Star Montgomery Co. Swimmer Earns Prestigious YMCA Award

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A Montgomery County high school swimmer has been honored for his extraordinary achievements in and out of the water.

Nolan McCloskey, a Pennsburg resident and Upper Perkiomen High School student, has received the Adolph Kiefer YMCA Youth Character Award.

The award recognizes academic achievement but also advancement and embodiment of core YMCA values, including caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and dedication to community service.

"For Nolan, the YMCA and its swim team—led by Coach Owen Miller —have been transformative, shaping him not only as an athlete but also as a person," the YMCA shared. "Over the past decade at the Upper Perkiomen YMCA, he has cultivated a 'healthy perspective' and a deep appreciation for the process of life, learning to support others through difficult times."

McCloskey will receive a $2,500 scholarship for his college expenses. He plans to swim at Rowan University, where he will study to become a physician's assistant.

"Outside the pool, Nolan volunteers with the Knights of Columbus and gains hands-on experience in patient care at St. Luke's Hospital," the YMCA added. "These experiences, combined with the YMCA's strong character values, have set him on a path to (Rowan)."

The award honors legendary swimmer Adolph Kiefer, who discovered his love of swimming while a child at Chicago’s Wilson YMCA. He later went on to invent the kickboard and nylon swimsuit, among 14 other U.S. patents.