Delta State offers Red Cross lifeguard certification for summer jobs

Delta State University is using its Aquatic Center in Cleveland to do more than teach water skills. Its American Red Cross lifeguard certification course gives students and other applicants a credential that can move them into paid summer work while helping pools, camps and youth programs avoid staffing gaps that can cut into swim access.

The university’s latest release said the course is offered through the Delta State University Aquatic Center and is sponsored by the College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences. Those who complete it receive a two-year American Red Cross lifeguard certification, along with hands-on training in lifesaving techniques, emergency response and water safety. In practical terms, that makes the class a direct pipeline from training to seasonal work at recreation sites that need certified guards when the weather turns hot.

Delta State’s continuing-education registration form said a recent class was set for May 27-30, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It required participants to be at least 15 years old and to pass a preliminary swim test on the first night of class. A 2026 university news release also said the course was offered through the Aquatic Center on April 25, underscoring that this is a recurring offering, not a one-time clinic.

The price has been consistent in earlier university flyers. A 2023 flyer listed the fee at $150, plus a $40 certification card charge, and named Ronnie Mayers as instructor. A 2022 flyer showed the same fee and the same instructor. That kind of continuity matters for students weighing whether a short certification can pay off quickly in summer employment and for employers trying to fill a schedule without sending work outside the area.

The American Red Cross says its Mississippi lifeguarding classes teach students how to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies. Delta State University Continuing Education describes its recreational courses as programs built to strengthen skills, knowledge and employability. Put together, the lifeguard class serves both sides of a community need: safer supervision around water and a practical job credential for the next wave of summer hires.