USRowing is pleased to announce the sixth-annual Golden Oars Awards Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Co-hosted by USRowing and the National Rowing Foundation, Golden Oars recognizes excellence in rowing. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the NRF which supports the U.S. national teams and America Rows, a USRowing program that helps to change the lives of urban youth and those with disabilities through rowing.
This year’s event will honor the following award winners for their outstanding performance and contributions to the sport of rowing:
USRowing Medal - Kris Korzeniowski
Male Athlete of the Year - To be announced after Paralympic Games
Female Athlete of the Year - To be announced after Paralympic Games
Jack Kelly Award - Bill Jurgens
Jack Franklin Award - Joan Sholl
Anita DeFrantz Award - Juliana LoBiondo
Isabel Bohn Award - Mark McAndrew
Additional USRowing awards will be announced in September and presented at the USRowing Annual Convention in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday, December 3.
“The 2016 season has been an unprecedented year for achievement in rowing at every level and it's an honor to recognize these members of our community for their commitment, dedication and passion for growing our sport. Each of our honorees has an important story to tell and has gone above and beyond in their respective fields. We congratulate them all," said Beth Kohl, USRowing Chief Marketing Officer and Dinner Chair. “We look forward to another inspiring evening of celebration as we look back at an outstanding year in rowing, celebrate with our Olympians and and look forward to a future that is very bright for all of us in rowing."
Seven Fan’s Choice Awards for athletes and coaches will also be awarded at Golden Oars.
Tickets to Golden Oars are now on sale, click here to purchase. For media accreditation, please contact Allison Frederick Müller at allison@usrowing.org.
For more information on the 2016 Golden Oars Awards Dinner, click here. Sponsorship and tribute ad opportunities are available by contacting Beth Kohl at beth@usrowing.org.
About the Award Winners:
USRowing Medal: Given in recognition to a U.S.-based member of the rowing community who has rendered conspicuous service to, or accomplished extraordinary feats in rowing, the USRowing Medal is the highest honor USRowing can bestow.
2016 Recipient – Kris Korzeniowski: Director of Coaching Education at USRowing, Kris Korzeniowski has become a cornerstone of the sport in the United States. After rowing competitively in Poland for 10 years, Korzeniowski began a career in coaching where his reach has extended from juniors all the way to the Olympic level for countries including the United States, Poland, The Netherlands and China.
As an educator, Kris started the USA certification program in 1989. He is the author of USRowing’s Level I Coaching Manual and has published numerous articles on coaching. He also has produced several coaching videos including “Sculling Fundamentals," “How to Improve Rowing Technique," "Rowing Technique with Kris Korzeniowski" and “The Art of Moving the Boat."
Jack Kelly Award: Awarded to an outstanding individual who represents the ideals that Jack Kelly exemplified: superior achievements in rowing, service to amateur athletics, and success in their chosen profession, thereby serving as an inspiration to American rowers.
2016 Recipient – Bill Jurgens: For over 30 years, Bill Jurgens has been synonymous with Florida Institute of Technology sports. Currently entering his 30th year as the school's athletic director, Jurgens has helped to grow Florida Tech into a strong NCAA Division II program. The FIT athletic department has expanded under his watch to include 22 sports and hundreds of student athletes. Jurgens, 1974 national team member, has been an active member of the rowing community, having sat on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Rowing Association from 1976-1987 and acting as a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Committee from 1977-1980. Jurgens is a steward of the Dad Vail Regatta.
Jack Franklin Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizes an individual for a lifetime of contributions to our sport.
2016 Recipient – Joan Sholl: During the 41 years Joan Sholl has held an officiating license, she has been a trailblazer. First licensed in 1975, Joan remains a staple at regional and national regattas. As a FISA umpire, Joan is the first American woman to have been selected to umpire two Olympic Games. Joan has spent countless hours teaching young referees the skills they will need while providing them with support, guidance and encouragement.
For Joan, rowing is a passion. She has participated as a competitor, crew parent, regatta organizer, fundraiser and referee. Together with her late husband Jack, she has long been a stalwart in advocating for the referee corps. Joan has served rowing in a variety of leadership positions through the years including the USRowing Referee Committee.
Anita DeFrantz Award: Awarded to an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding diversity opportunities in rowing.
2016 Recipient – Juliana LoBiondo: The founder and director of America Rows and Swims Newburgh (ARSN), Juliana Lobiondo has continually changed lives in the Hudson River community. The ARSN makes rowing and swimming more accessible to young athletes in under-privileged areas and currently has 40-60 athletes from at-risk neighborhoods. Lobiondo works hard to bring kids into rowing from all over the city of Newburgh who are from every race and nationality and runs ARSN functions with no government funding.
Isabel Bohn Award: Awarded to an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding rowing opportunities for those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
2016 Recipient – Mark McAndrew: Mark McAndrew has expanded and promoted adaptive rowing for more than a decade. McAndrew was instrumental in getting adaptive events added to CRASH-B's and dedicates his free time to the Spaulding Hospital in Boston. He has helped set up informational adaptive clinics for coaches and has worked closely with the Veterans Administration to help get injured veterans rowing.
About USRowing: USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing has 85,000 individual members and 1,300 member organizations, offering rowing programs for all. USRowing receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors and partners.
About National Rowing Foundation: Founded in 1966, the National Rowing Foundation's mission is to support athletes who pursue excellence in the sport of rowing, with the primary goals of promoting the United States' participation in international competitions, providing for the preservation of rowing history and managing the National Rowing Hall of Fame. For more information please visit www.natrowing.org.
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