Photo Credit: San Miguel Academy Newburgh
On Wednesday, May 8, San Miguel Academy welcomed USRowing CEO Amanda Kraus and Arshay Cooper of A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund for a boat launching ceremony at Donohue Park in Cornwall-on-Hudson, presided over by Mayor Jim Gagliano. The Lucy D, donated by Patrick Donnelly in honor of his wife, Lucy, both of whom were in attendance, was christened and launched. Arshay Cooper, who grew up on the southside of Chicago amid family instability and gun violence, and now works to create access to the sport of rowing, remarked: “For me, rowing was simply not an introduction to sports, it was an introduction to wellness. When you find that wellness, you find self-love. And when you find self-love, you begin that journey to love others. It’s hard to be a better angel to the world if we’re not a better angel to ourselves. And that’s what rowing does.” Amanda Kraus, who started Row New York which also works to bring rowing to people of diverse backgrounds, gave encouraging remarks about the hard work and commitment of San Miguel rowers: “I see what you are going to become.” The rowers then gave a brief rowing display along the shore of the Hudson River.
San Miguel Academy Rowing is among the largest scholastic middle school rowing programs in the country, and one of the largest rowing programs for low-opportunity children. With both competitive and non-competitive tracks, San Miguel Academy’s rowing program has grown significantly in recent years, with 100% of the student body now benefitting from the program. The rowing program improves the health and well-being of students and creates access to rewarding educational opportunities that support our school’s mission to break the cycle of poverty through education. San Miguel Academy and the rowing program are nearly 100% scholarship-driven, serving low-opportunity youth in a city struggling with systemic poverty and unrelenting violence.
For the third year in a row, SMA rowers have their sights set on the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, FL in June. SMA Rowing is ranked in the top ten after the 2023 USRowing Youth National Championships.
