As a soldier in the U.S. Marine Corps, Grant Smith earned several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation, along with various other combat awards.
Soon after he left the Marines, Smith started Aqua-Link Pools and Spa, a pool service and repair company in Oceanside, Calif. His business quickly expanded into renovations, new construction and landscaping, which ultimately led him to join GENESIS and later Watershape University.
In both endeavors, in service of his country and in service of the pool and spa industry, Smith conducted himself with the same commitment to excellence, honesty, bravery, intelligence and compassion. He would often refer to his military experiences whenever he spoke of aspirational virtues to his employees and students.
Grant Smith with friends from Watershape University.
After attending the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in November of 2021, Smith passed away in his sleep. His passing was devastating to all who knew him, and reminds everyone that life is a fragile gift that must not be taken for granted.
To honor Grant's unmatched legacy, Watershape University now awards Grant's Grant, a scholarship for a WU course, to two applicants every year. To qualify, applicants must be either an active duty member of any branch of the U.S. Military, or they must be an honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the U.S. Military.
Some of the courses include, but are not limited to, the following:
- ENGINEERING 2311: Essential Fluid Engineering Workshop
- CONSTRUCTION 2111: Essential Pool Construction
- BUSINESS 3451: Essential Cost Estimating Workshop
Applications are accepted throughout the year, and the two winners are selected on Veterans Day. The winners will be contacted directly and will be announced in the WaterShapes Magazine, as well as on their social media channels @watershapeORG.
