Photo By Amanda Rae Moreno | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ty Connors instructs one of his students...... read more read more
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MILLINGTON, Tenn. —The YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, recognized a sailor from Navy Recruiting Command at the Memphis Botanic Garden, April 25.
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ty Connors received the Service to Youth Award for volunteering more than 300 hours as a swim coach for the Flying Fish swim team at the Millington Family YMCA.
His enthusiasm for swimming began at a young age.
“I’ve been swimming my entire life,” said Connors. “My mom put me in the water when I was six weeks old.”
As a sailor in the United States Navy, Connors was drawn to coaching the team of children from his own experiences.
“When I was a kid, I was in a military town and a lot of sailors, reservists and active duty, helped out my swim team,” he said. “I thought it would be a perfect fit for me.”
Connors coaches 44 children varying from ages 5 to 21, all with different degrees of skill. Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Felipe Tubera, a detailer at Navy Personnel Command, has both his children participating on the swim team.
“At first they did not know how to swim,” said Tubera. “I had to enroll them in swim lessons.” It was through those lessons that Tubera’s children became a part of the Flying Fish. “Through Ty’s mentoring and teaching them the strokes, they improved a lot.”
“The kids love Coach Ty,” said Michelle Collins, head swim coach of the Flying Fish Swim team at the Millington Family YMCA. “Ty is very energetic, compassionate and knowledgeable.”
Tubera said his girls enjoy swimming on the team.
“One good thing with having a coach who is in the military is he can apply a military mindset. When it’s business, it’s business and when it’s fun, it’s fun,” he said.
Lt. Benjamin Addison, Division Officer for the N9 Creative Division at Navy Recruiting Command, said that Connors is an inspiration to those around him.
“Petty Officer Connors has an infectious spirit of service that motivates and inspires everyone around him to do more,” he said. “He is always very positive about his service and that is very inspiring.”
Addison also said volunteer work gives sailors the opportunity to give back to their communities.
“We all have a duty to help out in the community and Petty Officer Connors does a really great job at giving back.”
Connors said the award was a pleasant surprise.
“It is a privilege to be recognized by the children and this excellent group of professionals at the YMCA,” he said. “I would encourage everyone to get out and get involved. The rewards go far beyond the plaque.”
| Date Taken: | 04.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2013 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 106490 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON, TN, US |
| Hometown: | BRUNSWICK, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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