Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The spaghetti feed event to help raise money for the repairs, helped raise over $1,500 for the project.
UNIONTOWN – When it came time for Colton High School senior Alyssan Kerr to decide on her senior project, she had her community's wellness in mind.
The town of Uniontown recently witnessed the conclusion of a remarkable senior project led by Colton High School senior Alyssan Kerr. Her initiative aimed to revitalize the town's aging tennis courts, bringing new opportunities for recreation and fitness to the town of just under 400 residents.
Kerr, drawing on her personal experience as a freshman tennis player at Clarkston High School, recognized the limited athletic options available in her own community. Motivated by a desire to diversify sports opportunities and address the deteriorating state of Uniontown's tennis courts, she embarked on extensive research and planning over the course of the past year. Kerr noted, "I felt that there wasn't enough athletics in our community, there wasn't enough variety, and revitalizing the tennis courts was something I wanted to start on."
In her research, Kerr discovered the numerous physical and mental benefits associated with tennis. She saw it as a sport accessible to individuals of all ages, promoting overall well-being. "It's a really fun sport; anyone can pick it up," said Kerr, "We have a large elderly population here that could benefit from this sport."
Kerr also identified the versatility of the tennis courts during her research, noting their potential for other activities such as pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the country according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
To fund the renovation project, Kerr organized a spaghetti feed event that took place on Friday, April 28th, which garnered considerable community support. Over 54 attendees attended the fundraiser, enjoying a meal while contributing to the cause. The event proved successful, raising a total of $1,522.52 toward the total estimated repair cost of approximately $30,000.
While the funds raised during the spaghetti feed represent a significant step forward, Kerr acknowledges that additional resources are necessary to fully realize her goal of renovating the tennis courts. She hopes that her efforts will inspire future students to continue the project and explore additional funding opportunities. Kerr said, "Hopefully, a junior from my high school will look at what I've done and think it's really cool and want to pick up where I left off with the grant writing process."
Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.
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