President George W. Bush honored the members of the USC men’s tennis team and 10 other NCAA championship teams at the White House in September, and urged the athletes strive to set an example for others.

In front of media and guests President Bush addressed the student-athletes and encouraged them to “be champions off the field,” especially in this time of “challenge for our country.”

Following his remarks, each team presented Bush with a gift. Andrew Park, senior team captain of the 2002 Trojan tennis squad and a USC medical student, gave the President a USC inscribed tennis racket. Accepting the gift, Bush showed off his backhand.

Back row, from left, current head coach Peter Smith, Teige Sullivan, Ruben Torres, former head coach Dick Leach, Daniel Langre, Prakash Amritraj, Nick Rainey. Front row, from left, assistant sports information director Vicky Hammond, senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross, Park, President Bush, Sandy Leach, and athletic director Mike Garrett, Ryan Moore.