The ASU Sailing Club has been promoting sailing education to people of all abilities within the community for the last year, and now it is getting acknowledged for its work by the national governing body of sailing.
The Community Sailing Council of The United States Sailing Association recently honored the ASU Sailing Club for possessing an outstanding program for disabled sailors.
"It's a great feeling to be recognized for doing something different in the sailing community," said Jake Geller, president of the club.
Geller received the award Jan. 21 at U.S. Sailing's 2006 National Sailing Programs Symposium in Long Beach, Calif.
The symposium is a network for sailing program leaders. Organizers from around the country come together to celebrate achievements and share ideas about what it takes to build a successful sailing program.
"I got a great reception from the crowd," Geller said. "It felt really good to know other people look at what we are doing as a positive thing in the community."
The biggest impact the sailing club hopes to make in the community will come through the teaching.
Personal leadership, teamwork and sailing skills will be taught through sailing and are intended for everybody, regardless of ability.
One major difference between ASU's club and other sailing programs is that the team is integrated. Other sailing programs separate their participants.
"What makes the program unique is how the club is inclusive of people of all abilities in the ASU community," said Geller. "Disabled and able-bodied sailors sail side-by-side as one team."
With extra financial support from ASU, including three new boats, the club is optimistic about the future of sailing in Tempe.
"In the future, we would really like to expand the program," Geller said. "This is just the beginning."
Reach the reporter at edward.price@asu.edu.
