Michigan Alum Erickson To Receive ITA Achievement Award
9/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 8, 2011
SKILLMAN, N.J. -- On Thursday (Sept. 8), the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced that former University of Michigan men's tennis player Jon Erickson (1957-59) has been named the recipient of the 2011 ITA Achievement Award, presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Rolex Watch USA.
"I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for this prestigious award," Erickson said. "College is a time when many seek an identity -- I wanted to find out who I was, what I wanted to be, and how to make a difference in the world by serving others. Varsity tennis at the University of Michigan provided opportunity for structure, friendships and challenges while I searched within myself for answers to those questions."
"The lessons learned on the court over a period of four years are a vital companion to the academic lessons of higher education," said David A. Benjamin, ITA executive director. "The winner of the ITA Achievement Award is an individual who benefited from the experience of intercollegiate competition, went on to great accomplishments, and has made significant contributions to his community."
Erickson will be honored on Friday (Sept. 9) during this year's ITHF Board of Directors meeting, where he will be presented with a distinctive Rolex timepiece. Erickson and a guest will be invited to watch a session of the U.S. Open from the president's box, courtesy of the USTA, and will be recognized during the ITHF's Legends Ball on Friday evening. The University of Michigan varsity tennis program will receive a $1,000 donation from the ITA in Erickson's honor.
Erickson, a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., helped lead the Maize and Blue to its only national championship, in 1957, but his best year came in 1959, when he led the Wolverines to a Big Ten Conference title at the No. 1 singles spot and was Big Ten singles and doubles champion (with Gerald Dubie). He was also an ITA All-American.
A world-renowned engineer, Erickson began working with the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston in 1976, ascending to chief scientist for Artificial Intelligence (Automation), Robotics and Simulation from 1990-98. He also worked in the Earth Sciences and Applications Division (1983-84) and Earth Observations Division (1976-80). Among the many awards Erickson received during his professional career were a Certificate of Commendation for Earth Sciences & Remote Sensing from the Johnson Space Center in 1984, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1992. He also received the Johnson Space Center Outstanding Performance Award nine times (1978, 1982, 1991-97). In addition, Erickson was a finalist for Discover Magazine's Technological Innovation of the Year in 1996, for his work on the EVA Helper/Retriever Space Robotics and Elder Care Robot.
Erickson graduated from Michigan in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in science engineering. He also did his postgraduate studies in Ann Arbor, receiving a master's degree in 1962 and his Ph.D. in 1966, both in nuclear engineering.
Erickson and his wife, Mary, have three children -- Christa, Matthew and Paul -- and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Houston, where Jon was most recently the CEO and president of Berkley Street Consulting, Inc.
Contact: Brad Rudner (734) 763-4423
