" I have loved swimming ever since I was little and have so much appreciation for the sport and everything it teaches you. My lessons go beyond the sport and I would love the opportunity to be able to pass this on to younger kids. Swimming is about having fun and pushing yourself to places you didn’t know you could go and I’d love the opportunity to share my passion with the next generation. Water safety is hugely important and it’s super important for parents to feel comfortable with their kids being around the water. "

" Being a collegiate swimmer was a goal I set for myself when I was very young. Today I love sharing the joy I have found for swimming with other young kids. "

" Hello my name is AJ Redd and I play basketball here at Illinois. I love to play this game and have met some great people while doing so. I have taught kids basketball over the past couple summers and I enjoy teaching them different skills while having fun at the same time. "

" I am an athlete because this is something I love to do and have a gift for. I enjoy meeting people, having a built in family away from home. I want to teach kids because the foundation of the game will stick with you forever and I want them to remember me when they get older, and say that I impacted their game/ life in some type of way. "

" I wanted the chance to grow as an athlete in college and compete at a high level against other athletes in the Big10 and beyond. I want to teach the kids to have fun with the sport to help them feel more comfortable in the water. I also want to help them improve their technique to set them up for success in the future. "

" I’m a junior majoring in Molecular and cellular biology on a Pre-Physician Assistant track. I swim mid distance IM, backstroke, and freestyle. I love to teach kids how to swim because I love to help others gain confidence in the water and most importantly help them learn to love what they are doing. "