2019 USA-WWF SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Polk City, FL - The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation is proud to announce the winners of our 2019 Scholarship Awards.
The USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers who best represent through achievements in academics and sports, what it means to be an ambassador and an athlete; and whose contributions to school and community set them apart in a special way.
"We are so proud of these student-athletes' accomplishments both academically and athletically," said USA-WWF Executive Director Tracy Mattes. “We believe that well rounded individuals, those who can excel in competition on the water, perform in the classroom, and give back to their communities deserve to be celebrated for their many accomplishments. They are our leaders of tomorrow."
USA-WWF is proud to have the following outstanding individuals
represent our sport both on and off the water:
Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship: $5,000
2019 Recipient: Krista Butterfield
Krista Butterfield, an incoming junior and captain of the Texas A&M University ski team, is the 2019 recipient of the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship in the amount of $5,000. Butterfield, who has received recognition for being number one on the rankings list for Women’s 1 Tricks is majoring in nursing and holds a perfect 4.0 GPA. In the past year, Butterfield has been primarily involved at the collegiate waterskiing events and attending Class C and L tournaments. This included South Central Regionals and keeping up with her regular judges rating. She has organized the Texas A&M annual tournament, Polar Bear tournament and has led their recruiting and sports club service projects. Butterfield competed in the Junior U.S. Open in Alabama while taking full time classes during the summer semester. Off the water, Butterfield attends weekly Bible study and works at an afterschool program for pre-k through fifth grade. She also spends time volunteering with Traditions Health in which she works events at nursing homes. Butterfield was recently selected to be a part of the Athletic Advisory Committee (AAC) and the Team Representative for Texas A&M University. In these positions she feels she will be able to help make decisions for the South Central Region and help the improvement of collegiate skiing in general. For her future, she plans on pursuing her goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist after finishing nursing school and working for two years in the ICU. Butterfield loves to help people and enjoys being a calming, positive presence when it may be a stressful time.
George Blair Ambassador Scholarship: $2,200
2019 Recipient: Lauren Goldman
Lauren Goldman, an incoming senior at the Indiana University is the 2019 recipient of the George Blair Ambassador Scholarship in the amount of $2,200. Goldman, who is captain, treasurer and future vice president of the Indiana University Water Ski & Wakeboard Club is majoring in nursing with a 3.8 GPA. As captain and treasurer of the IU Water Ski & Wakeboard Club, she has organized trips to ski lakes around southern Indiana, managed the finances for the organization, handled donations and fundraising and has had the opportunity to teach new skiers how to navigate the slalom course and compete at tournaments. Last fall, Goldman was an assistant dock starter/judge and spent a day teaching foreign exchange students how to ski for the first time. She was part of the effort that implemented a water ski course on Lake Lemon in Bloomington, Indiana so that the team would have a lake to practice on. Over the last year, Goldman has precipitated their small club going to new tournaments, as well as the MCWSA Winter Conference for the first time. She competed in the Indiana State Tournament, the Allstars Tournament in Louisiana and various collegiate tournaments across the Midwest. Off the water, Goldman is a Special Olympics volunteer, Student Representative of the Indiana University School of Nursing Evaluation Committee, has received Nursing Honors and has been on the Dean’s List every year of college. Upon completion of nursing school, Goldman intends on working as an RN in an emergency department in Indianapolis. She anticipates a career as a nurse practitioner, where she will specialize in children with mental illness and mental disabilities. Goldman wishes to continue contributing to waterskiing by spending more weekends hosting practices and getting the surrounding Bloomington community involved on the water.
Southern Region/Elmer Stailing Scholarship: $2,000
2019 Recipient: Anna Gay
Anna Gay, an incoming sophomore at the University of Alabama, is the 2019 recipient of the Southern Region/Elmer Stailing Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. Gay, a Nautique Boats Athlete is majoring in nursing and holds a 3.8 GPA. She holds several titles and accomplishments both on and off of the water. Gay was awarded USA Water Ski Female Athlete of the Year in 2016, AWSA Female Athlete of the Year in 2016, AWSA Trick Skier of the Year in 2015 and has set two world records. Gay is currently the Team Captain of the University of Alabama Water Ski Team and is the boat judge at collegiate tournaments. Over the past year, Gay has been part of Team USA at the Pan American Championships and skied in most of the Pro Tournaments. Off the water, she enjoys yoga, biking and is planning on running in a half marathon with some of her teammates. Gay was part of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and on the Dean's List. Gay wishes to push our great sport to new levels. She hopes to push Women's Tricking over 11k to be closet to the men. Upon graduation, Gay would like to become a Nurse Practioner and then go on to work in the field of Functional Medicine.
Jennifer Odom/David Kammerer Memorial Scholarship: $1,500
2019 Recipient: Alexandria Youngblood
Alexandria Youngblood, an incoming freshman at Michigan State University, is the 2019 recipient of the Jennifer Odom/David Kammerer Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Youngblood, who skied on Team USA for the 2016 and 2018 World Championships, is planning on majoring in Pre-Med and holds a 3.5 GPA. Youngblood has attended State, Regional and National Championships since 2010. She has won Girls Overall National Titles and has obtained an Open Womens National Title in Jumping and a Juniors World Title in the Jumping event. Since 2016 until now, she has held the Junior Girls 2nd Overall World Title. Over the last 12 months, Youngblood has attended the 2018 Southern Regionals, 2018 National Championships and the 2018 World Championships. She spent two months living in Florida training at the World Barefoot Center and has been an official at the Regionals and Nationals. Off the water, Youngblood was Captain of the Milford High School Varsity Downhill Ski Club and was a three year Leadership student. Youngblood wishes to continue contributing the sport by getting more involved as an Intern at the World Barefoot Center this summer. After graduation, Youngblood plans to obtain a job in Sports Medicine. Her goal is to be an orthopedic doctor or pediatric orthopedic doctor.
Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship: $1,500
2019 Recipient: Grace Petzold
Grace Petzold, an incoming freshman is the 2019 recipient of the Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Petzold, a two-time Girls’ National Barefoot Champion and member of the 2018 USA Water Ski Show Team which won gold at the World Water Ski Show Tournament recently graduated from the University School of Milwaukee with an incredible 4.31 GPA! Petzold, a member of the 2020 USA Water Ski Show Team holds many accomplishments both on and off the water. She was the recipient of the Betty Bonifay Outstanding Female Skier at the 2018 Southern Regional Tournament, recipient of the first ever MVP (Mark Voisard Performance) Award at the All American tournament in 2017 & 2018 and placed 5th in swivel at the 2018 National Show Ski Tournament. Petzold is the founder of Graceful Wakes, a non-profit organization which hosts free adaptive ski clinics and is a part of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team's "Junior Program," which teaches skiers the necessary skills to become apart of their main team. Off the water, Petzold was named National Merit Finalist, inducted into the Cum Laude Society graduating in the top 10% of her high school class and was named AP Scholar in 2018. She wishes to start a collegiate water ski team at whichever college she ends up attending, continue contributing to the sport of water skiing by competing individually and with her team, helping teach younger skiers new tricks and hosting adaptive water ski clinics through Graceful Wakes. Upon graduation, Petzold would like to pursue a career in the medical field. Over the last four years she has had the opportunity to shadow doctors in the fields of pediatrics, oncology, sports medicine and many more.