As a soldier in the U.S. Marine Corps,
Grant Smith earned several medals, including
the National Defense Service Medal, the
Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait
Liberation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal,
the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy
Unit Commendation, along with various other
combat awards.
Soon after he left the Marines, Smith
started Aqua-Link Pools and Spa, a pool service
and repair company in Oceanside, Calif. His
business quickly expanded into renovations,
new construction and landscaping, which
ultimately led him to join GENESIS and later
Watershape University.
In both endeavors, in service of his country
and in service of the pool and spa industry,
Smith conducted himself with the same
commitment to excellence, honesty, bravery,
intelligence and compassion. He would often
refer to his military experiences whenever he
spoke of aspirational virtues to his employees and students.
After attending the International Pool
| Spa | Patio Expo in November of 2021,
Smith passed away in his sleep. His
passing was devastating to all who knew
him, and reminds everyone that life is
a fragile gift that must not be taken for
granted.
To honor Grant’s unmatched legacy,
Watershape University now awards
Grant’s Grant, a scholarship for a WU
course, to two applicants every year.
To qualify, applicants must be either
an active duty member of any branch
of the U.S. Military, or they must be an
honorably discharged veteran of any
branch of the U.S. Military.
Some of the courses include, but are not
limited to, the following:
- ENGINEERING 2311: Essential Fluid
Engineering Workshop - CONSTRUCTION 2111: Essential Pool
Construction - BUSINESS 3451: Essential Cost
Estimating Workshop
Applications are accepted throughout
the year, and the two winners are
selected on Veterans Day. The winners
will be contacted directly and will
be announced in the WaterShapes
Magazine, as well as on their social
media channels @watershapeORG.
