2023 MTA College Scholarship Recipients
The Mississippi Tennis Association is proud to announce that the recipients of the 2023 College Educational Scholarships are Margaret Anne Henderson of Madison and Ivey Yelverton of Flowood. Now in its twenty-third year, the program awards scholarships each year to a deserving young man and woman based on their accomplishments in the classroom, on the tennis court, and in the community. Margaret Anne is a graduate of Madison Central High School, and has an impressive resume all around. Academically, Henderson stands out academically with accolades that include a 4.0 GPA, being in the ACT 30+ Club, and the National Honor Society. In the community, Henderson has volunteered to serve in multiple capacities that include service for organizations such as Hope Hollow, Iona Food Pantry, the Madison Junior Civitan Club, the Make a Wish Foundation, and many others. Henderson was selected to be a Junior Ambassador for the City of Madison and is a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, which was one of her most notable accomplishments in the community. Perhaps Henderson’s most memorable community service project came when she was a part of the Madison Central Empowerment Club, where she had the rewarding experience of being a mentor to an elementary student and got the opportunity to enhance that student academically and socially.
On the court, Henderson has been a part of a Madison Central High School team that has won four consecutive state championships at the highest level of MHSAA play. Henderson was voted by her peers to serve as the captain of the team for the past three seasons, as well as winning the Jag Award in 2021 and 2022, an award given to the player on the team that has demonstrated the highest level of leadership and sportsmanship. Henderson plans to continue playing on the Club Tennis team at the University of Arkansas, where she will major in Biomedical Engineering with hopes to eventually work in medical device research and development.
“Tennis has provided a great opportunity for me to meet so many people that are important in my life,” said Henderson. “The sport has taught me the importance of mental strength and staying positive, and there are so many aspects of the sport that make it one that I want to continue playing for a lifetime.”
Ivey Yelverton is a graduate of Jackson Preparatory School, where he has a distinguished career on and off the court. On the court, Yelverton has been one of the most successful players in his age group for the last decade, achieving the number one ranking in the state in the earlier years of his junior career as well as a top 20 standing in the Southeast. These accolades earned Yelverton a position on the Ozaki Southern Jr Cup team three times and the prestigious USTA Southern Zonals team in 2017. For his high school team, Yelverton has also been a large part of their success, as he has won an individual state championship in 2018 and finished as the state runner up in #1 Singles four of the past five seasons. Yelverton was voted the Jackson Prep Team MVP in 2018, and won the “Impact Player Award” three other years. Off the court, Yelverton’s accomplishments are just as extensive. Academically, Yelverton carries a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the ACT 30+ Club, while also being named to the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, the AP Scholar, and was a medalist in the National Latin Society. His extracurriculars are also top notch, as he is a member of Jackson Prep’s Global Leadership Institution, their Woodworking and Glass Design Programs, in addition to serving on the Stewpot Community Services team and the CBF Missions team in St Louis.
Yelverton will continue his education at the University of Mississippi in August, where he plans to major in Accounting with a minor in Entrepreneurship, hoping to own his own business one day. Tennis will still be a part of his life though, as he plans to play on the Club Team at Ole Miss.
