Lauren Connelly is Awarded the 2025 Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship

Lauren Connelly from Iowa State University College of Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering has been awarded the $10,000 Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship.

“Being selected for the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship truly means the world to me. It feels like a recognition of all the time, heart, and energy I’ve poured into this sport and the amazing community around it. Water skiing has shaped so much of who I am—from the friendships and leadership roles to the confidence I’ve gained along the way. It motivates me to keep striving for excellence in the classroom as I pursue my engineering degree with the same passion I bring to the water.” says Lauren.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected for the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship. Being part of the waterski community has shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined — from building lifelong friendships to growing as a leader and student-athlete. Balancing these commitments with my engineering studies has been challenging but immensely rewarding. This recognition inspires me to give back to the sport with the same generosity shown by the donors who made this possible, while continually striving to push myself in all that I do.”

Over the past three years on the Iowa State Waterski team, I have taken on multiple leadership roles, including positions at the regional level, and was honored to be elected president in the fall of 2024. When our club unjustly lost its university affiliation in 2022 due to an unrelated incident in another club, I took action to fight for its reinstatement. I have spent months gathering communication records, working with NCWSA board members and lawyers, and creating detailed documentation to restore our team’s official status. Despite the setbacks, I remain committed to growing our team, organizing AWSA summer tournament schedules to keep our members engaged, and ensuring we continue to compete and develop our skills.

Beyond my leadership in collegiate skiing, I will further my passion for watersports this summer as an engineering intern at Malibu Boats. This opportunity will allow me to work closely with industry professionals and gain firsthand experience in designing and building the core component of the sport. My goal is to contribute to the innovation and advancement of water skiing, ensuring its growth and accessibility for future athletes

The Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship was established in 2001, revised in 2008 and 2021, has special provisions in that it is given to a qualifying female who attends a four year accredited college or accredited trade school and skis primarily in AWSA, NCWSA or USA-AWSWS tournaments.

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.

DONATE NOW

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