CHARLOTTESVILLE – Former Cavalier Sheridan “Sherry” Snyder has been named the winner of the 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Achievement Award hosted by the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) and presented by Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Snyder will be honored on Friday, September 5 during this year’s International Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors meeting where he will be presented with a distinctive Rolex timepiece and a commemorative plaque from the ITA. In addition to these special gifts, the laureate and his guest will be invited to attend the Friday day session of the U.S. Open from the President’s Box, courtesy of the USTA, and also be recognized during the ITHF’s Legend’s Ball that evening.
Snyder graduated from the University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts in French & Romance Languages. While at UVa, Snyder was named to the Dean’s List and was a member of the men’s tennis team from 1955-58, having served as captain in his senior year. He played No. 1 doubles all four years and No. 1 singles for three seasons for the Cavaliers. He reached the quarterfinals in men’s doubles at the U.S. National Championships. In addition to tennis, Snyder was also a varsity soccer player at Virginia.
In 1995, Snyder donated funds to renovate the Lady Astor Tennis Courts next to Memorial Gym. The $1.4 million Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center opened in 1997 and has been the outdoor home of the Virginia tennis programs since.
Snyder is a pioneer in biotechnology and currently funds and creates new startups in partnership with leading scientists throughout the world by redeveloping world-class science and gaining access to the United States and international markets. Snyder currently funds and creates new startups through his own management and funding company, Biocatalyst International (founded in 2005). It is one of the few organizations which funds, creates and manages new biotech startups in partnership with leading scientists throughout the world, by redeveloping world-class science and gaining access to the United States and international markets.
The ITA Achievement Award was created in 1994 to pay tribute each year to past participants in the world of collegiate varsity tennis who have achieved excellence in their chosen careers. The person honored annually by the ITA as the Achievement Award winner is unique in his or her character and accomplishments. The spirit of this award honors both professional success and contributions to society, made either as a direct result of a career, or through humanitarian efforts.
In the world of tennis, Snyder funded and developed the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), along with the encouragement and support of Arthur Ashe and Charles Pasarell. Snyder supported the NJTL for 15 years. This organization now operates, through the USTA, in 110 cities and reaches 250,000 inner-city youths. Snyder assisted Joe Cullman, Chairman of the US Open in 1968-69, by developing a corporate program including the creation of the US Open Club. Snyder has played tennis throughout the world. Long after he retired from competitive tennis, Snyder reached the third round of the men’s doubles at the US Nationals with Chuck McKinley, former Wimbledon Champion.
Snyder resides in Palm Beach, Florida and has three children and five grandchildren.
The Virginia men’s tennis program will also receive a $1,000 donation from the ITA in recognition of the award.
