TC3 Receives NYS Grant to Expand Swimming Classes and Lifeguard Certification Opportunities

Tompkins Cortland Community College has been awarded a $36,300 grant by New York State as part of the state’s initiative to expand access to swimming pools and prevent drowning. TC3 will use the grant to increase access to learn-to-swim classes and lifeguard training.

“NY SWIMS is such an important and beneficial initiative for the entire State, and especially in the community we serve here at Tompkins Cortland Community College,” said TC3 Director of Athletics and Recreation Mick McDaniel. “These dollars will be used to teach water safety and swimming to a wide-variety of populations including four-year-olds from the TC3 Childcare Center, local children as part of our community swim lessons, TC3 students, and through our relationship with BOCES in growing adaptive swim opportunities.”

Recreation and Aquatics Coordinator Alfred Okaru and Assistant Coordinator Madisyn Zimmer will oversee the various trainings. “We are grateful for their commitment to teaching and managing the aquatics programs at TC3,” said McDaniel, who noted the grant will also provide for up to twenty scholarships to local high school students to receive their lifeguard certification training through TC3. “The funds from the NY SWIMS grant will be put to excellent use thanks to these fine professionals.”

“Congratulations to our SUNY campuses for earning a SWIMS grant to expand swimming programs and keep New York’s community pools and beaches safe,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “SUNY is proud to be a key partner in the SWIMS Initiative, and we are grateful for the generosity of Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature in issuing necessary funding for our campuses to help turn the SWIMS vision into a reality.” 

As part of the SWIMS Initiative, Governor Hochul has also allocated nearly $2 million in the FY 2025 for SUNY campuses to offer lifeguard certification courses and expand access to learn-to-swim classes for youth. SUNY is collaborating with schools, youth and community-based organizations, and municipalities to increase learning and swimming opportunities across every region of the State. The SWIMS initiative also incentivizes SUNY students who are skilled swimmers to become lifeguards by covering the cost of lifeguard certification exams, and giving college credit to those who complete lifeguard training courses.  

Approximately 4,000 people in the United States drown each year, making drowning the leading cause of death for children under the age of five. Additionally, sixty-four percent of African American children and forty-five percent of Hispanic or Latino children have little to no swimming skills.  

Photo (left to right): Recreation and Aquatics Coordinator Alfred Okaru, Assistant Coordinator Madisyn Zimmer