ISA Awards Scholarships to 43 Underserved Youth around the World

Miercuri, 23 Decembrie 2020 12:29

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to announce that 43 youth surfers from 15 countries have been selected as recipients of the 2020 ISA Scholarship Program.

USD $20,000 will be distributed among the new wave of scholarship ambassadors according to the particular needs of each recipient.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their financial need as well as dedication to education and surfing.

The diversity of the nationalities (15 countries represented) reflects the ISA’s overarching push to grow and spread the sport in non-traditional surfing nations around the globe.

The countries include Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Iran, Jamaica, Maldives, Morocco, Senegal, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Since 2007, the ISA has awarded USD $348,500 to more than 350 surfers around the world who are 18 years of age and under.

The value of an ISA Scholarship has been demonstrated not only at the grassroots level, but also at a competitive level, as several scholarship ambassadors, such as Carlos Muñoz (CRC) and Chelsea Tuach (BAR), have gone on to win medals at ISA Global Events.

In 2019, Peruvian ISA Scholarship ambassador Daniella Rosas reinforced the program’s success, earning a provisional slot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by claiming Women’s Shortboard Gold at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

To see a full list of all past and present ISA Scholarship recipients, click here.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“This is always my favorite part of the year, when we have a chance to give back to the youth of our sport, those who will carry the torch of Surfing into the future.

“Our 14-year-and-counting commitment to the ISA Scholarship Program is testament to our dedication to spreading the joy of surfing all around the globe, especially to surfers who are underserved and disadvantaged. Whether due to the country that they are from, their social status, or gender, these scholarship ambassadors face a tougher road than most to pursuing their dreams of education and surfing. It is our duty to make sure that they get their chance.

“It is astounding to see one of our Scholarship winners climb all the way to the greatest stage in sports and earn a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. As surfing gains more momentum in the Olympic Movement, achieving inclusion in more multisport events in the future, I am sure that we will see more and more scholarship ambassadors shine at the top of their disciplines.”

*-- The International Surfing Association (ISA)