In June 2011, Row New York senior Kalieha Nozile claimed victory in her race for student body president at Flushing’s John Bowne High School. Row New York recently sat down with Kalieha between erg pieces to reflect on the challenges of leadership and her tenure so far.

As the president, “I’m basically in charge of everything,” Kalieha said. “Dances, plays, concerts, whatever’s going on in school basically. Me and the people I work with are in charge of putting everything together [including] the calendar, the PA announcements, everything.”

Kalieha’s urge to take on these responsibilities was born of her previous leadership experience. “I ran because I was a part of the student union for three years and I also was part of Leadership, a program for freshman that teaches [students] basically how to do everything I know how to do now…making flyers, making posters,” and more. After that, she decided to lead in her own right: “I just decided I wanted to be more hands-on and in-charge of the whole process…I knew all the presidents that came before me, so I just thought that their position was really cool.”

On Election Day, Kalieha was barred from electioneering and campaigning, instead relying on her wide network of friends and surrogates. They formed a key part of her victory. News of her win was not made public until the last day of the 2010-2011 school year. “I was able to go home and celebrate!” she said.

After the euphoria of victory, the reality and the challenge of governing set in. Having already been trained in the mechanics of how the student council works, Kalieha found the hardest aspect of her current job the interpersonal one. She called the biggest challenge “working with others and making sure that everyone is doing their part…the student union helps me get things done so I have about thirty students who are under me and they help me out with everything I need to get done and the hardest part of that is just to get everyone moving. I don’t like being very demanding…but I get it done.”

For Kalieha, distaste for a demanding style posed a special leadership dilemma: “How do you do things in such a way that you’re nice [but] you’re not too overbearing and too bossy…it’s hard to find the balance in between.”

Kalieha’s willingness to take on these challenges is a facet of her personality, and strongly affected by her family life. “I just feel like I was always a leader,” she said. “I’m the older sister and growing up I was always around my mother and my aunt who were much older, so from childhood I just always had to be the more mature person.”

Row New York is glad to have Kalieha’s leadership and maturity in our program. We wish her good luck during the rest of her tenure as president.

Row New York’s masters and adaptive rowers helped inaugurate a new tradition in Port Washington, Long Island this past Sunday. The Gold Coast Classic indoor regatta, hosted by Port Rowing of Port Washington, featured events for lightweight and heavyweight novice and varsity, masters, adaptive, and more.
Row New Yorkers displayed their prowess in several events. In the Masters Women’s 30-39 event, Row New Yorkers Beth Collins and Ara Hodge pulled first and second, respectively. In the Masters Women’s 40-49 event, Su Ignaciuk pulled second. All three athletes, plus Danika Durant, vanquished 2Ks. Supported at the event by his family, adaptive athlete Eric completed a 500-meter piece coxed by Row New York coach Isake Smith as well as his own brother. Coaches Adam Berger and Liz Savarese were on hand to cox our rowers as well.

In a special highlight, Jason Read, the 2001 and 2004 US Rowing Male Athlete of the Year and gold medal winner in the 2004 Men’s Eight in Athens, addressed all participants during the mid-day break from racing.

Many thanks to Coach Steve Panzik of Port Rowing for organizing the regatta and inviting Row New York. We are especially grateful for his partnering with Isake Smith to create the adaptive event.

Congratulations to all our impressive rowers. Pictured above: Beth, Ara, Su, Eric.

As noted in Part I of this series, Row New Yorkers are driven and motivated young women. Short of actually meeting them, few things convey these qualities like personal statements and essays. A college essay excerpt by Veronica Castillo is below. Her deep empathy and maturity are on display in this passage.

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“My mother inspires me because she has taught me that sometimes things will not come easily and we must work hard for what we want.”

My mother, Tiffany Mendez, was born in 1975 in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of two substance abusers. At just a couple of weeks old, my mom was baptized by a woman who would become her life saver. Abandoned by her birth parents, my mother was adopted by her godmother. Her adoptive mother was a single parent with two other children, but she raised my mom as her own.

…

My mom’s experiences have taught me the value of a good education. As a child, she had many unstable encounters with school because of financial issues. My mom attended public school in East New York for a couple of years but then left for boarding school. She made the sacrifice to leave her family behind for her own education recognizing how valuable this experience would be for her. This made me realize that sometimes people must make sacrifices with the knowledge that they will become stronger and more independent in the long run.

…

My mom has a day job, goes to school in the evening, and comes home to three children. I think that is simply amazing. Now that I am in my last year of high school and ready to attend college I fully realize how much my mother has done for me. She motivated me in many ways and words cannot express how appreciative I am for it all. I am also extremely proud of my mother because she always knew what she wanted and has worked hard to achieve it. My mother has taught me that family comes first, while demonstrating the importance of education. This is why my mother is and always will be the most influential person in my life. She will be my inspiration as I begin the next chapter in my life as a college student.

