SUU Pre-Med Student Opens Local Swim School

Published: September 23, 2021 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 2 minutes

Southern Utah University pre-med student Hannah Green opened Cedar City Swim Academy this summer, fulfilling a need in the community for a swim school. Green, originally from Tucson, Arizona, has lived in Cedar City and been involved in the swim community since 2012.

“My swim coaches were incredible and left a lasting impression of hard work and a love for the water with me,” said Green. “Some of my best childhood memories are of swim practices and summer meets with my friends. The swim community is such a positive one: everyone encouraging and cheering one another on and celebrating one another's accomplishments. Besides being a necessary life skill, swimming is an incredible sport that stays with you for life.”

This past spring, the owners of Cedar City’s well-established Little Sharks Swim Academy relocated and closed their program. Seeing a need in the community after multiple parents reached out to Green for swim lessons, she opened up Cedar City Swim Academy this summer, continuing the legacy of excellent swim training and community in Cedar City.

“My first job was working as a swim coach for Little Sharks Swim Academy after I turned sixteen,” said Green. “During my first year at SUU, I worked as a lifeguard for SUU and a deck manager for Little Sharks. This allowed me the opportunity to get to know all of the swimmers and their parents. So when my boss unexpectedly announced that she was moving at the end of this spring, I had a lot of parents reach out to me and ask if I could keep the swim school running or at the very least offer private lessons.”

Enlisting help from her family, within a week Green had acquired a business license, insurance, and a contract with the Cedar City Aquatic Center. They designed a website and logo, and she hired nine swim instructors and led a series of swim camps this summer serving about 500 students- the most students Green has ever coached.

“It's really wonderful to watch as kids go from being scared of the water and unsure of themselves to becoming confident swimmers and having a part in fostering a love for swimming in them,” said Green.

Cedar City Swim Academy will continue to offer swimming lessons this fall. Green hopes to expand the business to avoid turning families away, and to create a lasting space for the swim community in Cedar City.

“I am working towards creating a swim program in Cedar City that will continue long after I graduate,” Green said. “It will definitely take a lot of work and patience, but I know it's something that is vital to the community and has incredible support.”

Green is a full-time pre-med student graduating in spring of 2023 with plans to attend medical school and become a pediatric neurologist. Visit Cedar City Swim Academy for more information on Green’s swim programs.

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Tags: Medicine

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