Celebrate National Learn to Swim Day

by having your child participate in a Day of Diversity and Inclusion in Swimming, sponsored by the Eagle Swim Team (EST) of Owings Mills, MD, and the Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc.

 

May 20, 2023 Time: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

This is the second year for our Diversity and Inclusion initiative, which strives to create equity in swimming by providing resources specific to the needs of members of underserved communities.

Location:
Rollins-Luetkemeyer Athletic Center
Henry Rosenberg Pool
The McDonogh School
8600 McDonogh Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Letter to the Parents

Dear Parent:

On May 20th, the Eagle Swim Team-Kappa Alpha Psi's Diversity and Inclusion program will feature former Towson University swimmer Tyree Powell, owner of the NotYetPro Swim School of Laurel, MD, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. Coach Tyree, current collegiate swimmers, and Eagle Swim Team volunteer swim staff will invest quality time with your youth at the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Athletic Center Pool on the campus of the McDonogh School. Coach Tyree and staff will lead your children throughout an afternoon of fun, games, prizes, swim lessons, and, most importantly, water safety. All of the instructors will emphasize minority inclusion in the sport of swimming through interactions with the swimmers, both in and out of the water. This program is hosted by the Eagle Swim Team and promoted by the Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter (TCAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc.

This one-day program will be split into two sessions limited to 60 children each. Ages will range from 4-16 years and the ability to swim is not a requirement to attend. A deep-water test may be given to children 8 years of age and older if so desired by the parent.

The goals of our program are to increase minority participation in swimming at all levels, to make parents and children aware of the physical benefits of swimming, to teach water safety, and to reduce the overall fear of going into a body of water. Remember, swimming can save your life and it can save the life of someone you know. Swimming is the sport that is also an invaluable life skill.

It is our hope and expectation that the combined efforts of the participating organizations will have an immediate and affirmative impact on children in minority communities by increasing accessibility to swimming lessons, pool time, and swim teams in the Baltimore Metro area. We would love for the children who participate in this program, and for other children, to enroll in lessons and register for teams this summer, which is right around the corner, through the information we will provide to them and their parents. Enclosed is the registration form for the Day of Diversity and Inclusion on National Learn to Swim Day, May 20, 2023.

Below, you will find additional information about the coaches; the link to the registration form; and the permission, transportation, media release, and liability agreements, which must be signed and returned no later than May 17th.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via the form below. We enthusiastically look forward to working with your child on May 20th, as well as the possibility of his/her continuing participation in the wonderful world of aquatics.

Best regards, 

Brian Pinkney 
Committee Chairman for Diversity and Inclusion in Swimming 
Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter 
Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc.

Head Instructor
Coach Tyree Powell of NotYetPro

Coach Tyree is an accomplished swimmer and overall aquatic enthusiast who is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in swimming. A PDR Swim Team Alumnus from Philadelphia, Tyree achieved his goal of earning a D1 swimming scholarship, bringing him to Towson University. Tyree's background as a swimmer of color has made him a powerful advocate for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for young swimmers from all backgrounds to participate in the sport. With over 20 years of coaching and instruction experience, Tyree is committed to helping athletes of all ages and levels develop their skills and achieve their goals. Tyree is also the CEO of the NotYetPro Swim School.

Coach Scott Ward & EST (Host)

Coach Scott founded the Eagle Swim Team (EST), which is based at the McDonogh School, in 1992. EST is a year-round, competitive United States Swimming-registered team.

Coach Scott Ward & Giles Smith 2022

 

All EST coaches, parents, and team members share and contribute to the team’s objectives of providing quality coaching, training, and competition for all team members; assist all team members in realizing and striving for their full potential in competitive swimming; help develop important life skills, such as self-discipline, communication, goal-setting, self-confidence, and sportsmanship; and provide opportunities for educational and emotional growth through training, competition, and travel. Coach Ward, who coaches both EST and the McDonogh School Swim Team, was named Coach of the Year in 2022 by the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland for his stellar accomplishments with the school team.

