Marcus Bowling named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year
Marcus Bowling, of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, has been named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year.
As a dedicated member of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for 25 years, Bowling has excelled in various roles, including law enforcement and marketing. Since 2019, he has served as the boating education coordinator, bringing invaluable knowledge, experience, and training to the position.
Bowling's initiatives have profoundly influenced boating safety education in Kentucky. In response to the heightened interest in paddlesports during the COVID-19 pandemic, he created the Life Jacket Loaner Station Program. Launched in 2021 with three stations, the program has expanded to 15 stations by 2023, with five more planned. These stations are strategically situated across the state on river systems, lakes, and other popular paddlesports locations.
As the state's boating education coordinator, Bowling teaches 15 to 25 classes annually for individuals seeking their Boating Education Certificate. His classes reach a diverse audience, including search and rescue units, high school bass fishing teams, marina patrons, summer camp kids, and the general public. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowling successfully transitioned to online classes via Zoom and continues to excel with in-person instruction. Annually, he drives an average of 8,000 miles and educates around 200 students.
In addition to formal boating education courses, Bowling delivers general boating safety programs to various groups, including elementary and high school students, agriculture safety days, electric company employees, and attendees at annual boat shows across the state. He supports officers in preparing for community boating safety talks and promotes boating safety through radio, TV, and podcast appearances.
Bowling spearheaded a new BUI/DUI campaign that launched in May for the boating season, collaborating with local, state, federal, and border state agencies. Additionally, Bowling is developing a project to educate ethnic groups new to Kentucky about the state's fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations, aiming to facilitate smoother transitions and mitigate language barrier-related issues.
Marcus Bowling's steadfast dedication to improving the safety of Kentucky's waterways is truly commendable. His tireless efforts play a significant role in reducing boat incidents, addressing impaired operators, and preventing drownings. Congratulations to Marcus Bowling on this well-deserved recognition!
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Generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises Inc., the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough, and exciting.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers, and volunteers, we affect the lives of nearly 85 million American boaters.