Scholarship News: Adrian & Corena Swanier Education Scholarship!!!

Ketia Supporting Military Children

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to let you guys know that we are officially launching the Adrian & Corena Swanier Education Scholarship in honor of my grandparents! I'm sooooo excited about this, and I'm so happy that my foundation (Ketia4Kidz) is growing! Check out the details below, but I will be adding an application to my website VERY soon! Thanks for the support, and thanks to everyone that came out to my first basketball camp last weekend in Columbus, GA!

Adrian & Corena Swanier Education Scholarship

The Adrian & Corena Swanier Education Scholarship was established in 2010 to recognize the contributions and provide educational assistance for our Military Children.  This program will award five (5) $1000 Scholarships for use towards a four year degree, vocational, or technical certificate.

Only dependent unmarried children under age 21 (23 if enrolled as a full time student) of active duty personnel, and retired military members, or survivors of deceased members, may apply for a scholarship. You must be enrolled or planning to attend a college or university on a full-time basis.

Applicants must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a full-time undergraduate degree program at an accredited college or university in the fall term of 2011. All applicants must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis) to be eligible to apply. The minimum GPA requirement applies to both high school and college students. Students will also need to provide a 2 page essay about their experience as a military brat. Students attending a community, vocational, technical or junior college must be enrolled in a program of studies designed to allow the student to transfer directly into a four-year program. Applicants who receive an appointment to one of the U.S. Military Academies (or affiliated preparatory schools) or are awarded a full scholarship at any accredited U.S. post-secondary institution of higher education are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees, and other related expenses.

Application and Deadline coming soon!

Swan Song - Phoenix Mercury Video

Check it out!!! Swan Song

Phoenix Mercury President/GM Ann Meyers-Drysdale!

Ann Meyers Drysdale
General Manager and President, Phoenix Mercury
Vice President, Phoenix Suns

One of the true pioneers in women’s basketball, Hall of Famer and award-winning broadcaster Ann Meyers Drysdale is completing her fourth season as General Manager of the two-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury (2009,2007). Meyers Drysdale was named the third General Manager in Mercury history on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 and added the title of president in late June of this season.

Enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. as a player in 1993, Meyers Drysdale’s basketball resume spans over four decades after becoming the first high school player ever to make a United States National Team in 1974.

As an amateur, Meyers Drysdale was the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship from UCLA. The UCLA basketball legend was a four-time Kodak All-American, the first male or female to achieve that honor. Upon graduation, Meyers Drysdale held 12 of 13 school records and led the Bruins to a national championship in 1978. Meyers Drysdale, who was the first female to be named to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame and had her jersey No. 15 retired, also competed in volleyball and won a national championship in track in 1975.

An outstanding all-around player, the 5-9, 140-pound guard represented the United States in the 1976 Olympics, 1975 and ’79 Pan American Games and the 1975 and ’79 World Championships. She earned a silver medal as part of the first women’s US Olympic Basketball team at the Montreal Games in 1976.

Meyers Drysdale remains the only female ever to sign a free-agent contract with an NBA team when she signed with the Indiana Pacers in 1979. After being released by the Pacers, she provided color commentary for Pacers broadcasts and was the first woman to broadcast an NBA game.

The first player drafted in the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) in 1978, Meyers Drysdale resumed her playing career for the New Jersey Gems, where she was named MVP after leading the league in steals and averaging 22.2 points. She also took home the title as one of only two women to win the ABC Sports Superstars competition three years in a row from 1981 – 1983 and was the only woman to participate in the men’s competition.

Most recently, Meyers Drysdale has established herself as an expert analyst on ESPN, NBC, ABC, FOX Sports and CBS and has done commentary for men’s and women’s basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball and baseball since 1979. Meyers Drysdale’s illustrious broadcasting resume includes the 1984, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics as well as a stint as a broadcaster for the 1988-89 Loyola Marymount men’s basketball team, coached by former Mercury Head Coach Paul Westhead and featuring Mercury Head Coach Corey Gaines, a guard on the team. Meyers Drysdale is also a frequent contributor to WNBA.com. Her incredible sports journalism contributions were recently honored as the 2006 winner of the United States Sports Academy’s (USSA) Ronald Reagan Media Award, joining an elite group of winners that includes Howard Cosell, Bob Costas, Keith Jackson, Frank Deford and Rupert Murdoch.

In her role of General Manager, Meyers Drysdale is in charge of all basketball operations, including player procurement, scheduling, and management of the league’s salary cap.

Meyers Drysdale has five sisters and five brothers, including brother Dave Meyers, who also played college basketball at UCLA, under legendary coach John Wooden and won two NCAA Championships with teammate Bill Walton. He played five seasons (1975-80) for the Milwaukee Bucks after being one of four players traded from the Los Angeles Lakers for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975.

In 1986, she married former Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale and took the name Ann Meyers Drysdale. It was the first time that a married couple was members of their respective sports’ Hall of Fame. The Southern Californian native and Drysdale, who passed away in 1993, have three children together: sons Don Jr. (D.J.) and Darren, and daughter Drew.

A Great Experience - Ketia4Kidz Family Night

On June 29, 2010 I got my first opportunity to host an amazing family during my road trip to Atlanta, Ga. The Bower Family consists of Darlene (mother), Courtney (17), Dustin (13), and their deployed husband/stepfather SSG Bower who has been deployed to Iraq for 4-5 months. Darlene got in a serious car accident back in February of this year and sustained severe injuries. My goal was to get them away from home and just have some time to enjoy themselves, take their minds off everything going on and have a fun night.

It was their first WNBA game ever. Unfortunately we lost a close game to the Atlanta Dream but the Bower family was able to take my mind off of the L. We went to dinner after the game to the Sundial Restaurant located in the Westin hotel. It is on the highest floor of the hotel, rotating 360 degrees giving you an amazing view of the city of Atlanta. My parents also joined us for dinner. We took pictures and enjoyed the evening.

I took time over the 4th of July weekend to think about how grateful we are. I hope everyone appreciates how much freedom they have being an American. I would like to thank all the veterans and active military soldiers now for allowing us to have freedom. People don’t know what these individuals and their families go through on a daily basis. I would challenge anyone to TRY and walk a day in their shoes. GREAT LUCK is what I would say. Thank You veterans and active soldiers!

I’m looking forward to doing even more with veterans and their families, especially the youth. I’m hoping to talk to our First Lady – Michelle Obama – on Monday when we visit the White House for winning the WNBA Championship last year. She’s been doing an amazing job with the military families, and I want to find a way to do even more and be involved with her efforts! I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks everyone!!! Have a great weekend!!

June Ketia Kronicles!!!

The First Lady Supporting All of Us!!!

Check out this great article about our First Lady supporting our military families!!! View it HERE!

Happy Memorial Day!

On behalf of the Ketia4Kidz Foundation and myself, I'd like to wish all of the Armed Forces, their families, and those that support a very happy Memorial Day! Without all of you, we would not have the safety and respect from everyone around the world. I am thankful for having your support, and I'm glad to be able to find a way to support you and the work that you do on our behalf.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!