The addition of the new NAIA men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams is not all that students can look forward to next fall.

OLLU has gotten involved in what is being called the Roddick Tennis Foundation, a youth outreach program sponsored by the family of professional tennis player Andy Roddick.

The program will be directly associated with the university, and, according to Athletic Director Jack Hank, it will be a “100 percent developmental program for youth players” and will focus on children ages 5-9.
The roots of the program will be at St. Martin’s Hall where tennis will be used as a platform.

“The goal is to get tennis rackets into the hands of children,” Hank said.

According to Hank, the program also plans to outreach into the West Side community by getting involved with the Boys and Girls Club, as well as possibly other elementary schools in the area.

The Roddick Tennis Foundation will also directly affect five Lake students. It will offer five scholarships for students on campus who will work for the foundation. Two students who will be hired as administrative assistants will each receive scholarships worth $9,000 a year and three students who will actually work with the youth involved in the program will receive scholarships for $12,000 per year.

Hank said he soon will be advertising where students can pick up applications for the program.