By Cameron Turner, ALTA Foundation President
The ALTA Foundation issues tens of thousands of dollars each year in the form of grants and scholarships, thanks to your donations. We’d like to extend sincere appreciation to former ALTA Chairwoman and President Jean Watson, who has generously supported this scholarship program. One of the foundation’s major accomplishments is the recognition of the L. Keith Wood Scholarship recipients. We’d like to introduce you to this year’s winners.
Saketh Ramakrishnan
What I want the ALTA Community to know about me: “I live to serve my community, whether that be in small or big ways, like serving as the Junior Tennis Ambassador!”
Languages: “4.5 Languages: English, Tamil, Spanish, Python (coding language), and half fluent in Hindi!”
Favorite Professional Tennis Player: “Roger Federer — he redefined the ‘art’ of tennis.”
Unknown Talent: “I sing and play saxophone for Indian Classical Carnatic Music and have been doing so for over a decade!”
Genie’s Wishes:
1. “Unlimited tacos that never make me gain weight.”
2. “The ability to skip ads in real life.”
3. “And of course… three more genies.”
Motto: “If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success.”
Sophie Dowling
Favorite Holiday: “My favorite holiday is definitely Halloween because I love that I get to dress up multiple times on the weekend and then see all the little kids in their costumes. And reminisce on how fun it was as a child and getting to hand out candy to them and see how happy they get!”
First Career Aspiration: “I think I definitely said I wanted to be a vet or a doctor. I still do not know what I will do after college, but I know I will figure that out soon and college will guide me in the right direction.”
Best Tennis Stroke: “My backhand down the line or cross court is usually my best — which isn’t always many people’s — but if I can hit it correctly, it usually will be really hard and hard to get to.”
Superpower Wish: “Flying, because I live a little further away from a lot of my school friends. It would be nice not to have to set aside more time in my day that accounts for traffic and the long distance and just be able to get anywhere in five minutes, so I don’t waste as much time every day on that and the stress that comes from being on time.”
Motto: “Forgive and forget. I have always believed strongly that we all make mistakes as we are just growing and are still young so sometimes you shouldn’t take everything so personally. Just live life without grudges and being mean because it’s a lot harder to be mean to someone than to be nice.”
Alyssa Khou
Last Laughter Moment: “The last time I laughed out loud was at a family reunion while watching my cousins have an impromptu rap battle. It was hilarious to see how quickly they could think on their feet, coming up with clever rhymes and playful comebacks on the spot. Their energy, creativity, and sense of humor had everyone cracking up.”
Favorite Holiday: “Christmas will always be my favorite holiday because of the fond memories I have from childhood. My family went all out to make the season magical and to keep the Christmas spirit alive. They did such a great job creating that wonder and excitement that I probably would’ve believed forever… if it weren’t for my grandmother who decided it was a little embarrassing that I still believed at that age.”
Invention Idea: “If I could invent something, it would be a quick and efficient way to dry tennis courts after it rains, so matches and practices can start on time.”
Best Tennis Stroke: “My favorite tennis shot is the inside-out forehand. As a lefty, it’s especially effective. I can open up the court by hitting to my opponent’s backhand side, then attack again with another inside-out forehand to keep them on the run.”
Favorite School Year: “Senior year is my favorite year of high school. After working hard during the first three years with balancing tough classes, extracurriculars, and college applications, it’s finally nice to take a breather the second semester. I enjoy the final months of high school and attending graduation parties and making lasting memories with friends.”
Jazzy Yammout
Favorite Holiday: “Christmas, because I love the traditions, movies, snacks, and cozy feeling.”
Unknown Talent: “I have a photographic memory.”
Best Tennis Stroke: “Volleys, because I like strategic play and at the net is where I have the most control.”
Favorite School Year: “8th grade, because although it was during COVID, it was the year I felt most connected with others in my community.”
Motto: “You only live once.”
Kylie Johnson
Invention Idea: “If I were an inventor, the first thing I would invent is a device that could record your dreams and play them back like a movie. It would be so cool to actually see what your mind comes up with while you sleep, and maybe even help people understand their thoughts or feelings better.”
