Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year

2023: Meet Jenna De La Pena

By Traci Sanders

Coach Jenna De La Pena was only eight years of age when her parents signed her up for the Gwinnett Swim League. By the end of that summer, Jenna had fallen in love with the sport. However, she had no idea that she would one day not only end up coaching her own swim team, but winning an award for it!

Jenna’s children became involved in swimming in high school, so she began coaching at Grayson High School in 2020 to better prepare them for the sport. The following summer, Jenna was given the opportunity to coach her own kids at Waterton Waverunners.

When Jenna realized that many talented kids couldn’t afford to swim year-round, she looked into starting a fall middle school team. The following year, Jenna and her husband, Gio, started the Grayson Swim Club at Waterton Waverunners. The program is now headed into its third season of operation, with twenty-five kids enrolled for fall.

Jenna was surprised and honored to be named Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year for 2023. She was up against several other nominees who she said are “fantastic coaches who are loved and respected by the communities they serve.” So much of her success, she believes, is due to her partner and husband, making it truly a joint effort. Their own children were super proud of their parents for this award, sending them sweet congratulatory messages.

When asked about her coaching style, Jenna replied, “I just want kids to feel successful. Every kid comes in at their own level, and I want them to focus on their own growth and abilities.” She went on to say that swimming is an interesting sport because, while it does have the team aspect, it also teaches many values on a personal level. The athletes are able to set and achieve personal goals at their own pace without the peer pressure typically associated with traditional team sports.

Coach Jenna and her team celebrate even the smallest of wins. “One second we’re cheering for the kid who just made a state time cut,” she said, “and the next we’re all screaming for the kid who completed a race without stopping for the first time.” For her, the most rewarding thing about coaching is watching kids make new friends and find their go-to sport. She’s proud to offer a place for these kids to all grow and thrive together. “Youth sports is incredibly important for kids,” she added, “because they need places to go where they can be social in a safe environment while also getting exercise to keep their bodies healthy.”

One thing Coach Jenna always teaches her athletes is respect for

The Sheridan at Eastside Continued from page 19

The Sheridan at Eastside has three tiers of communities that are designed to fit your individual needs – the team at The Sheridan is passionate about giving some much-needed help during what can be a challenging phase of life. Julia’s philosophy is that offering care and residential services to seniors are not only important to those who will be moving in, but also to those who are currently filling the role of caretaker.

“Caregivers have to take care of themselves. Who will take care of your loved ones if something happens to you?” Julia said. “You have got to have time for yourself, or your own health is at risk.”

It is with this goal of aiding residents and their loved ones alike that The Sheridan at Eastside provides a comprehensive offering of services and activities for everyone under their care. And, of course, the community is invited to join in on the fun.

For instance, you might hear a lot of buzz about an author coming to each other. “There’s always a level of banter between kids,” she said, “especially when it’s co-ed and mixed ages; but I do not tolerate disrespect for one another. There will always be someone who is better than you in sports or anything in life.” Instead of allowing the kids to boast about who is better at certain skills, the De La Penas teach mentorship by encouraging those with advanced skills to reach back and help beginners or those who might be struggling.

When the team becomes discouraged, the De La Penas always remind them that they are loved no matter what. “We make sure they know,” Jenna explained, “there’s always going to be another race where they can try again. Then we get back to work and start training through the mistakes to perform better next time. It’s not the race that defines the athlete, it’s how the athlete handles failure that makes them a winner in our book.”

Above anything else, Jenna measures her success as a coach by seeing if the kids return season after season. She strives to provide a safe space for families to bring their children, to make them feel like they belong. But she says it’s a partnership.

“I do sometimes wish people understood how much home life affects athletes,” she said. “So much of their success comes from their home support. I can make the sets and provide the place, but I can’t monitor their sleep, diet, or overall physical and mental health.”