Congratulations to middle schoolers Vanessa E. and Michelle P., both named student-of-the-month at their respective middle schools, IS 204, and IS 73. They received their awards this month. The awards were given out for going above and beyond normal expectations.
Michelle, in eighth grade, and Vanessa, in sixth, were both excited to win. “I was excited,” Vanessa said. “And really happy.” Her friends leaked the news to her before the teacher. Michelle won for the second time, the first time having been in third grade. “I was happy because I had to wait five years!”

Row New York asked each girl to describe the best qualities of the other. “She’s very calm,” Vanessa said of Michelle. “I think she’s smart.” Michelle called Vanessa “very nice” and added, “She likes reading so I think she’s very smart.” Both girls displayed their smarts in their favorite classes. For Michelle, math, and for Vanessa, English language and math.

Row New York congratulates both girls on their awards.

Row New Yorkers are driven and motivated young women. Short of actually meeting them, few things convey these qualities like personal statements and essays. An excerpt from Tenzin Khangkar’s essay submitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison is below. The passion that won her admission is remarkable – and made plain here.

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“…If there is something I truly love or care about, I need to give it my all to achieve it.”

Like many others, I have a goal that I have set my mind to – becoming a dentist. Since my childhood years in Nepal and India, I witnessed many people who were unable to showcase a perfect smile. Many of them wanted to have straight teeth and be confident in their smiles. When they saw anyone with straight teeth, they would exhibit jealousy. Many of them were not even aware that an orthodontist existed to help them achieve the object of their desire. I have always wanted to help fill this void and help people with their dental issues. In addition to achieving my goals in the United States, one of my dreams is to travel back to my hometown and provide the people there with the smiles they have always wanted.

We begin a new series today: Row New York staff profiles. Today’s staff member is Adam Berger, one of our community and adaptive rowing coaches. If you’ve been in Row New York’s office, you’ve seen Adam. You can’t miss him. Adam is 6’4, but a gentle giant. That’s why our adaptive and community rowers love him.

Adam recently graduated from Dowling College on Long Island. While earning a Bachelor of Science degree in sports management at Dowling, Adam distinguished himself as one of the fiercest of the Dowling Golden Lions. He started rowing in the fall of 2007. In 2009, Adam stroked the Men’s heavyweight four that medaled at the 2010 Dad Vail regatta.

Adam’s been taking care of business, too – the sports business. While at Dowling, he won internships in marketing and community relations with the New York Islanders and the East Coast Conference.

The dedication to something greater that led Adam to Row New York was not new. He displayed this commitment when he coached and mentored children ages 7 to 10 through the North Babylon Youth League.

When not paired, Simon and Garfunkel-style, with his coaching partner Isake Smith, Adam enjoys riding the Long Island Railroad and going to Pizza Hut, a place where he has a standing invitation to dine with this blogger.

Thanks to Adam for his excellence at Row New York!

In mid-November, Row New York junior Shannon McCann received an important email. She was asked by the senders to forward her most recent erg test scores, her height, and her weight. She obliged, since the senders were offering her an exceptional opportunity. She was being considered for selection to join twenty-three other girls from around the country for the Junior National Team’s Winter High Performance Camp. From December 9 to December 12, she would be out on the water in eights, pairs, and straight fours, and on land pulling erg tests. Shortly after sending in her scores, Shannon received word that she had been selected.

For Shannon, such opportunities were not unprecedented. Last June, she was selected for the US Rowing Junior National Team’s Summer High Performance Camp. She trained alongside other elite juniors at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Another similarly rewarding experience was not to be passed up.

After being selected for the Winter High Performance Camp, Shannon said, “My initial thoughts were that I had a short amount of time to get into the best shape that I possibly could. At Row New York, the mid to late November stretch is pretty light so that there is almost a rest period before going into a long round of winter training. In order to be ready for camp though, I jumped right into winter training-style workouts.”

Shannon would need those workouts. The Winter High Performance Camp is designed to give rowers a window on the demanding levels of excellence expected of them if they seek a spot in the summer’s Selection Camp and on the Junior National Team. Shannon said this window was one of the most valuable parts of the camp. “This camp also gave me a chance to see where I am in relation to the level I will be expected to be. I was given some major changes to improve on, on both the erg and the water, and am keeping them all in mind as I train this winter.”

Shannon also appreciated the new environment, both the facilities – “We rowed out of the Austin Rowing Center, on a beautiful river much longer than Meadow Lake! It was definitely a nice change of scenery,” – and the social scene: “I met a lot of girls who had been on the Junior National Team this summer, as well as some girls who had never been involved in anything with the Junior National Team before. It was nice to meet a bunch of new girls, as well as some that I had been friends with this summer when I was on the High Performance Team.”
There were new rowing experiences that, for Shannon, lent the whole experience much more color. “I think the best part of the trip for me was having a chance to row in boats that we don’t have at RNY, like the pair and straight four.”

