USTA Expands Althea Gibson Scholarship Program To Further Support Students At HBCU Schools

In honor of the 75th anniversary of icon Althea Gibson breaking the color barrier in tennis, the USTA is expanding its Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship Program. The announcement was made on Friday, June 20, at the HBCU Week 2025 Awards Gala held at Hotel Dupont in Wilmington, Del. Together with the HBCU Week Foundation, the USTA will award an additional $20,000 in college scholarships to two students ($10,000 each) who are currently or will be enrolled in a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Applications will open in September, with recipients selected in early 2026.

Since its inception in 2022, the USTA Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship program has awarded nearly $60,000 in college scholarships to students enrolled in an HBCU. Building on that momentum, these additional funds will further support students pursuing excellence both in the classroom and on the tennis court.

The scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students who meet certain requirements. To qualify, applicants must be majoring in sports management or have a demonstrated background in tennis, such as participation in recreational, high school, or competitive league tennis at any level or a commitment to play collegiate tennis; students must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time at a four-year, accredited HBCU; and hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The scholarship is named in honor of Althea Gibson, a trailblazing athlete and graduate of Florida A&M University, an HBCU. In 1950, Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis, becoming the first African American to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open), which paved the way for future athletes and led to significant changes in and outside of sports. Gibson’s legacy is the focal point of the 2025 US Open theme: “Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers”. Gibson’s autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” was republished by New Chapter Press in 2022.

“Althea Gibson was more than a champion—she was a trailblazer whose influence is still felt today,” said Marisa Grimes, USTA’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. “Expanding this scholarship is a powerful way to carry her legacy forward, creating meaningful opportunities for HBCU students to succeed in all aspects of their lives. Supporting their journeys helps move tennis—and society—toward a more inclusive and equitable future.”

“We are honored to partner with the USTA to launch the Althea Gibson Scholarship, a meaningful collaboration that reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to higher education and advancing diversity within the sport of tennis,” says Ashley Christopher, founder of HBCU Week Foundation. “Althea Gibson’s extraordinary legacy as a pioneer and barrier-breaker continues to inspire countless students, and through this scholarship, we aim to empower the next generation of HBCU scholars to pursue both academic and athletic excellence. This partnership represents an important step in creating lasting impact and opportunity for our students, and we are proud to announce it during this year’s HBCU Week Gala.”