Our Crowdfunding Groups
Dear OSU Women’s Rowing Alumni, Family and Friends,
You are receiving this letter because Oregon State Rowing has been a special experience for you or for someone you care about. Rowing is a sport that connects people and changes lives. It is a sport that challenges athletes to dig deeper than they’ve ever dug before and to work together as a team. It is a grueling sport that only the tough can endure. As a result of the hard work that these women devote to this challenge, they walk away with a skill set that allows them to achieve at the highest level, and also with friendships that stand the test of time. You might be someone who put your own blood, sweat and tears into this team or you might be someone who supported a rower or coxswain along her journey. Either way, you understand the power that Oregon State Rowing has to transform these young women into strong, confident individuals who have a deep understanding that they can do anything that they set out to do. It is a special gift – a gift that we would not have the privilege of providing if it weren’t for the efforts of some pivotal women in Oregon State Rowing history. One of these women was Judy Kitzman. Judy was a rower here from 1973-75 and then coached in 1976 and 1977. As Title IX was first becoming a reality, Judy and a few other key teammates and colleagues became instrumental in persuading the University to elevate women’s rowing to an intercollegiate program that was funded by the athletic department. Without the work of Judy and company, Oregon State Rowing would not exist in the way that it does today. It is because of this extraordinary effort that we have decided to name our new Racing 8 after Judy Kitzman.
Because of Judy’s impact on this program, we will be purchasing a new racing 8 this year and naming it in her honor. We have been fortunate to receive an anonymous gift of $25k to help jump start the fundraising process for this boat. Our goal is to match this gift by August 1. There is no better way to honor the path that Judy helped pave for us than to help provide the best equipment for the next generation of OSU rowers. The women on the team today work extremely hard to uphold the tradition and to honor the work of those who came before them. This brand new Pocock Hypercarbon Comp Racing 8 will allow Oregon State rowers to take to the race course in the finest equipment made today, which is exactly what Judy’s efforts warrant.
Over the past year OSU Women's Rowing reached its highest national ranking ever (No. 17) and boasted a CRCA All-American in Lauren Still. Out of the boat, the Beavers had a team GPA of 3.16, 16 All-Academic Pac-12 honorees and five National Scholar Athletes.
As rowing has taught us all, it takes everyone working together to reach our goal. Success in this campaign will put our student-athletes in the best possible position, and equipment, to be successful. Please help us by making a contribution to this project today.
Thank you and Go Beavs!
Emily Ford Head Coach Oregon State Women’s Rowing
