Suzanne “Sue” Jollensten, a 1967 graduate of Del Norte High School, is being recognized for three decades of dedication to youth tennis and her efforts to make the sport accessible to middle school students throughout New Mexico. On November 10, 2026, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners presented Sue with a proclamation honoring her extraordinary contributions and the 30th anniversary of the New Mexico Middle School Tennis Program.
Sue’s inspiration came from her own experience as an accomplished junior tennis player in the 1960s. Although tennis took her throughout New Mexico and beyond, she never had the opportunity to represent Del Norte in the sport because the school did not have a girls tennis team. Recognizing that middle school students had few opportunities to participate in organized tennis, she set out to change that.
In 1996, with assistance from La Cueva High School tennis coach Dick Johnson, club professional Gary Stansifer and others in the local tennis community, Sue established the Northern New Mexico Middle School Tennis League. What began with six teams and nearly 100 students has grown into a program serving more than 300 students this year, with participating schools in Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Belen. Over its first three decades, the program has reached more than 10,000 young people.
Sue also introduced a Coed Mix-and-Match Division, allowing boys and girls to compete together based on playing ability. Her goal was not simply to develop tennis players, but to give students opportunities to represent their schools, build friendships, develop sportsmanship and connect with their peers during an important time in their lives. The program welcomes experienced players as well as students picking up a tennis racket for the first time.
Sue’s contributions to the sport have been recognized previously. In 2004, she was inducted into the United States Tennis Association Southwest Region Hall of Fame and in 2017, was inducted into the UNM Athletics Hall of Honor. Her latest recognition by Bernalillo County celebrates not only the success of the tennis program, but also the thousands of young people whose lives have been enriched by her vision and persistence.
Congratulations to Sue Jollensten for an outstanding 30 years of service to New Mexico’s young people and for demonstrating the difference one determined person can make. Once a Knight, always a Knight!
See “Middle school tennis league marks 30 years” in the Albuquerque Journal, October 28, 2026
November 10, 2026