Patrick Cha

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda, Maryland

This tennis lover has found a way to use his talents to do more than win matches.

Patrick Cha loves playing tennis…so much so that he doesn’t let anything stand in the way, not even a peripheral vision deficit, resulted from a life-threatening brain injury suffered in middle school. Following two weeks in the ICU, Patrick emerged with a vision-related handicap and a renewed drive to go after the win. Patrick’s passion for his sport earned him a spot among Maryland’s top-ranked tennis players. But more important to Patrick, his love of tennis has fueled his commitment to helping others.

After witnessing the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Patrick turned his determination to help the victims into a new, non-governmental organization, NetBenefitUSA, which is devoted to socially responsible high school sports. Donations to help victims of the bombing streamed in from as far as Tokyo and Istanbul. Patrick received formal recognition from Congressmen for his work, but his most meaningful recognition came in the form of a simple painting, “Boston Strong,” given to him by one of the survivors.

Since then, Patrick has used his organization to spearhead campaigns for victims of domestic abuse and Typhoon Haiyan. He sought pledges for every hour of his tennis practice and tournament play. Ultimately, Patrick has found a way to use his athletic talents to do more than win matches. He has turned his sport into a means of inspiring peers to help others and the difference he makes keeps him motivated, driving him to put forth his best effort, one serve at a time.

 

  • Patrick Cha

  • Patrick Cha

  • Patrick Cha

  • Patrick Cha

  • Patrick Cha


Athletic

Achievements

tennis

  • 4 years Varsity Letter Winner
  • MVP as a Freshman
  • USTA JTT State Champions 2009
  • Ranked Top 20 in Maryland, Boys 18 in 2014 (tennisrecruiting.net)
  • Ranked Top 25 in Maryland, Boys 16 in 2013
  • 4 years Maryland Scholar-Athlete with 4.0 GPA and Varsity Letter
  • 10 Junior USTA Champion/Finalist Finishes
  • 5 Junior USTA Semifinalist Finishes
  • Finished Top 5 in DC Junior Championships 2014
  • Clinic Leader for OSSA National Tennis Academy in Maryland


Academic Honors

  • National Honor Society
  • AP Scholar
  • National Winner Journalism, Scholastic Art & Writing Award, 2014
  • Korean-American Scholarship Foundation National Scholar, 2014
  • American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest National Finalist, 2012 & 2014
  • Washington College Book Award (History), 2014
  • Two State Gold Keys and a Silver Key in Journalism and Persuasive Writing (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia)
  • Asian-American Journalism Award, 2013
  • Honorable Mention for Nestle’s Best in Youth, 2013
  • Author of “A Quiet Success in Stemming a Global Epidemic of HIV/AIDS,” Harvard Africa Journal, 2/5/2014
  • Author of “How Real Diplomacy Works: Not Dennis Rodman,” CNN.com, 12/17/2013
  • Author of “Gone, but Never Forgotten,” Baltimore Sun, 7/30/2014
  • Author of “Leave No One Behind, Even After 50 Years of the Korean War,” Columbia Journal of International Affairs, 11/14/2012

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School/Community Involvement

  • 2 years School Newspaper Editor
  • Academic Peer Partners – High School Tutoring (President)
  • Model UN (President)
  • Chemistry Club (Co-Founder)
  • Ukulele Club (Founder & President)
  • NetBenefitUSA (Founder & President), NGO for High School Philanthropy (www.netbenefitusa.org)
  • U.S. State Department Service Volunteer (SportsUnited)
  • School Liaison with State Department for International Sports Delegations Visits, 2013 & 2014
  • Spanish Catholic Services Teaching Assistant
  • Fundraising drive for Boston One Fund for victims of Boston Marathon bombing, 2013 & 2014
  • 2014 Junior Philanthropist by My Sister’s Place of Washington, D.C. for victims of domestic abuse
  • Recognized for Philanthropy by Congressman Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), 2014
  • Volunteer for U.S. veterans at United Service Organization (USO) – Hawaii, 2014
  • 3 years student coach, Special Olympics of Maryland
  • Commendation letter from U.S. Pacific Command for research on veteran affairs, 2012
  • Commendation from Korean War Veterans Association of USA for research on veteran affairs, 2012
  • _

 

  • Patrick Cha

  • Patrick Cha

 

 

 

“You have to love what you do in order to put yourself 100% into it.”
~ Patrick Cha ~