Generosity From Julian, Swimming In Santa Barbara
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association announced its new Julian Rusinek Scholarship. “Times are tough, unemployment is high and marathon swimming is an expensive sport,” explains Scott Zornig, president. “Julian Rusinek has generously funded a scholarship which provides financial assistance to American marathon swimmers who have difficulty meeting the financial requirements of our sport or are doing a fundraiser for a worthy charitable organization.
According to Rusinek, “I wanted to provide an opportunity for all open water swimmers by helping them achieve their life-long dream of conquering the Santa Barbara island waters. This fund is set up to ease the financial burden of swimmers that have a deep passion for our sport and the desire to succeed.“
The channels that are governed by the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association span both popular swims of 11 miles and unprecedented swims of 61 miles.
Opportunities include swim among the California Channel Islands and between the California mainland and the islands of San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, San Nicolas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and San Clemente Island.
“Each scholarship can range up to US$500 towards Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association sanctioning fees and may be awarded to American swimmers who demonstrate both a financial need and commitment to completing a swim across one of our channels. Recipients must also be a good steward of our sport and respect the traditional rules of marathon swimming.”
Marathon swimmers who wish to be reviewed for this scholarship should contact scottzornig@gmail.com for the application requirements. The deadline for scholarships this 2014 season is May 1st.
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
Latest posts by Steven Munatones (see all)
