Special Feature
Ivy Wilson Doesn't Let Diabetes Hold Her Back
by Rhiannon Potkey, 13 September 2021
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The $10,000 scholarship was more than enough to satisfy Ivy Wilson. Getting a chance to attend the U.S. Open and receive the award from Billie Jean King? That was a priceless experience.
Leena Bennetto, Billie Jean King and Ivy Wilson
© Contributed Photo
Wilson, a junior from Jenks, Oklahoma, was one of two national recipients of the Novo Nordisk Donnelly Scholarship along with Leena Bennetto of Vernon, British Columbia.
Established by King in 1998 and associated with the USTA Foundation for the first time this year, the scholarship is named after sisters Diane Donnelly Stone and Tracey Donnelly Maltby, collegiate tennis champions who have lived with diabetes since childhood. Stone was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Northwestern University, and Maltby was an All-Big Ten honoree at the University of Iowa.
Along with the two $10,000 national scholarships, the program awarded eight $5,000 regional scholarships. The funds are to be used for education, educational materials and other related expenses at the college or university the student selects.
Wilson was a regional recipient of the award last year, and never imagined she'd be chosen for the national award this year. She was blown away by the additional perks that came with the honor.
“They didn’t tell us about the trip, so it was a huge surprise. It was incredible,” Wilson said. “The whole trip was just amazing and such a blessing. Obviously, meeting Billie Jean King was huge. She is an unbelievable person and just meeting her made her an even bigger role model for me.”
