Photo courtesy NSPF

Fellowship recipient Bill Weaver.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation^® (NSPF) in Colorado Springs, Colo., has awarded $30,000 in scholarships and fellowships to 26 students for the year 2008-2009.

The scholarship program celebrates the NSPF commitment to education by helping Certified Pool/Spa Operator^® certification graduates and their family members pursue further education. The scholarship committee approved $26,000 in scholarships to 24 students who are pursuing higher education. The students, working towards college degrees in a variety of subject areas, come from across the United States.

"We are proud to help empower students to new academic heights," says Bill Kent, scholarship review committee chair. "We are all about educational excellence. It feels good to help others achieve their goals."

Applicants submit professional information and recommendations and write a research essay with at least three scientific references. The essays this year focused on explaining how immersion in water or an aquatic activity helps prevent, minimize or reverse negative health effects.

The NSPF^® Fellowship Program was established to encourage and support graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who are performing risk reduction or health benefit research related to aquatic activities and/or venues such as swimming pools, spas/hot tubs, therapy pools and waterparks. This year, two graduate students received an award of $2,000 each.

Information on how to apply for scholarships and fellowships is available by visiting www.nspf.org.