March 21, 2025

Bennington ACES, a local tennis and educational nonprofit for kids ages 8–15 and whose 6-week summer program is located on Bennington College’s campus, has been awarded the prestigious National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) “Chapter of the Year” honor by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) New England. This accolade highlights the organization’s impactful work in providing a diverse group of local youth with access to tennis instruction, in-depth wellness programming, and academic tutoring. 

Bennington Aces, a non-profit and Vermont’s only National Junior Tennis & Learning organization, was founded in 2016 by Richard Ader, owner of the for-profit Bennington Tennis Center and former Bennington College trustee. Over the past nine years, the program has operated after-school and summer programs for hundreds of local kids. 

David Kelso, the president of the Bennington Aces board, noted that the work related to the award was conducted mostly by Bennington Aces Executive Director Sandy Foster and Founder, the late Richard Ader. “It is a result of literally years of effort from Dick and Sandy to make this program happen,” said Kelso. 

Ader, who passed away in 2023, enjoyed providing children with a wider set of options for what they could do with their lives. In an article published just after having been honored at the U.S. Tennis Association’s U.S. Open Gala in 2018, Ader said, “[The Bennington Aces program] helps them evolve and become more knowledgeable about going to college as well as giving them a lifetime sport. That combination is outstanding.” Ader’s wife Pamela continues her late husband’s commitment with ongoing support for the program through the Richard and Pamela Ader Foundation. 

The summer program is free for students who attend local public schools, yet several families who send their children to private schools also pay to send their children. All students are provided with the items they need to be successful, including tennis shoes, a racquet, and a camp t-shirt. The model allows students to relate with other participants from different socioeconomic backgrounds. “This is one of the few places where underserved students and those from families with greater means meet and socialize,” said Foster, who spent her earlier career as a teacher and principal at Woodford Hollow Elementary School in nearby Woodford, Vermont. “That exposure to differing life circumstances is valuable for all students.” 

In addition to private donations, funds for the program are raised through sponsorships, an annual gala, and grants. Aces recently received a $60,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association to resurface the tennis courts at Bennington College. “We are so grateful to the College for the opportunity to be on campus and use its beautiful facilities over the last several summers,” said Foster. “Applying for this $60,000 grant was a way for us to show our appreciation for their years of hospitality, and I am so glad we got it! With resurfaced courts, we can continue to provide the best possible tennis experience for our kids.”  

Bennington ACES’s summer camp is one of the program’s most popular offerings. In addition to exposure to tennis, nutrition, and physical activity, students receive academic instruction, including in such subjects as science, math, and the arts. Recently, academic activities expanded to include exposure to the Vermont lifestyle. Students participated in a fly fishing activity and learned about local history and outdoor recreation. 

Students who participate in the summer program also go on field trips. Foster enjoys introducing students to local cultural, historical, and scientific institutions and the people who lead them. Of the people they meet, Foster tells students, “‘That’s their job. That’s their passion. There are all kinds of things that you can be.’” 

Students in the program thrive. Beyond showing tremendous social, wellness, and academic growth, they ask great questions that show that they are thinking about their futures and what they might become, Foster shared. During their planned activities and their social time, they are abuzz with ideas: startups, art projects, and experiments. “It is so wonderful to see kids collaborate, have fun, and get a broader sense of what is possible for themselves,” she said. 

“I am so proud to have Bennington contribute to helping our students develop not only as athletes but as scholars and productive community members,” said Laura Walker, president of Bennington College. “Bennington Aces is a beacon of the transformation that is possible when caring adults engage students through activity and education." 

Joanna Beall, the president of USTA Vermont, nominated Bennington Aces for the award because she was deeply impressed by the after-school and summer offerings. “Other areas in Vermont, including the Burlington area, have tennis facilities and programming, but no one has been able to do what Aces does. It has the Bennington Tennis Center. It has collaboration with the College, the facilities and the people, which make it unique. And it has Sandy, a career educator who sees that tennis can be a gateway to a larger world. I can’t celebrate her enough,” she said. “Many NJTLs in New England and across the country are smaller parts of something bigger. Aces is its own big thing.” 

As Bennington ACES continues to grow and evolve, the program remains committed to serving the local community and inspiring young people to reach their full potential. For Foster and the rest of the team, this award and the resurfacing grant are just the beginning of a bright future for the program and the kids it serves.

“The important thing for us at Bennington Aces and the College and the community is that we have laid the groundwork,” said Kelso. “I hope it will be a foundation for even more work to benefit area kids.” 

Foster added, “Every time we see a child hit their first forehand or solve a tough math problem, we know we’re doing something meaningful. We are building a community, one that values education, physical wellness, and most importantly, opportunity.”

“When you give somebody a racquet and a ball, you’re connecting them to others, to a community of people of all ages and abilities. The USTA wants tennis to be accessible to everyone,” said Beall. “And Sandy’s generosity of spirit and her belief that real change is possible make Aces unique. The program has become a space where tennis, wellness, and creative and intellectual exploration meet in this opportunity for Bennington’s youth.”