For those new experiences, Shannon said, “I’d like to thank all my coaches – both past and present – for providing me with all the workouts I would need and supporting me throughout my training.”

With her work ethic and dedication, Shannon has seemingly left little to chance, but as she moves toward accomplishing her future goals, Row New York wishes her the best of luck.

Row New York has three rewarding career opportunities for excellent candidates. We seek an assistant middle school rowing coach and two high school coaching assistants. Inquiries should be directed to Director of Rowing, Jennie Trayes, at Jennie@rownewyork.org. Full information is below.

Announcement

Row New York is a unique non-profit organization that combines intensive rowing activities with individualized academic support to empower girls from under-resourced communities in New York City to build strength, gain confidence, and pursue excellence through the sport of competitive rowing.

Job Title: Assistant Middle School Rowing Coach

Row New York is looking for a highly responsible, adaptable, and energetic individual to coach our middle school participants within the context of our daily rowing program. The assistant coach will work between Row New York’s main office in Long Island City and the boathouse in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park. An excellent candidate is an experienced rowing coach and is committed to sports based youth development.

Responsibilities:
1) Coach participants: assist Head Coach in training middle school girls to row both indoors on rowing machines and on the water
2) Assist with transportation to and from practice
3) Serve as a positive role model for all participants

Qualifications:
1) Knowledge of rowing (at least two years of competitive experience)
2) BA or BS preferred
3) Strong communication skills (both written and verbal)
4) Clean driver’s license and comfortable driving a 15-passenger van preferred
5) Experience working with young people from diverse backgrounds a plus

Schedule: Mondays and Fridays starting February 6th through May 19th 4-7pm.

Compensation: This position is paid $20/hour, with a minimum of $60 per session.

Interested candidates should send the following documents to jennie@rownewyork.org with “MS Assistant Application” in the subject line:
1) Resume
2) Cover letter including a brief description of your background and interest
3) Three references

Job Title: Assistant Rowing Coach

Row New York is looking for two highly responsible, adaptable, and energetic individuals to coach our high school participants within the context of our daily rowing program.

Responsibilities:
1) Coach participants: assist Head Coach in training high school and middle school girls to row indoors on rowing machines and on the water
2) Assist with transportation to and from practice
3) Travel to regattas when you are available
4) Serve as a positive role model for all participants

Qualifications:
1) Knowledge of rowing (at least two years of competitive experience)
2) BA or BS preferred
3) Strong communication skills (both written and verbal)
4) Clean driver’s license and comfortable driving a 15-passenger van preferred
5) Experience working with young people from diverse backgrounds a plus

Schedule: Opportunity to coach for minimum one day each week, maximum five days each week, Mon-Fri 4-7pm, Sat 9am-12pm. Please let us know if you are interested in any or all of the days.

Compensation: This position consists of numerous professional development and travel opportunities. The position also provides the individual with a rewarding and meaningful experience coaching rowing.

Interested candidates should send the following documents to jennie@rownewyork.org:
1) Resume
2) Cover letter including a brief description of your background and interest

Meeting the challenge of an often-daunting college financial aid process, Row New York seniors and their parents recently participated in two workshops at our Long Island City office. Ralph Glover and Calesher Ellis of The Financial Clinic, assisted by Darise Jean Baptise and Row New York staffers, offered two sessions on January 2 and January 9.
On Monday the 2nd, Glover provided a financial aid process summary. He reviewed important informational materials, answered college cost questions, and helped families prepare to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A week later on Monday the 9th, Glover was joined by Calesher Ellis. The two walked seniors and their families through the FAFSA application itself, with half of those present finishing the form on the spot.

The Financial Clinic is uniquely placed to aid Row New York seniors in this process. The Clinic exists to improve working families’ financial mobility by addressing their current needs and making plans for long-term financial security. With college aid season in full bloom, a number of Row New York families are benefiting greatly from guidance of this type. Row New York is grateful to Mr. Glover and Ms. Ellis for offering their services. Our seniors are looking forward to more financially secure and manageable college educations.

Row New York welcomed Elizabeth Har to our staff and extended rowing family this week as an Assistant Novice Coach. Elizabeth is our new Assistant Novice Coach, working closely with Novice Program Director Ryan McCarthy and Program Assistant Liz Savarese to guide the novice girls to athletic and academic excellence. Elizabeth comes to Row New York through AmeriCorps and Coach Across America. A 2011 graduate of Tulane University, she holds a BA in Classical Studies.
A rower beginning in 8th grade, Elizabeth stroked the Greenwich Water Club’s first varsity women’s boat to medal at the Connecticut Public School Rowing Association State Championship her senior year in high school. In college, Elizabeth rowed or coxed all four years, ending her career as Tulane’s Vice Commodore.

Elizabeth’s many interests have led her to intern at architecture firms, a documentary film company, and an auction house. In addition to her new duties at Row New York, she currently tutors elementary through high school students at Greenwich Education Group.

We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth to the Row New York office and community!