Tyler Carey, the 2015 ITA/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sportsmanship & Leadership Award winner, has made an impact on and off the court at Mary Washington. Among his volunteering ventures was his involvement with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which pairs collegiate athletic teams with children battling pediatric brain tumors.

Instead of just introducing Wesley, a boy who has been battling brain cancer for eight years, to his tennis team, Carey make Wesley a part of the entire athletic department, introducing him to all 500+ athletes during the department's "Welcome Back" night. This led to Wesley attending games and matches for all the school's athletic teams, including throwing out the first pitch at a home baseball game.

Carey has also been involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Fredericksburg, the Special Olympics, and the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. He has the on-court accomplishments to match, currently ranking in the top five in both singles and doubles in the ITA Atlantic South Region and helping lead Mary Washington to the NCAA Regional Final while playing first singles and doubles.

"Of course we are very proud of this prestigious award for Tyler", said UMW head men's tennis coach Todd Helbling. "But we are more proud of the work he did with and for Wesley. He just wanted to make a difference in someone else's life. And of course the lesson for all of us is that you actually get more in return when you give of yourself. And that is what Tyler did and learned."

Carey will compete in the NCAA national singles and doubles tournaments on Thursday.