Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
Sophia Correnti, a member of The Derryfield School tennis team, is an accomplished athlete, captaining the girls’ team to a 2024 state title. She has reached the state finals twice in singles, and three times in doubles.
On November 9, Correnti received the Junior Community Impact Award at the annual conference of the US Tennis Association of New England (USTA). Award winners are first nominated by peers, and then selected by the USTA New England Awards Committee. Correnti was chosen for her “dedication to growing and promoting tennis in her local community.”
USTA New England Executive Director and CEO Lindsey Keeler said, “We’re excited to celebrate our 2024 award winners at Tennis Weekend. These individuals and organizations go above and beyond to better their tennis communities and we’re grateful to have them representing New England.”
Long-time Derryfield School tennis coach, Gus Moral, shared more about Correnti in his nomination letter:
“Sophia Correnti is an extremely talented player on the court and goes above and beyond off the court to make the world a better place. She has been a volunteer coach for City Tennis-NH, a program offering affordable tennis instruction to children from families with limited means. Sophia’s involvement deepened last winter, when she initiated a racquet donation drive, collecting more than 40 racquets from nearby tennis clubs to donate to the program.”
When asked about her involvement with City-Tennis NH, Correnti elaborated, “Every year I go back because of the kids, because I know they want to be there, they want to learn how to play. Seeing their passion for the game, a feeling I share with them, makes me want to give back.”
Correnti also volunteers for Fueled by Kids, a local organization that provides food bags to more than 900 students in the Manchester School District. Of her experience with Fueled by Kids, Correnti says, “I find the work really fulfilling. Knowing that kids and their families depend on this food makes me realize that my contribution actually makes a difference.”
For three years, Correnti has served as a Student Ambassador in the Admission Office at Derryfield School, where she is currently a senior. Student Ambassadors give tours to prospective families, attend Admission events as volunteers, and generally provide a student perspective of the Derryfield experience. Correnti notes she “really enjoys meeting new people, especially the young students, who are seeing Derryfield for the first time.” Correnti confessed that at first the idea of leading a tour for 45 minutes, while talking to adults, seemed “scary,” but now “I have come to realize that everyone is interested in learning and making connections, and the kids are so in awe of this place.”
With graduation fast approaching, Correnti will head off to college, where she hopes to spend one semester abroad. She would like to study medicine, with the goal of becoming a surgeon. “And hopefully I will continue playing tennis, a sport I truly love.”
