​

The City of Newberry is pleased to announce that the Oakland Tennis Center has established the Brad Armfield Youth Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund will be used to provide financial assistance to enable participation in youth tennis programs and events. A goal of the Oakland Tennis Center is for no child to be denied access to tennis programs due to cost. 

 

The scholarship is named in memory of Brad Armfield, who tragically lost his life in an ATV accident on April 5, 2017. Brad was born in Newberry, SC, and began playing tennis at the young age of 8. While he excelled at many sports, tennis quickly became his number one.  Many hours were spent practicing on the courts and many weekends were spent playing in competitive tournaments. 

 

He began playing on the High School Tennis Team in the 7th grade and finished his Senior year as the MVP for the SC AAA Conference. Even though he took a break from tennis while he attended the University of Kentucky, when it became time to decide on a career, he returned to his first love. Tennis. 

 

He had a passion for sharing his skills through teaching and coaching students. He began teaching at the Lexington County Tennis Complex in Lexington, SC. After that, he moved to Spartanburg, SC where he became an Assistant Tennis Pro and later was promoted to Head Tennis Pro at The Country Club of Spartanburg. For the last ten years, as he taught there, he has influenced many students as he shared his passion for the game and his passion for life. 

 

He was known to tell his students when faced with a decision, they should stop and think through the consequences and be sure they were choosing the right path. He cared for them all greatly and wanted to help them become the best that they could become, both on and off the court. It was evident by the number of students that attended and spoke at his Memorial Service that he definitely made an impact on them. 

 

It is because of his desire to bring up a new generation that loves the game of tennis, that Brad’s parents, Steve and Teala Armfield, have decided to start this scholarship fund. They said, “We think that  Brad would be happy to know that his life will go on through this scholarship and make it possible for young people to be able to learn and love the game of tennis regardless of their financial situation.

 

Brad truly loved everyone and would do anything he could to help someone in need. We love knowing that through our tragic loss, many students will be impacted in such a powerful and positive way.” 

 

The scholarship fund will be distributed to qualifying youth in the Greater Newberry area (29108 zip code) with a desire to play tennis by the Oakland Tennis Center Scholarship Committee. For more information contact the City of Newberry Parks,  Recreation and Tourism Department at (803) 321-3890 or tennis@cityofnewberry.com. 

 

Donations to the Brad Armfield Youth Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible.

 

Mail:

City of Newberry-Brad Armfield Scholarship Fund

P.O. Box 538

Newberry, SC 29108

 

Delivery:

City of Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism Office

1323 College Street

 

  *** Please make checks payable to “City of Newberry” and notate on the memo line of your check Brad Armfield Scholarship Fund ***