Si View Aquatics Recreation Supervisor Bridget Verhei has been named the Competitor Aquatics Professional of the month for February 2018 by the Association of Aquatics Professionals. Each month, the association recognizes an Aquatics Professional who has risen above the competition in the field.

Verhei’s aquatics experience began at age 3 when her mother signed her up for swimming lessons but she refused to get in the pool. At age 5, she asked to be put back in, and moved up three levels in one day. After that, she quickly progressed through the lesson program and joined the competitive swim team and a summer swim team.

She did not plan on making aquatics a career, but after losing her aunt in a river rafting accident at age 12 she knew she wanted to be an aquatic professional and make a difference in the lives of others.

Verhei serves as the Aquatic Recreation Supervisor at Si View Metro Parks. Her favorite part of the job is growing the staff professionally and in turn making the community a better place. She has seen children in the community go from swim lessons to junior lifeguarding to paid staff. She instructs American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Instructor courses for Si View and several other local agencies.

She also volunteers for the American Red Cross as a Water Safety Instructor Trainer Educator and a Lifeguard Instructor Trainer Educator. She has presented at the Association of Aquatic Professionals and the Washington Recreation and Park Association conferences, served as the Aquatic Network president, and on three different conference committees.