NEWPORT, RI — The International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced that Todd S. Ellenbecker of Scottsdale, Arizona, Sharon Rosenburgh of Indianapolis, Indiana and Kathleen Ann Stroia of St. Petersburg, Florida are the 2007 recipients of the Tennis Educational Merit Awards. These prominent tennis awards were presented today at a special luncheon held in the Vista Ballroom of the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida, during the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Annual Meeting. The Tennis Educational Merit Awards are given annually to individuals who are U.S. citizens or residents that have made notable contributions in the tennis education field at the national level. Award winners have repeatedly demonstrated leadership and creative skills in tennis instruction, writing, organization and promotion of the game of tennis.

Sharon Rosenburgh has been the coach of the girl’s tennis team at Carmel High School in Indiana for 26 years and has witnessed the growth of the student body develop from 1800 to well over 4,000 students. She has coached three team state champions; three singles champions and three doubles champions. She has also had 32 Academic All-Stators and 22 players move on to varsity collegiate tennis status. She was named the National Coach of the Year in 2004. She has been a frequent contributing writer to the Federation of High School Athletic Associations (NFHS), a national publication. Her articles promote high school tennis and offer advice from selection of assistant coaches to “parental coaching.” Many of her ideas and coaching clinics and techniques have been nationally recognized and utilized by other state associations. Rosenburgh is an expert on the state rules of the game and every year gives a “rules interpretation” presentation to coaches in Indiana, a state requirement for coaches. Rosenburgh has been active in numerous tennis organizations and tournaments, including the ATP’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships (formerly known as the RCA Tennis Championships). Rosenburgh is one of the most well respected coaches in the country, not only for her services as a teacher but also for her vast knowledge of the game.

An additional note, in 1990 Rosenburgh took into her Indy home two young Russian tennis players. One child was a ten-year-old named Marat Safin, who would become a World No. 1 ranked player and winner of both the Australian and US Open Championships.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines and providing a landmark for private individuals worldwide. The Hall of Fame is supported through contributions from private individuals and corporations and is recognized both nationally and internationally as the premiere Conservator of the rich tradition of the sport of tennis.

Previous winners include former professional players Pam Shriver, Zena Garriison and Arthur Ashe, Jr.