Unknown Talent: “A talent most people don’t know about is my ability to nap. I can fall asleep anywhere and anytime. It is like an instant recharge whenever I need it.”
Do you collect anything? “I collect books, and I’ve been doing it for about 10 years. I just love having shelves full of stories I’ve read (or want to read). It’s kind of like a personal time capsule — every book reminds me of a different phase or moment in my life.”
Superpower Wish: “I’d choose mind reading as my superpower. Being able to understand what people are really thinking could help with communication, decision-making, and building stronger connections. It would be powerful, but definitely something you’d have to manage carefully.”
Motto: “Keep moving forward. No matter what happens, I believe it’s important to learn from mistakes and keep pushing toward your goals instead of getting stuck. It helps me stay positive and focused.”
Dilan Shingadia
Last Laughter Moment: “I was explaining card counting to my friends and why it worked in games like blackjack but wasn’t useful in Texas Hold ‘em, which is the use of a shoe of multiple decks in blackjack, whereas in Texas Hold ‘em the deck is shuffled after every hand. One of my friends was sitting there very confused and said, ‘They really use a shoe?’ He thought I meant a shoe you wear on your foot.”
Unknown Talent: “I can speed-read.”
Best Tennis Stroke: “Forehand, it was always more accurate and aggressive.”
Do you collect anything? “I have been collecting rocks and minerals for about 10 years now.”
Motto: “You aren’t defined by your successes. You are defined by your failures and how you respond to them.”
Kei Holmes
Languages: “I also speak Japanese and some Spanish!”
Favorite Professional Tennis Player: “My favorite professional tennis player is Mirra Andreeva because although she’s younger than me, she inspires me to keep reaching for my goals because anything is possible. She is such an impressive player at such a young age, but off the court, she seems to have such a bright and fun personality that I also love.”
Favorite School Year: “Sophomore year because that was when I met a lot of my friends that I am close to today, and even though it was one of the more challenging years academically, that encouraged me to work harder and improve my work ethic.”
Do you collect anything? “Photo booth pictures with friends. With tangible memories, I can look back on memories with friends and always carry them around, even when I go to college. Whenever I look at pictures with my friends, it makes me happier.”
Motto: “‘Embarrassment doesn’t exist.’ Living with this motto helps me move on from ‘embarrassing’ things quicker, and it also helps me live for myself and for those I love rather than living for the approval or validation of others. Other people forget about some embarrassing thing you did, so why shouldn’t you?”
Parth Mody
Best Vacation: “My best vacation was definitely my trip to Yellowstone National Park. The breathtaking geysers, especially Old Faithful, left me in awe, and the vibrant hot springs like Grand Prismatic were like something from another planet. I loved spotting wildlife — bison roaming freely, elk grazing near the rivers, and even a glimpse of a wolf in the distance. Hiking through the Lamar Valley and witnessing the sheer beauty of nature made me appreciate the outdoors even more. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, and I’d go back in a heartbeat.”
Languages: “Aside from English, I also speak Hindi and Gujarati. Hindi connects me to Bollywood movies and North Indian culture, while Gujarati is my family’s mother tongue, making it special for conversations at home. Knowing these languages helps me bond with relatives and understand cultural traditions more deeply.”
Favorite Professional Tennis Player: “Rafael Nadal His fighting spirit, especially on clay courts, is unmatched. Beyond his skills, I admire his sportsmanship and humility — win or lose, he respects his opponents. His epic matches, like the 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer, are legendary.”
Unknown Talent: “One talent most people don’t know I have is identifying birds in Georgia. Whether it’s spotting a bright scarlet tanager or recognizing a barred owl’s call, I love birdwatching. It started as a hobby during hikes, but now I can name dozens of species just by their colors or songs. It’s a peaceful way to connect with nature.”
Motto: “Progress, not perfection. It reminds me that small steps forward matter more than flawless results. Mistakes are part of growth, whether in tennis, school, or life.”
