Principia's Sovie a Finalist for ITA Leadership Award

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has proudly announced its five finalists for the 2020 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award. Meible Chi (Duke), Emma Kassan (Swarthmore), Daniel Park (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps), Ariandna Riley (Tennessee) and our very own Principian, Greg Sovie for the Association's highest student leadership award. 
 
Sovie was nominated for this award because he is an exemplary result of what Principia underpins in (Policy 12), in the building of character or, the Whole Man. Rusty Jones, Principia's Head Tennis Coach, states "I believe Greg brought that accolade largely with him when he arrived at Principia, because of the adversity he overcame as a child, a toddler, an adolescent, and ultimately as a young adult. He struggled with the physical world's belief that he wasn't a whole man, but rather someone born with a disability unworthy of most things. The challenges that Greg overcame and conquered through this limited label, helped to mold and shape him into the man of staunch integrity and an ambassador for change." 
 
Aside from Sovie's athletic accolades in tennis, which are numerous, what shines the most is his unselfish philanthropy: supporting local youth numerous times at the boys and girls clubs of Alton; volunteering to teach tennis clinics to local community high school athletes; giving inspiring talks to high school and middle school audiences on overcoming adversity and joining in local community service work. Sovie's outspoken message through his own example is that no limitations can hinder anyone's advancement if they learn to trust in their own spiritual power, remain true to themselves, and trust in God to lead their lives. 
Jones describes Sovie as "the epitome of the balance between principle and love, integrity and forthrightness, might and meekness, confidence and humility, courage and wisdom, strength and stillness, inspiration and insightfulness. His example is and is destined to become a blessing to many."
 
A past team member and now coach, Peter Griswold states: "It says a great deal that Greg was voted as a captain of a team with five seniors last year. His competitive spirit is inspiring and he holds teammates to a high standard of commitment to tennis and love for each other. His impact reaches far beyond only his on-court ability, as he has helped create a wonderful team culture and been an excellent leader for us."
 
The ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award will stand to honor a recent college graduate who played college tennis and demonstrated excellence on and off the court, leadership on his or her team, as well as on his or her college campus and in his or her community. The annual recipient of the award will have demonstrated grit (i.e., passion and perseverance towards long-term goals), a commitment to social justice and equality and will have pushed others to be leaders in addition to demonstrating his or her own leadership.
 
The next step of this award will be to review a personal statement, resume, letters from their coaches, teammates and institution's President. In addition to the winner being awarded a post-graduate scholarship, the ITA will make a $1000 donation to the award winner's college tennis program. It is the ITA's hope that the winner will be announced in June and honored at a special awards ceremony during the 2020 ITA Leadership Weekend in New York City in August. The ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award winner will join the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award recipients during the service-based weekend to celebrate how service in tennis moves our sport and the tennis community forward.
 
"Our sport and Association remain ever grateful for the vision and extraordinary presence of Billie Jean King and Ann Lebedeff, both inspirations to the worlds of tennis and higher education," ITA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Timothy Russell, remarked. "What an extraordinary pool of candidates we have for this year's Award.  Congratulations to each and all of our finalists."
 
The ITA and our country are both stronger because of the work ethic and commitment to service of our outstanding ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award finalists.

To view the full ITA article, click here.