Thirteen academics have been awarded scholarships and fellowships from NSPF, with a total of $18,000 allocated to provide for the future of the industry through education.
NSPFโs scholarships and fellowships are awarded annually to active Certified Pool/Spa Operators or immediate family members of CPOs or NSPF instructors. Fellowship recipients must be pursuing an advanced academic degree full-time or be a post-doctoral researcher at an academic institution.
Winners of the $1,000 and $2,000 awards were notified in August. The recipients are:
โข Celeste Bartels of Kansas State Universityโจ
โข Anne Zeeh Beethe of the University of Pittsburghโจ
โข Kelsie Gillespie of West Virginia University โจ
โข Kerry Kohout of the University of Wisconsin โจ
โข Lindsey Marx of Brigham Young Universityโจ
โข Matthew Metz of Westmont Collegeโจ
โข Bertrand Oubida of Lehman Collegeโจ
โข Tiffany Reichert of Texas A&Mโจ
โข Marcia Shirilla of the University of Delawareโจ
โข Hannah Snyder of Appalachian State University โจ
โข Savannah Wagner of Dominican Collegeโจ
โข Brittany Kaye Wich of Texas State University โจ
โWe are all about education. When a member of our CPO Certification family is pursuing a college or advanced degree, we are pleased to help,โ says NSPF CEO Thomas M. Lachocki. โWe value research that advances the field of aquatics. Each fellowship recipient is performing research related to keeping people safer and active in the water. We are thrilled to aid with the beginning of a career in aquatics.โ
One such researcher is Bertrand M. G. Oubida, who is currently studying at Lehman College in New York City, N.Y. โOur world is comprised of almost 71 percent water and only a select few have knowledge of water safety skills. We must fight to change this,โ Oubida says. โChange starts with the individual. This scholarship will help me further my education and eventually bring about the change I want to see. Aiding with the development of swim programs in impoverished communities is my end goal, and I am honored to have been helped with some of the cost.โ