Kristen Baldwin wins $10,000 Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship

Kristen Baldwin of Winter Garden, Florida is the 2021 recipient of the $10,000 Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship. Kristen is a sophomore at Arizona State University majoring in Film and Media Production.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

This scholarship is worth double this year in honor of the 30th anniversary of namesake Barbara Bolding's death.

“I am so extremely honored to be selected for the 2021 Barbara Bolding/Jim GrewScholarship, especially on such a monumental anniversary year. This scholarship supports my future on and off the water, allowing me to follow both my career and athletic goals," says Kristen.

“Winning this scholarship is a major turning point in my education. It supports my abilities on and off the water, encouraging me to follow my dreams in the film industry,” says Kristen The Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship was established in 2001 and is given to a qualifying female who attends a four-year accredited college and skis primarily in AWSA, NCWSA, or USA-AWSWS tournaments.

Established in 1968, the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation preserves and celebrates the history of all towed water sports and promotes these sports through our Scholarship Programs and the Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame.

Two Incredible Athletes receive Tim Olson Memorial Scholarships

The family of Tim Olson says there were so many great applicants for the Foundation scholarships this year... they wanted to double up and award two Tim Olson Memorial Scholarships in 2021.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

First up... Paige Peshina of Malvern, Ohio has been chosen as one of the winners of the $1500 Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship. Paige will be a Freshman at Rollins College in Florida.

"I feel honored and grateful to receive the 2021 Tim Olson Scholarship, it will help support me as I move to Florida and attend Rollins College to pursue a career in the medical field," says Paige.

And for the third year in a row, Grace Petzold of Mequon, Wisconsin is grabbing the $1500 Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship. Grace is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Spanish.

"Finding the right balance between school and waterskiing has always been very important to me. I strive to excel in both the classroom and on the water. Therefore, I believe that the Tim Olson Scholarship will enhance my education because it will allow me to devote more time to my schoolwork along with my waterskiing commitments," says Grace.

The Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship was established by the family and friends of Tim Olson. A special provision of the scholarship is that it is to be given to a wakeboarder or show skier.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation is very proud of our young athletes and honored to support their future academic needs. You can help support our mission by joining or donating to the foundation HERE.

Megan Adams wins Jennifer Odom/Dave Kammerer Barefoot Scholarship

Megan Adams of Center City, Minnesota has been chosen as the 2021 recipient of the $1500 Jennifer Odom/Dave Kammerer Memorial Scholarship. Megan will be a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Duluth majoring in Engineering. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

"I feel honored and grateful to win this amazing scholarship from USA Waterski & Wake Sports Foundation. The sport of barefoot waterskiing will always be a big part of my life and I will continue to share and grow the sport while in college," says Megan who is a Junior World Barefoot Overall Champion and Open Women's Competitor. The Jennifer Odom/David Kammerer Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008. Jennifer Odom was a junior girl national competitor who was abducted near her home in Pasco County, Florida in February of 1993. She was later found murdered. David Kammerer of Excelsior, Minnesota was a former Mens 2 National Overall Champion and “old school” barefooter. He died in a plane crash in July of 2007. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation is very proud of our young athletes and honored to support their future academic needs. You can help support our mission by joining or donating to the foundation HERE.