Meet the 2024 L. Keith Wood Scholarship winners
By Cameron Turner, ALTA Foundation President
The ALTA Foundation supports so many amazing causes in the Atlanta area, and you, as a member, are a big part of that philanthropic effort. A portion of your annual membership dues, in addition to various other funds, is donated to the foundation. The organization uses the game of tennis to support not only amateur tennis athletes, but also programs for the disadvantaged and the physically and mentally challenged. It also provides new opportunities for underserved youth and other local tennis programs. During the last eight years, the foundation has been fortunate enough to have granted funds through the L. Keith Wood Scholarship program, awarding $165,000 to graduating high school students who have participated in either ALTA junior programs or other initiatives sponsored by the foundation.
The selection process is always a difficult one. This year, eight well-rounded individuals rose to the top and will receive a $2,500 award toward their college education expenses. These students were recognized during the final Atlanta Open in July.
Please join us in congratulating the 2024 ALTA Foundation scholarship winners and their families!
Isabelle Coursey
Atlanta, GA
ALTA Facility: Dekalb Tennis Center
Graduate of: Chamblee High School
Attending: Georgia Tech
Do you want to study abroad? If so, where would you like to go and why? I would like to study abroad — hopefully at Georgia Tech’s Europe campus. I’ve always wanted to eat bread in Paris!
Do you speak any languages other than English? Yes! Korean, German and un poquito Espanol.
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? I’m excellent at guessing people’s heights!
What was the last TV show you binge-watched? “Love is Blind” is my guilty pleasure.
Riley Hamrick
Peachtree Corners, GA
ALTA Facility: Peachtree Station Swim and Tennis
Graduate of: Norcross High School
Attending: University of Georgia
A genie grants you three wishes. What are they? Travel the world; good health for my whole life; and to have a positive impact.
What is the best vacation you’ve ever had? Venice, Florence, and Rome in Italy.
Who is your favorite professional tennis player and why? Coco Gauff because I loved watching her at Wimbledon in 2019.
What was the first thing you said you wanted to be when you grew up? A teacher.
Prisha Mody
Johns Creek, GA
ALTA Facility: Peachtree Station
Graduate of: Johns Creek High School
Attending: University of Georgia
What is one thing you want to do your first week of college? I want to check out the rock-climbing wall at Ramsey.
Do you speak any languages other than English? Yes, Hindi and Gujrati.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I hope to be practicing medicine as an orthopedic surgeon.
What is your favorite type of music, and do you have a favorite band/singer? I love country music, and one of my favorite bands is the Zac Brown Band.
Mara Opre
Suwanee, GA
ALTA Facility: Sharon Springs Park
Graduate of: Lambert High School
Attending: Anderson University
Do you hope to study abroad? If so, where would you like to go and why? I would love to study abroad in Madrid, Spain. I’ve always wanted to visit, and I think I would learn a lot from the experience. I’ve been learning Spanish since I was 12 and would love to experience living in a Spanish-speaking country.
Do you speak any languages other than English? Romanian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Who is your favorite professional tennis player and why? Simona Halep. She’s Romanian, like me, and I’ve grown up with her as an inspiration for my game.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I would love to be a pediatric nurse practitioner in 10 years.
Athena Misewicz
Dunwoody, GA
ALTA Facility: Dunwoody Country Club
Graduate of: Dunwoody High School
Attending: University of Georgia
Do you hope to study abroad? If so, where would you like to go and why? I hope to study abroad. I’d love to study in London for a semester at the London School of Economics so I could gain knowledge of my major in one of the world’s financial capitals.
What is the best vacation you’ve ever had? The best vacation I’ve ever had was my month-long trip to Greece where I visited family and explored my ancestral homeland.
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? I have perfected my recipe for Bearnaise sauce.
Who is your favorite professional tennis player and why? Maria Sakkari. She is an all-around talented player who continues to improve in her skill and mindset. She also makes Greece very proud!
Ben Stone
Suwanee, GA
ALTA Facility: Mayfair/St. Clair
Graduate of: Lambert High School
Attending: University of Alabama
Do you collect anything? What? Why? How long? I collect wristbands from different teams, places, schools, etc. I’ve been doing it for about four years.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? As a civil engineer working on different residential projects for a firm in Atlanta, as well as starting a family.
What was the last TV show you binge-watched? The Bear.
What is one thing you want to do during your first week at college? Meet everyone in my dorm hallway and in the fraternity where I receive a bid.
Ally Turnbough
Snellville, GA
ALTA Facility: Briscoe Park
Graduate of: Greater Atlanta Christian School
Attending: Clark Atlanta University
What is one thing you want to do during your first week at college? Meet new friends and make new connections
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I see myself doing missionary work on or off the court and traveling around the world.
Who is your favorite tennis player and why? Serena Williams. She always helps me to remember to give it 110% every time I’m on the court and push past mental battles.
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? I crochet!
Davis Wall
Duluth, GA
ALTA Facility: Canterbury Woods
Graduate of: Peachtree Ridge High School
Attending: University of Georgia
Do you hope to study abroad? If so, where would you like to go and why? I do hope to study abroad. I want to experience new parts of the world and cultures I’ve never seen. Currently, I’m looking at programs in Cape Town, South Africa and Sydney, Australia. I’m an outdoors person, so the ideal place for me would have beautiful scenery.
Favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is Christmas. It’s a month of giving, reflecting, and the pure energy in the air is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
What was the first thing you said you wanted to be when you grew up? A paleontologist! Dino digs were my favorite as a kid!
Do you collect anything? What? Why? How long? I collect pictures! I think it’s super important to look back on not only the good times, but also the bad times. Life is all about making mistakes and learning from them.
