2023–24 STANFORD ROWERS ENGAGE IN COMMUITY
Initialize Stanford Participation in the Growing STEM to Stern Program.
During the spring of ’23, Rising Senior Fiona Mooney and her teammates were in the middle of their quest to a National Championship. She felt the intensity of training and racing while balancing the demands of being a full–time student. The camaraderie and teamwork that defines Stanford Women’s Rowing kept Fiona and her team focused. While they had all earned their spots, Fiona realized how fortunate she and her teammates were to have the opportunity to row for Stanford. Fiona was aware of the STEM to Stern Program, a community–based program focused on expanding accessibility and inclusion in rowing, and asked Coach Biging Harmon how Stanford might become part of it. Her coach connected her with nearby NorCal Crew and Fiona began coordinating Stanford’s participation in their STEM to Stern program.
STEM to Stern originated in Wisconsin and now boasts 25 programs nationally. Their approach is unique, focusing on middle school–age kids and building accessibility on both the athletic (Stern) and academic (STEM) aspect of the sport. STEM to Stern draws on collaborative partnership within each community, so as to build programs with resources and continuity.
David Banks ‘07, who is on the STEM to Stern Board, as well as the Oakland Strokes Board, describes what makes it work:
“In short, it’s a program that helps introduce kids to rowing in communities where there typically has been a lack of access and opportunity. The local program is built and supported by partners in the community, a college or university, and volunteers. The program helps manage food, transportation, and other services so that participants show up to rowing practice as just regular middle schoolers, not part of a special program.”
Banks also describes what makes it more dynamic than many learn–to–row or school–visit type activities:
“We have a solid (and free) middle school pathway, ready to offer the next day after a learn–to–row event or school visit. We time those events to coordinate with the start of a STEM to Stern session, so we don't have to wait months after the excitement of an event until we can get kids in a summer camp or similar.”
Stanford’s participation has been entirely on an opt–in basis with a handful of rowers at a time going to STEM to Stern practices. They help lead part of practice and tailor it to the middle school athletes. That often looks like showing them the sequence of a rowing stroke, building familiarity on the ergs, or spicing it up a bit with erg relays!
Athletes also engage in the STEM portion of the program, getting the middle schoolers to on–campus programs that expose them to areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Fiona and her teammates have helped coordinate programs bringing the middle schoolers to programs held at the Graduate School of Education and the Medical School.
Mooney describes how she and her teammates manage to juggle a STEM to Stern commitment while rowing and being a full time student:
“STEM to Stern set up a structure that made our participation very easy. I coordinate blocking out times that work for both STEM to Stern’s schedule and ours, then get all of the athletes who want to participate signed up. Honestly, it’s really fun!!! So, it’s a welcome break from studying and practice.”
Mooney shares what participating in STEM to Stern has meant to her:
“Something we talk about amongst the team is the importance of having balance and things you care about outside of classes and practice. And while this definitely falls within the category of rowing, it matters in its own right, so it has been a great addition to our overall Stanford student–athlete experience.”
“Rowing has taught me so many invaluable lessons including introducing me to teammates who will be lifelong friends. And rowing is not a sport done halfway, one has to go all in, fully commit. So just as we look past personal erg scores and boat placements to consider the team as a whole, we have the opportunity to look beyond our team successes and consider our potential impact on the rowing community as a whole. Participating in STEM to Stern is an opportunity for us to share rowing with some incredible middle schoolers who might not get introduced to rowing if it weren't for the program. Some will go forward with rowing and have their own successes and invaluable lessons. That’s good for the rowing community.”
Editor’s Note: We are so proud of The Stanford Rowing Community. When US Rowing launched the 2023 fundraiser for STEM to Stern, new participant Stanford was pitted against Texas, Princeton, Wisconsin, and Brown in a challenge to outraise the others. Our community came through!
All three Stanford squads engaged in the Stanford fundraiser, yet at the 1500 mark, we were down a couple of lengths of open water to the field. That’s when Coxswain René Spellman ‘06 made the call for the ‘00s alums to take the rate up . . . Nearing the line, Stanford was even, and with one last massive Power $10K, Stanford pulled away from the field.
