Meet the 2025 Awardee of Our Anthony Blackman Scholarship

Mia Caruana of Raleigh, NC Celebrated as Inaugural Anthony Blackman Scholar Recipient for 2025

The North Carolina Tennis Foundation congratulates Mia Caruana, our inaugural Anthony Blackman Scholar recipient from Raleigh, North Carolina! Mia spent many years on court competing as a junior tennis player! Her breakthrough was reaching #1 in the NC 10U and 12U age groups. She continued her success throughout her junior career culminating in many achievements at Leesville Road High School. Mia was a member of multiple Conference and Regional Team Championships, individual Conference & Regional Runner-up in singles and doubles, and State Championship Finalist in singles and doubles. She was honored with selection to the Academic All-Conference Team, NC Tennis Elite 8 State Team, and recipient Team MVP and Coaches Award.

In addition to Mia’s perseverance on court, she maintained a stellar 4.2 GPA while participating in several other extra-curricular activities in addition to high school tennis: interning to benefit rescued horses, volunteering at PAC tennis camps, and contributing to the Leesville Road High School Key Club. Mia enrolled at UNC Wilmington in fall of 2025 and continues to excel academically as a freshman, majoring in psychology with plans to pursue a career in children’s therapy.

Tennis and education have deeply shaped Mia into the person she has become and positively contributed to teaching her discipline, patience, and the value of consistent effort. Mia shared, “As an adult, I know tennis will always be there – whether I’m playing in local leagues or hitting for fun with friends. As a lifetime learner and player, tennis and education have served as my cornerstones for development as a person. Both have helped me through difficult moments, opened doors of opportunity, strengthened my resilience, and inspired my purpose. I carry these lessons into everything I do, and I’m excited to use them to help others find healing and purpose in my future career.”

Mia is grateful to the friends and colleagues who invested in the Anthony Blackman Scholars Endowment. The ABS support of her and future high school students will lead them to make the world a better place, just as Anthony Blackman did. This support will allow the ABS recipients to pay forward the investment they have been fortunate to receive!

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