Zach Butterfield wins 2020 Banana George Blair Ambassador Scholarship

(Winter Haven, FL) - USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers and riders who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

Zach Butterfield from Sherman, Texas has won the $2200 Banana George Blair Ambassador Scholarship. Zach is a Freshman at Texas A&M University, majoring in engineering.

"It means a lot to be chosen to receive this award, and I appreciate the new opportunities it will afford me," says Zach. "I will do my best to continue being an ambassador for the sport and introducing it to as many people as I can. "

Zach has earned numerous podium finishes at the U.S. Water Ski National Championships and was the Boys 3 Overall National Champion in 2017. He represented the United States at the 2018 Junior World Championships in Spain. He has also supported the growth of water skiing by coaching and officiating. Zach currently holds an assistant rating in driving and judging in all three events.

We are proud to support Zach as he pursues his education and continues to share his love of water skiing.

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.

Grace Petzold wins 2020 Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship

(Winter Haven, FL) - USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers and riders who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

For the second year in the row, Grace Petzold from Mequon, Wisconsin has won the $1500 Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship. Grace is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in chemistry/biology. She is a 3.9 student who hopes to go into the medical field.

Grace is an accomplished show skier and is a member of the Rock Aqua Jays Ski Show Team and the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team and was chosen to be a member of the 2020 USA Water Ski Show Team. She is an incredible all-around water skier who barefoots, swivel skis, ski jumps, is in the ballet line, pyramid, strap doubles, and more. This young woman can do it all!

Grace founded Graceful Wakes, a non-profit organization in 2015. Graceful Wakes hosts free adaptive water ski clinics in Wisconsin and Florida. Through these clinics, Grace has taught hundreds of people with cognitive and physical disabilities how to water ski. And she has paid it forward by teaching others to host their own adaptive water ski clinics.

We are proud to support Grace in continuing her education and her quest to change the world one person and one water skier at a time!

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.

Stay tuned for more scholarship announcements.

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USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation announces 2020 Boys & Girls Scholarship Winners

One of the core missions of The USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Foundation is to support our future by funding a large scholarship program.

Our first group of scholarships in 2020 are going to the Boys and Girls Overall Champions at the U.S. National Water Ski Championships. These scholarships are awarded every year and will be held in escrow by the foundation until these incredible young people attend the university of their choice. There are many more scholarships to be announced over the next few weeks.

Jaxon Stabel

Jaxen Stabel from Chico, CA won the Boys 1 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Jim Grew Boys 1 Overall Scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $2, 000.

Marley Purvur

Marley Pavur from Santa Fe, TX won the Girls1 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Jim Grew Girls1 Overall scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $2,000.

BG Bickley

BG Bickley from Macon, GA won the Boys 2 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Boys 2 Scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $1,500.

Kamryn Massey

Kamryn Massey from Lakeland, FL won the Girls 2 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Girls 2 Scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $1,500.

Chase Sparks

Chase Sparks from Dallas, GA won the Boys 3 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Dutch Brothers Coffee Boys 3 Scholarship sponsored by Steve Grubbs in the amount of $1000.

Emma Davis

Emma Davis from Oviedo, FL won the Girls 3 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Drake & Associates Girls 3 Scholarship sponsored by Tony Drake in the amount of $1000.

Carter Reese

Carter Reese from Walnut Creek, CA won the Boys 4 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA and has been awarded the Dr. JD Morgan Boys 4 Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Mike Morgan in the amount of $1000.

Kendra Nathan

Kendra Nathan from Canyon Lake, CA won the Girls 4 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA and has been awarded the Linda Giddens Girls 4 Scholarship sponsored by Jody Johnson in the amount of $1,000.

Blaze Grubbs

Blaze Grubbs from Rio Linda, CA won the Boys 5 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA, and has been awarded the Dr. JD Morgan Boys 5 Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Mike Morgan in the amount of $1,000.

Kristen Baldwin

Kristen Baldwin from Winter Garden, FL won the Girls 5 National Overall Points award at the 2020 Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships in Zachery, LA and has been awarded the Linda Giddens Girls 5 Scholarship sponsored by Jody Johnson in the amount of $1,000

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.

Stay tuned for more scholarship announcements.

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