The Canyon Lake Ski Club announced Kendra Nathan as the first recipient of its $500 Imre and Betsy Weil Water Ski Scholarship.
Nathan is a three-event water skier, competing in slalom, jump, and trick. She grew up in Canyon Lake and began skiing at age eight and competing at age 10, including local tournaments, Water Ski Western Regionals, and US Nationals.
“I have competed at the Pan Am Games Under 14 and Under 17, Jr. World’s Under 17 and Under 21, Jr. Canadian Open Under 21, Jr. U.S. Open Under 17 and Under 21, as well as the Jr. Masters twice,” Nathan shared.
Nathan, 18, is currently attending the University of Louisiana Lafayette (ULL) on an academic and water ski scholarship. She plans to study elementary education and teach English in a foreign country in the future.
Nathan said she will use this scholarship to influence the sport of water skiing as a member of the water ski team at ULL and help to increase awareness to younger skiers that you can go to college and water ski on a scholarship.
Named after Imre Weil, a 50-year member of the Canyon Lake Ski Club, and his wife, Betsy, the scholarship was developed to support the sport of three-event water skiing. The scholarship was endowed with a gift from Weil upon his passing in 2020 and will be awarded annually to an individual and/or a club in the Western United States.
At the time of his passing at the age of 92, Weil was the current 13 states Western Region record holder of a slalom score of 2.5 buoys at 28 mph at a rope length of 22. In 2019, the Canyon Lake Ski Club presented Weil with a lifetime achievement award for his years of service and friendship.
