Wilson and the ITA Announce 2008 Internship Award Program Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Casey Angle
609-497-6921
ITAmedia@aol.com

05/07/08 - Skillman, N.J. – Amy Brown of Stanford and Jared Karlebach of Skidmore have been selected as the 2008 Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Internship Award Program winners, the ITA announced today.

The Wilson/ITA Internship Award Program recognizes individuals who promote the game of tennis at the collegiate level, by devoting consistent time and effort to promotional activities, and who support and bring awareness to either their school program or to the sport as a whole. Two categories of collegiate promoters have been established: Varsity Team Managers and Varsity Student-Athletes. One individual from each category – Brown and Karlebach, respectively – have been selected to receive a paid summer internship at Wilson's global headquarters in Chicago, Ill.

Amy Brown, the winner of the 2008 Wilson/ITA National Promoter of the Year for a Varsity Team Manager, is an integral part of Stanford varsity tennis. Amy has managed the men's varsity team for all four of her years at Stanford. A senior majoring in Sociology, Amy co-founded the Cardinal Court Club, a student booster club which promotes Stanford tennis. Since its inception four years ago, the club has grown to include over 500 student members, and helps to publicize matches and organize special events and promotions for the teams. Amy also designed specifications for an automated attendance tracking system, so the club could monitor their success. Additionally, she serves as vice president of the Stanford Tennis Club, an active participant in the USTA Tennis On Campus program.

Jared Karlebach, a senior at Skidmore College, is the 2008 Wilson/ITA National Student-Athlete Promoter of the Year. Jared has been playing Division III tennis for four years, and will graduate with a degree in anthropology this year. An active volunteer, Jared has worked with 15-Love, an after school tennis program in the Albany area. He also worked as an intern at Hoops for Hope, a not-for-profit global organization. Additionally, Jared has had success off the court: a Dean's List regular at Skidmore, he was named to the 2007 Liberty League All-Academic Team.

"Congratulations to Amy, Jared, and all of our nominees," said David Benjamin, Executive Director of the ITA. "This unique Wilson/ITA Awards Program presents a wonderful opportunity for students to be recognized for their promotional efforts of their varsity tennis programs and tennis in general. Both Amy and Jared have been outstanding in their efforts to promote collegiate tennis, and this award will offer them a special opportunity to experience intern positions this summer with Wilson Sporting Goods, a leader in the tennis industry."

"Wilson joins the ITA in congratulating Amy and Jared and we are very excited to have them join us this summer at our Global headquarters in Chicago," said Cory Springer, Wilson;s Marketing Director of USA Racquet Sports.

As the governing body of collegiate tennis the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which was founded in 1956 and is based in Skillman, N.J., administers numerous regional and national championships, the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit presented by the USTA, and the Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings for Men's and Women's tennis at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship.

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