. He is also the Tennis Director for First In Fitness in Berlin where he runs the Vermont Tennis Academy in the winter, training both kids and adults.
He is currently running a non-advancing Jr. Team Tennis winter league for juniors and is coaching a women’s 3.5 USTA League team, which has made it to the District Championships for the past two years.
Barker also launched the Vermont Tennis Academy last year, which offers low and high performance tennis training for all ages and abilities designed to help all players reach their full potential in a short period of time. In addition, he launched two new adult tournaments in 2013 and is in the process of having both USTA sanctioned tournaments.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by USTA New England for my dedication to tennis. I have been working in the sport for a number of years and it is an incredible feeling to be rewarded. I have a deep passion for this sport and although it is a great honor to receive this award, I owe a lot of thanks to my tennis colleagues, friends and my family for supporting me along the way. Without them, I would not be receiving this award,” said Scott Barker.
Barker was joined by 23 other award winners and 48 veteran volunteers – all of whom were celebrated for their outstanding dedication to the sport of tennis.
“We take great pride in our ability to reward our dedicated players, coaches, organizations, volunteers and for their contributions and heroics to the game of tennis in New England year after year. It’s our special way to say ‘thank you’ for all that these amazing individuals and organizations do to support our mission, ‘To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis’,” says USTA New England President, Gary Pina.
