YMCA Announces Adolph Kiefer YMCA Youth Character Award Winners: Alexa Petrie, Marshall Lochridge

Each year, as part of the Y’s commitment to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and the Adolph Kiefer family selects two individuals from submitted candidates to receive the Adolph Kiefer YMCA Youth Character Award.

The scholarship resulted from the establishment of the Adolph Kiefer Memorial Fund, made possible by the generosity of the Kiefer Family. Adolph Kiefer is a legend in the history of the swimming. He first fell in love with the water at Chicago’s Wilson YMCA, where he learned to swim. The 1936 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter backstroke lost only one time in over 2,000 races, making him one of the most successful swimmers of all time. Some of his most enduring gifts to swimming came in the form of technological advancements. He is the owner of 14 U.S. patents, including the first kickboard, non-turbulent racing lane lines and the nylon swimsuit!

Each year, the award recognizes one male and one female for their excellence in academic achievement, demonstration of the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility as well as their commitment to strengthening their community through participation in the YMCA competitive swimming program. The selected individuals will each be granted $2,500, to be issued directly to their respective institutions for higher learning for the 2021-2022 academic year.

The YMCA and the Adolph Kiefer Family are honored to announce that Alexa Petrie and Marshall Lochridge were selected as this year’s recipients of the 2021 award. Ryan Held offered college advice to the two Adolph Kiefer Youth Character Award winners as they head off to their respective schools in the fall. See the presentation session here.

Ryan Held is the Adolph Kiefer Ambassador, designated by the International Swimming Hall of Fame to honor the memory of Adolph Kiefer, and recognize his long association with the YMCA. Like Adolph Kiefer, Ryan is a USA Olympic Gold Medalist. Ryan is also the only YMCA National Champion to have won an Olympic Gold Medal, earning gold in the 2016 Olympics as a member of the 4 x 100m freestyle relay.

2021 Award Recipients:

Alexa Petrie, Randolph YMCA – Alexa is a 2021 graduate of Lenape Valley Regional High School (Randolph, NJ) and graduated with a GPA of 4.71. Not only has she been a YMCA swimmer for nine years, competing in four YMCA National Championship Meets, she also serves others through her YMCA. Alexa has been volunteering as a swim coach for the past six years and she recently organized a fundraiser for a teammate in need to help cover the family’s medical bills. Away from the pool, she serves through the National Honor Society, sets up websites for volunteer groups and is committed to spreading positivity and boosting mental and emotional health among other high school students. By teaching and encouraging others, Alexa says, she learns more about herself and her power to make a positive difference.

Marshall Lochridge, North Canton Community Building YMCA – Marshall is a 2021 graduate of Hoover High School (North Canton, OH) where he maintained a 4.0 GPA. When he isn’t swimming, Marshall is a committed community volunteer. He is involved with the Boy Scouts of America and is particularly passionate about conservation service projects, parks and the environment. In addition to working on his own Eagle Scout project, he has assisted several fellow scouts in successfully completing theirs. Other organizations he has helped through his volunteerism include the YWCA, the North Canton Public Library, Art Against Addiction, the Dublin Food Bank and the Stark County Recycling Center. Marshall has been involved in YMCA competitive swimming for twelve years and has competed at the YMCA Short Course National meet for two years. He credits the YMCA with teaching and supporting the core values in his own development and that of his teammates.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the YMCA. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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