Special Guest Speaker
Coach Nic Askew, Howard University Swim Team

Nic Askew is the Director of Swimming & Diving (and Tennis!) at the nation's only NCAA Division I Historically Black College and University (HBCU) team, where he has improved the program significantly. The Men’s team just dominated the Northeast Conference Championship, while the Women’s team finished 4th, both teams have rewritten the school record books, and were recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The Team Behind The Scenes

Help us applaud these local swim enthusiasts for their help in planning, operating, videography and registering the swimmers for this program:

Coach Brian Pinkney - LCC

Coach Brian is a 23-year member, administrator, and volunteer swim coach at the Lochearn Community Club of Lochearn, MD, where he assists with the operations of the summer team, the Lochearn Monster, which is part of the Central Maryland Swim League. As an excellent motivator of young kids and a super advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in swimming, he has brought to this growing movement his vision for increasing minority participation in swimming, and providing tangible resources and opportunities for parents and children. Both Coach Brian Pinkney and Coach Tyree Powell are members of the Towson-Catonsville (MD) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc. They have brought their fraternity into this partnership with the Eagle Swim Team, and fully support the ideals and objectives of this movement, with the hope of spreading it nationwide.

Coach Trevor RillCoach Trevor Rill - EST

Coach Trevor grew up in Westminster, MD, and competed with the Westminster Stingrays along with
swimming year-round with his local YMCA. He began volunteering and teaching swimming lessons when he was ten years old, and has been teaching and coaching ever since. Most recently, Coach Trevor joined the staff at Eagle Swim Team in 2020 and is also the Head Coach of the Mays Chapel Manta Rays. He is responsible for organizing the one-day format by which children of all abilities can be assigned to a group and volunteer swim instructors who best meet their immediate needs at our
event.

Lorenzo Millan, CAS, & Red Star Pictures, LLC

Lorenzo is an Emmy-winning production sound mixer working in the Mid-Atlantic area. He was born in Baltimore City and attended St. Paul’s School for Boys before attending the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Lorenzo has worked in the area for 30 years on productions such as NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street, HBO’s The Wire, and Netflix’s House of Cards. He is also the proud father of an Eagle Swim Team swimmer and is excited to be a part of this year's Day of Diversity and Inclusion. Lorenzo and Red Star will be joining us this year to provide quality video, photography, sound, and editing for our event. Red Star, a local company, will provide us with quality lighting and camera equipment to help us record the event.

G.T. Keplinger - EditorG.T. Keplinger - Editor

Professor Keplinger is currently teaching Film & Moving Image at Stevenson University, where he has taught since 2006. From 1999-2006, he taught at Towson University in the Electronic Media and Film Department. In his more than 20 years of teaching, he has taught a wide variety of classes in all areas of film and video focusing mainly on editing, sound design, and film, video, and broadcast production. He is an Avid Certified Instructor with current certifications in Media Composer and Pro Tools. He earned an A.A. from Montgomery College; a B.S. in Film and Television, cum laude, from Towson University; and an M.F.A. in Film and Electronic Media from American University. Professor Keplinger serves on the board of the nonprofit organization “Docs in Progress” in Silver Spring, MD. In addition to teaching, he has edited television programs that have aired on ESPN and The Discovery Channel, and has edited numerous commercials and other projects.

Highlights from Last Year

2022...

Please register for the event here:

EST Day of Diversity and Inclusion on May 20, 2023.

 

EST Day of Diversity and Inclusion Supporter Links

Swim Teams


The Eagle Swim Team
Head Coach - Scott Ward
8600 McDonogh Rd.
Owings Mills, MD. 21117
(410) 998-3581
daniel.russell0827@gmail.com
Mission: To provide quality professional coaching in a safe and supportive environment that is inspirational, innovative, and goal-oriented.
Team Website

Lochearn Community Club Pool
Summer Swim Club & Summer Swim Team
President - Tiffany Averill
Head Coach - John Clark
Volunteer Coach - Brian Pinkney
3600 Campfield Rd.
Lochearn, MD 21207
(443) 226-9621
lochearnpool@yahoo.com
http://www.lochearnpool.com/