The De La Penas would eventually like to build an indoor swim facility for the southern side of Gwinnett to service the area with a yearround swim program. “The Grayson/Loganville area has really needed a proper indoor facility for the high schools to use for some time,” Jenna said. “We’d love to be a part of creating that for the kids in this community. We could offer lessons for all ages, competitive teams, and even physical therapies.”

Coach Jenna believes that swimming is a life skill, and when pools are not affordable or accessible, many kids and even some adults are at risk. “Kids can learn water safety skills at an early age that can help prevent future drowning incidents,” she shared. “It’s never too late to learn!” discuss her book. The author happens to be a sister of a resident, and everyone is excited to hear her read. Or you might enjoy something like the luau that will take place, where you can not only enjoy some delicious food, but also interact with an incredible community. No matter what your interests are – or your age – The Sheridan at Eastside provides multiple events year-round that are open to everyone who wants to participate.

Congrats again to Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year 2023, Coach Jenna De La Pena.

More information at https://www.gwinnettswimleague.com/.

If you have questions, just give The Sheridan at Eastside a call at (678) 668-8194. Julia Westover along with Sales manager Renee Sanders devote their time to answering everyone’s questions about what to expect, so don’t hesitate to voice concerns, double check some details, or schedule a tour of the community.

Every phase of life has a place in Gwinnett. Make your next one the best it can be at The Sheridan at Eastside.

More information at www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/georgia/ the-sheridan-at-eastside organizational leadership, and several other fields. All of these majors are useful in any industry.”

Dr. Washington-Hubbard and the rest of the College of Business & Communication faculty and staff are always glad to see traditional and non-traditional students enroll. The dean holds a special place in her heart for those returning to further their education after spending some time outside of college, whether through a career, family, or other opportunities. With so many educational options available in person and online, Dr. Washington-Hubbard hopes that others will be encouraged to gain some new knowledge or skillsets, especially if it will help them advance their career.

The College of Business & Communication offers graduate certificates in addition to multiple master’s degree programs. The certificates are designed to allow students an opportunity to increase their knowledge in a particular discipline, such as business analytics, project management, human resource management, and other fields, without undertaking a

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Wallace Dam on the Oconee River, creating Lake Oconee and its 374 miles of shoreline across Greene, Putnam, and Morgan Counties and beginning a real estate boon and wealthy retiree relocation boom still rippling across that region today.

This significant judicial sign-off is an official green light to move this project forward and past the starting line, along with the battery plants, related suppliers, and jobs that will follow. Those engines have been idling and revving for quite some time, and having had the opportunity to test drive and experience a Rivian R-1T, I can attest that they can make up a good bit of mileage in the most challenging of conditions quickly.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com full degree, especially if a student wants to hone in on a particular set of skills. While these certificates are not yet available for undergraduate programs, Dr. WashingtonHubbard is optimistic that undergraduate students will soon be able to utilize some of these more concentrated courses to pursue micro-credentials.

Brenau also is partnering with the City of Roswell by facilitating workshops and offering city employees the chance to enroll in Brenau’s many accredited programs.

“It’s a joy to see so many adults pursue credentials through our online programs, which will help them remain competitive in the workforce,” said Dr. Washington-Hubbard. “We hope to continue to employ creative and innovative approaches to help students of all ages learn and advance their careers.”

More information at www.brenau.edu

Chess for Champs

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This disease has allowed Chris to identify with and practice patience and compassion with the students who have special needs.

“He’s so good with the kids and makes them feel relaxed and excited to learn,” Megan shared.

Now that Chris and Megan have made their passion into an LLC, they plan to continue mentoring new coaches or hiring experienced ones to grow and offer locations anywhere students don’t have the opportunity to learn the game of chess.

“I love how kids learn from their mistakes, learn to think ahead and analyze, learn patience, and learn good sportsmanship,” Megan stated. “These are all good life skills.”

More information at https://www.facebook.com/klumz.rex, or Instagram #ChessforChamps