ACES: Academic Community Engagement Support

Bennington ACES, part of the USTA Foundation NJTL network, is dedicated to providing tennis, fitness, nutrition, learning and academic support for Bennington area underserved youth. Through its partnership with local schools, Bennington ACES offers high quality, age-specific tennis instruction; academic tutoring; and in-depth nutrition programming.

Created in 2016, the program is held at the Bennington Tennis Center where Tennis Director Seth Gabriel, Assistant Tennis Director Dan Rowe, and other staff lead age appropriate, after-school and weekend tennis. Executive Director, Sandy Foster brings outstanding education experience to develop interactive, academic enrichment and nutrition instruction to challenge and engage our underserved youth. The program has completed 1700 hours of programming to participants from six area schools, offering instruction five times per week including a tennis and enrichment program at a four-week summer program held at Bennington College.

Bennington ACES was founded by the late Richard Ader — a community leader and advocate for education and athletics. Richard’s legacy guides and inspires our board and staff.

The program credits its growth to the overwhelming support of the community and strong partnerships with Bennington College and local area elementary schools. This success is the result of unstinting support from area school principals, superintendent’s office, teachers, parents, volunteers and expert staff.