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On Monday, November 3, 2008, Ashford University (AU), as a subsidiary of San Diego-based Bridgepoint Education, will sponsor its third annual Tennis Clinic to benefit disabled and intellectually challenged athletes – some who are competitors in the San Diego County Chapter of the Special Olympics.
Hosted by the Peninsula Tennis Club in Ocean Beach (San Diego), the event is scheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m.
Founded and coordinated by David Vande Pol of AU, and facilitated by members of the men’s and women’s tennis teams at San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of San Diego (USD), the clinic teaches more than a dozen aspiring athletes the skills they need to succeed on the Special Olympics tennis courts.
The entire event is run by volunteers. AU employees, as well as their friends and family, will be paired with coaches and players from SDSU and USD, to run tennis drills, keep the teams moving, and most importantly, to cheer on the athletes.
Introductions and a short demonstration of clinic activities and basic tennis moves will begin at 6:15 p.m. Participating athletes will then be separated into small groups, with each group starting at a different drill station. There will be a total of five drill stations, to include: “Serve and Return,” “Groundstroke,” “Volley,” “Doubles,” and “Running Doubles.” Athletes will rotate through all five drill stations, learning essential tennis skills at each stop.
“In 2007, we taught fundamental tennis skills to 17 uniquely challenged athletes, and we drew a crowd of more than 80 volunteers,” said Vande Pol. The clinic was a great success. We can’t wait for the 2008 experience.”
He adds, “I’m proud to work for a company that so willingly and modestly supports our local community. Our volunteers show a tremendous amount of support for these hopeful athletes and it’s wonderful to see how much the players are able to pick up in just a few hours.”
The clinic is free and open to the public. Refreshments and t-shirts will be provided for all event attendees, and the athletes will receive special gifts.
About Ashford University
Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its tagline is: “Higher Education Made Affordable”SM. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations, at 858/513-9240 x2513.