Boating Educator of the Year

Christopher Calhoun
Pennsylvania

Christopher Calhoun, of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, has been named the 2024 NASBLA Northern Region Educator of the Year. Calhoun's contributions to boating safety and water rescue education have earned him this recognition. As an aquatic resource program specialist with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC), Calhoun has dedicated 35 years to improving safety and training on Pennsylvania's waterways. His efforts have significantly impacted boating safety education both in the Commonwealth and beyond.

In addition to his role with the PFBC, Calhoun is a full-time professor and coordinator for the park and recreation management program at Butler County Community College, where he teaches paddling, boating, and water safety. His expertise has been recognized nationally and internationally, with presentations at conferences, including one in Australia in 2022. Over the years, Calhoun has instructed training programs in 14 states, spreading his knowledge and passion for boating and water safety far and wide. Congratulations Chris Calhoun! Read the full press release. 

Marcus Bowling

Marcus Bowling, of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, 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.

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. Congratulations Marcus Bowling! Read the full press release. 

Wildlife Officer Scott Murdoch
Colorado

Scott Murdoch, a dedicated wildlife officer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), has been named the NASBLA Western Region Educator of the Year for 2024. Murdoch began his career as a district wildlife manager in Grand Lake, where he seized every opportunity to be on the water, patrol, and educate the public on safe boating practices. Despite moving to Area 1, which lacks water bodies, Murdoch continues to regularly patrol the large reservoirs in South Park. He is a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Officer Water Survival Instructor as well as a National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) Close Quarters and Open Water Boating Instructor.

Each year, Murdoch instructs at various Basic Marine Operator Training (BMOT) sessions across the Northeast Region and other parts of Colorado. His most significant contribution to boating safety in the state is his tireless planning and expertise at the BMOT in Grand Lake. Murdoch ensures that new officers are well-versed in boat safety and proficient in operating vessels. As hiring classes grow, his unwavering commitment to leading planning and logistics has been crucial to the program’s success. Without his dedication, the program would likely falter. Congratulations Wildlife Officer Scott Murdoch! Read the full press release.