10 Years of Middle States Presidential Service Awards
Each year, the Middle States Presidential Service Award is presented to an individual who has provided a high level of service to the Middle States mission during their tenure as Middle States President. Let’s take a look back at the last decade, recognizing seven incredible women with this esteemed honor.
REBECCA HALPERN - 2023
Rebecca Halpern has been involved with the USTA Middle States board for more than a decade. She’s served the section as a board member, President, and is currently the Middle States Delegate. Halpern has chaired multiple committees and has been involved both at the section and national level in many ways. Part of her local focus now is reworking and enhancing how the volunteer network and section leadership interact, while recruiting and retraining new volunteers and future leaders of the organization.
LAURA CANFIELD - 2022
Laura Canfield has done just about everything in the community tennis world, both at the local and national levels. Canfield is co-founder and current program director of the Bucks County Tennis Association, which provides affordable quality tennis programs to approximately two dozen parks and recreation agencies and schools throughout Bucks County, Pa., servicing more than 2,000 participants annually. She served as Middle States' Executive Director for 13 years and, as a volunteer, is now serving her second term as Vice President of USTA at the national level. Canfield was inducted into the Middle States Hall of Fame in 2012.
SALLY BAIRD - 2022
Sally Baird began as a staff member of USTA Middle States in 1996 and served as the Director of Competition for the majority of her time. She started helping out with the USA League Tennis program in 199,1 coordinating the senior league in Philadelphia. In 1992, she began coordinating the full adult league program. Baird has been involved with the league computer program for many years, having done Beta testing on new systems. Twenty-eight years later, Baird is continuing to organize league tennis with Middle States as the Area League Coordinator in the Philadelphia area.
APRIL GIFT - 2019
Gift’s work with community tennis goes beyond Middle States. She is currently the Community Program Development Manager at USTA South Carolina, also staying active and working closely with USTA Middle States. In 2009, Gift was awarded the Junior Team Tennis Organizer of the Year in USTA Middle States. The following year she formed the Community Tennis Association, Central PA JTT, and continues her involvement with the successful organization to this day. In 2019 she received the Middle States Presidential Service Award.
NANCY WILKINS - 2014 & 2017
Nancy Wilkins' impact will continue to stretch beyond the lines of the tennis court as she serves as the USTA Middle States Board President for the 2023-2024 term. One of her goals as President is to expand adaptive tennis: unified tournaments, accessibility, networking, and much more. Wilkins was instrumental in the creation of the National Adaptive Championships and is an active member of the USTA Adaptive Committee. She has been involved as a coach and volunteer with the Special Olympics since 1988. Wilkins continues to advocate and provide opportunities for athletes in the adaptive space.
GINA PILEGGI - 2016
Throughout her career, Gina Pileggi has been highly involved with USTA at the District, Section and National levels. Specifically at the Middle States level, she’s served as a board member in numerous capacities, including as President in 2013-14. Pileggi’s involvement with USTA National includes serving on a multitude of committees, most recently the USTA Nominating Committee, where she was tasked with helping select the Board of Directors. Pileggi is currently a Presidential Appointee on the Middle States Board of Directors, also serving on the New Jersey District Nominating Committee.
CINDY MABLE - 2016
Cindy Mable was first involved as a tennis player, but when injury kept her off the court, she became a USTA Official. However, it was her work behind the scenes that earned her the 2016 Middle States Presidential Service Award. Mable served the section as the chair of both the Awards Committee and the Leadership Development Committee. In 2017, she was elected to the Middle States Board of Directors and continued to serve the Leadership Development Committee as the chairperson. Despite all of her involvement in the governance and organization of Middle States, Mable is simply a fan of the sport and wants to bring it to as many as she can.
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