Suffolk’s Donald Widener has been named Virginia’s Professional Tennis Registry Member of the Year. The award is presented to a PTR member who has shown dedication and diligence in promoting and supporting tennis and the organization.

Professional Tennis Registry will present the annual award during the 2012 PTR International Tennis Symposium next week in Orlando, Fla. The event includes more than 50 on-court and classroom presentations for tennis teachers and coaches, along with a tennis trade show and tournament.

Widener is head of player development for An Achievable Dream Academy in Newport News. The unique, school-based tennis program serves more than 1,300 USTA NJTL student/athletes.

He is one of only a handful of tennis teachers certified at the professional level in all three PTR Pathways — Junior Development, Adult Development and Performance. He has been invited to participate in PTR’s Master of Tennis Junior Development and Performance programs.

Widener earned Etcheberry Elite Certification for Strength and Conditioning, is TXR Certified, and completed the USTA High Performance Coaching Program.

As a USTA volunteer, he has served in the Mid-Atlantic Section and Virginia District as a board member, CTA President and Junior Team Tennis Coordinator. Nationally, he serves on the USTA’s Diversity Team.

Widener is also the primary coach for the USTA’s Competitive Tennis Center in Hampton Roads. He has hosted USTA recreational coaches’ workshops, and cardio tennis and PTR certification workshops.

In 2008, Widener was selected as the Community Outreach Person of the Year, and in 2007, he was named district Volunteer of the Year for Virginia. His tennis program was spotlighted as a NJTL Tennis Excellence program at the 2009 US OPEN during Arthur Ashe Kids Day.

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 14,000 members in 117 countries. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.