Accokeek Stroke Technique Swim Team
Owner & Head Coach - Dominique Banks
Northpoint HS
2500 Davis Rd. Waldorf, MD 20603
(301) 300-9078
coachdbanks@gmail.com
Team Website

The Episcopal High School
Women's Swim Team
Coach - Brileigh Pinkney
12 N Quaker Ln.
Alexandria, VA.
(703) 933-4180
bpinkney@episcopalhighschool.org


The Jewish Community Center
Club Team & Summer Team
Owings Mills Barracudas
Baltimore Barracudas
Head Coach - Brendan McElroy
(410) 559-3542
coachmcelroy@gmail.com

4M Swim Club
Club Team & Swim Lessons
Owner & Head Coach - Marvin Thorpe Jr.
3127 Jeffland Rd.
Windsor Mill, MD. 21244
(410) 298-4481
4mscst@gmail.com

Aqua Eagle Swim Club
Head Coach - Rahim Booth
Coppin State College
2523 Gwynns Falls Pkwy
Baltimore, MD 21216
rbooth@coppin.edu

Baltimore City Swim Club
Dept of Recreation and Parks
Head Coach - Ben Griffin
2821 Oakley Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 396-3838

 

Swim Lessons & Resources


EAGLE SWIM SCHOOL
8600 McDonogh Rd
Owings Mille, MD 21117

Website

NotYetPro Swim School
Head Coach Tyree Powell
202.460.8259
tyree@notyetpro.org
324 Main St #16
Laurel, MD 20725
Website

The Randallstown YMCA
Swim Lessons
3505 Resource Dr. Randallstown, MD 21133
(410) 496-4272
Website

The Catonsville YMCA
Swim Lessons
850 S. Rolling Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 747-9622
Class Schedules & Swim Schedules

Scuba Diving
Karen Robilard
info@charmcityscuba.org
Blackgirlsdivefoundation.org
Nabdsdivers.org

Black Kids Swim
Website & FB Group
Owner - Ebony Rosemond
info@blackkidsswim.com
http://blackkidsswim.com/


 

Local Businesses


Pass IT On
Community Technical Training and IT Solutions
Dr Willie Sanders Jr.
(443) 942- 7562
willie.sanders@passitonmd.org
http://www.passitonmd.org

MD Ski Productions
Entertainment Productions
CEO - Myk Jones
PO Box 316
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 728-2001
mykskiman@hotmail.com

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.®
Towson - Catonsville Alumni Chapter
Polemarch - Keith Stith
Vice Polemarch - Karl Jones
https://tcanupes1911.org

Bohemian House Art Gallery
Owner - Tiffany Averill
8133 Main St. Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 680-8388
BohemianHouseArt@gmail.com


Tax Recovery Service, Inc.
Consultant - Larry Small
1055 Taylor Ave, Ste 303, Towson, MD 21286
(443) 826-0097
1040@taxrs.net

Midas of Baltimore
Muffler & Automotive Maintenance
Owner - Ray McCamie
Aberdeen (410) 297-7232
Pikesville (410) 670-5052
Towson (410) 442-6475

Strategic Government Solutions, LLC
Consulting
CEO - Lamont Norwood
443 213-5869
Info@sgsolutionsinc.com
http://www.sgsolutionsinc.com

T & C - Oh My, L.L.C.
Table & Chair Rental
CEO - Brian Pinkney
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207
(443) 226-9621
mdhookski@yahoo.com


Wedge Koncepts LLC
Business Consulting
James R. Collins, Managing Director
Washington, DC
877-288-5996
James.Collins@wedgekoncepts.com
http://wedgekoncepts.com

Cheryl Adams-Williams DDS
Dentistry
2 E Rolling Crossroads, #58, Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 747-1830
Cheryladamsdds@gmail.com

DGG Enterprises, LLC
Delroy G. Grant, MSW
410-382-1644
dggenterprisesllc@yahoo.com

 

Please register for the event here:

EST Day of Diversity and Inclusion on May 21, 2022.