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The Greenbelt Tennis Association was honored with the Jim Cassels Community Service Award, given by the Greenbelt Consumer Cooperative at its annual meeting Nov. 1.

GTA steering committee member Cam MacQueen said the organization was delighted to receive the award for its Fall Clinic, which began Sept. 2 and included eight sessions.

"We're thrilled to be recognized to have this kind of support from the community to help us move this program forward," MacQueen said. "Our goal is to introduce as many kids as we can to tennis. This award will enable us not only to have the credibility but also the resources we need to make this a first rate tennis program."

The award recognizes an organization or group that has made significant contributions to the Greenbelt community, and includes a $1,000 stipend to be used for future initiatives by the honoree.

MacQueen said the GTA plans to buy racquets for upcoming clinics and hiring an official tennis instructor.

Cassels, who passed away earlier this year, moved to Greenbelt in the 1950s and devoted much of his life to community service. He served on the Prince George's County Housing Authority until his retirement in the 1980s. For the better part of the next two decades, Cassels volunteered much of his time with the Greenbelt cooperative store.

MacQueen said the GTA plans another clinic for sometime in the spring.

Youth participants in the GTA included: Melson Chen, Christopher Acha, Beatrice Acha, Alexandra Sherman, Chistopher Sherman, Vanessa Phillips, Julia Pedersoli, Saad Akram, Dante McMullen, Grace Seo, Daniel Seo, Nia Brown, Nick Serra, Jeremy Tuthill, Julia Tartaro, Lenny Garner, Linda Kuo, Matthew Early, Jazmin Castrillo, Adrian Davis, and Omari Williams.

Volunteer coaches included Sam Sain, Darryl Price, Clay Gillis, Rich Majewski, Al Hargrave, Damon Austin, and Bill Wilkerson. Eleanor Roosevelt High students Subodh Arora and Phil Wilson also served as coaches.

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.