UHS student honored for raising a racquet

Utica High School sophomore Davina Nguyen was honored by the Board of
Education for raising a racquet in her classroom and on the courts.

Nguyen has earned the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division I
State Championship in No. 1 singles. She was also a top student who has earned a national title where she was ranked in the top 9 for her age group, 16 and
under.

"Davina is an aggressive, tough and smart competitor," said her coach, Chris
Dabrowski. "She is very determined and has that 'never quit' attitude...Davina
works to get to the top."

Nguyen earned the state championship in June as a freshman on the UHS team.

Earlier, she won the United State Tennis Association National Courts Title in
Oklahoma City.

She was also selected to represent Southeastern Michigan Tennis Association
(SEMTA) at Zonals in St. Louis. Zonals is a select group of players from each
region who compete against other national players in a week-long tournament.

"In order to qualify, you must be one of the top players in the section, so
it is an honor and a great accomplishment to represent your section," Director
of Athletics Robin Dilday said.

In addition to her tennis honors, Nguyen is also a top student at UHS and has
earned a Gold Key in photography through the annual Scholastic Arts program.

She is on track to earn a Big Ten scholarship to study pre-med for a career
as a pediatrician. She ultimately plans to open a charitable foundation to help
children in Vietnam.