Impact Of A Scholarship: Arnelle Sullivan

Tennis is a sport that requires power, grace, and a significant commitment from the athlete, the coaches, and family members. 

For Arnelle Sullivan, that commitment from everyone in her inner circle allowed her to reach incredible heights in the sport, making it all the way to the University of Maryland tennis team as a scholarship student-athlete.

“I loved everything about being a student-athlete at Maryland,” Sullivan said. “From the people, my teammates, coaches, and to my classes, I loved all of it.”

Sullivan came to Maryland from Brooklyn, New York, which is a bastion of athletic talent and home to many great tennis players, coaches, and facilities. Some of her favorite memories center around the game, with attending the US Open being a major life highlight. 

Her love of the game started when her older sister began playing, and it was clear from a young age that Arnelle had special gifts. 

After being rated a five-star recruit by Tennisrecruiting.net and winning the prestigious USTA Eastern Award winner in 2013, it was time for her to pick a school, and she knew exactly what she wanted in a University.   

“The diversity of Maryland was something that I really liked,” Sullivan said. “I grew up in Brooklyn which was a very diverse place so I wanted to go to a school that was like that too.”

As a Maryland student-athlete, Sullivan immediately embraced everything it meant to be a Terp. 

Sullivan was on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, better known as SAAC, as a representative for the tennis team. It allowed her to create relationships with other athletes, the athletic department, and to promote healthy images of student-athletes across campus.

As a student-athlete on scholarship, Sullivan saw firsthand the benefits of being on scholarship and is still grateful for the opportunity to have been one of the few who earned one. 

“For me, being debt-free was a huge benefit of being on scholarship,” Sullivan said. “To not have that worry about post-college life where you’re worried about paying off student loans was big. The money was big, but so was the housing. That was an underrated aspect. Being able to live with my teammates and other athletes and to have that paid for was awesome.”

Being debt-free after college was a huge bonus for Sullivan and many other scholarship athletes, but there were other key benefits as well. 

The academic resources provided to Sullivan and her peers allowed her to stay on top of her grades and graduate with a degree that she holds in high regard and still uses to this day. 

“I can honestly say that free tutors have saved my life,” Sullivan said. “There were so many resources given to us while we were student-athletes. The resume workshops, mentorships, and the internships were amazing because they allowed us to prepare for life after college and after we were done playing.”

This years tennis team has gotten off to a strong start with former assistant coach Katie Dougherty now at the helm of the Tennis Terps. 

Dougherty coached Sullivan during most of her career, and it was a relationship that Sullivan still values. As tennis players, their roster isn’t as deep as other rosters inside the Maryland athletic department and that allows them to create even stronger bonds. 

“Big shout out to Katie Dougherty,” Sullivan said. “I am so proud of her and all of the girls for what they’ve accomplished so far this year. I also want to thank [former Maryland assistant coach Sean Holcomb-Jones]. He helped me through a lot and supported me in whatever I did. The whole staff was incredible.”

Sullivan has recently taken a job as an External Affairs Associate at WTW, a global financial company that specializes in risk management. She made many connections with her peers, alums, staff, and faculty that have continued to help her flourish in life in whatever she’s done.

With her tennis career having paved the way for her new career, Sullivan is able to look back and reflect on the circumstances that allowed her to be in the position that she’s in. 

She had a close relationship with the boosters and donors while she was in College Park, and she remains forever grateful for what they gave to her. 

“Thank you so much for your generosity,” Sullivan said. “You are giving people a path whether it’s to go professional or working a 9-5 job. We wouldn’t have it without you, and I would really love to give you another hug!” 

As a proud Maryland alumnus, Sullivan is excited about the future of the Tennis Terps and has a message for any student-athlete who might be considering calling College Park home.  

“If you’re looking for a great school with a great community then Maryland is the place to be,” she said.