ALLENDALE – Former Grand Valley State women's tennis players, Lynn Bender and Jaime Oppenlander, have been honored this year by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for their contributions towards advancing the game of tennis.
 
Chairwoman of the USTA Midwest Adaptive Committee, Oppenlander, will be honored as a "Champion of Equality" today (Sept. 4) at the 2025 US Open for her empowerment of athletes with disabilities across the country. For more than a decade, Oppenlander has volunteered with USTA at the national, section, and foundation levels to advance the game of tennis for adaptive athletes, focusing on advocacy, coaches' trainings, and community connection. Through her work with USTA Midwest, Oppenlander has organized community events, such as the Para Standing All Comers Camp, now an annual event that was once a first of its kind, and she has introduced countless new players and coaches to adaptive tennis.
 
Bender was honored with the Brad Parks Award at the 2025 USTA Annual Meeting & Conference. The award is awarded to a group or an individual who promotes wheelchair tennis and provides opportunities to wheelchair players through the development of programs. Bender cofounded the non-profit Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association that provides adaptive sports trainings and opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities. The organization offers an opportunity for disabled athletes to belong to a team and to engage in purposeful activities. Bender also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State teaching two tennis classes.