In October 2021, we welcomed Arshay Cooper to campus. He spoke with enthusiasm to students about the benefits of rowing. He described the formative impact of the sport on his life trajectory. As team captain, Arshay was an integral part of the band of brothers they became. His story was featured in the 2020 documentary, A Most Beautiful Thing, narrated by Common. The film was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and Critics’ Choice Award, among other accolades. In the documentary, as in his memoir, and when speaking to our students, Arshay’s message about the advantages of rowing is clear: it promotes team-building, physical fitness, and social-emotional development. Watch a video of the dedication on Vimeo.
In association with the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund supports the work of Arshay Cooper in expanding the sport of rowing into under-resourced communities.
San Miguel Rowing competes in regattas, including the Overpeck Fall Classic and the Head of Schuykill. After San Miguel, some of our rowers have continued with the sport through high school and college