Media Room

Board-Selected Awards

Each year, USRowing honors outstanding athletes, coaches, and volunteers who have made a great impact on our sport and recognizes their contributions through our Annual Awards program. 

To submit a nomination for 2024, please email the name of the nominee, name of the person submitting the nomination, the award for which the person is being nominated, and a brief description (500 words or less) of the nominees’ credentials and why they are deserving of the award to: brett.johnson@usrowing.org.

Nominations are due Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

Below is a list of awards and the criteria for consideration.

USRowing Medal of Honor

Criteria: Awarded to a member of the rowing community in the U.S. who has rendered conspicuous service to, or accomplished extraordinary feats in, rowing. It is the highest honor USRowing can bestow.

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners: 

2023 – Fred Schoch 

2022 – Matt Smith 

2021 – Larry Gluckman 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Christopher I. Blackwall 

2018 – David A. Grant 

2017 – Jim Joy 

2016 – Kris Korzeniowski 

2015 – Steve Gladstone 

2014 – Tony Johnson 

2013 – Rescinded

2012 – Stan Pocock 

2011 – Harry Parker 

2010 – Frank Cunningham 

2009 – Hart and Gillian Perry 

2008 – Mike Teti 

2007 – Not Awarded 

2006 – Not Awarded 

2005 – Not Awarded 

2004 – Clayton Chapman 

2003 – Not Awarded 

2002 – Jack Frailey 

1995-2001 – Not Awarded 

1994 – Anita DeFrantz 

1993 – George Pocock 

1992 – Ernestine Bayer

Jack Kelly Award

Criteria: 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.

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors

Past Winners:

2023 – Ron Chen 

2022 – Bruce Beall 

2021 – Kate Johnson 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Judy Geer 

2018 – Mitch Tamkin 

2017 – John Chatzky 

2016 – Bill Jurgens 

2015 – Ginny Gilder 

2014 – Todd Jesdale 

2013 – Fritz Hagerman 

2012 – Mike Knopp 

2011 – Bill Stowe 

2010 – Not Awarded 

2009 – Vincent J. Ventura 

2008 – Finn Wentworth 

2007 – Finn Caspersen 

2006 – Andrew Sudduth 

2005 – Anne Martin 

2004 – Dr. Jo Hannafin 

2003 – Not Awarded 

2002 – Julian Wolf 

2001 – John P. Cooke 

2000 – Jack Franklin 

1999 – Clayton Chapman 

1998 – Kent Mitchell 

1997 – Dr. Tim Hosea 

1996 – Martha S. Ferguson 

1995 – Richard Cashin 

1994 – Peter and Dick Dreissigacker 

1993 – Charles P. Colgan 

1992 – Jack Frailey 

1991 – Anita DeFrantz 

1990 – William M. Hollenback, Jr. 

1989 – Hart Perry 

1988 – Charles S. Butt 

1987 – Horace E. Davenport 

1986 – Thomas Keller

Anita DeFrantz Award for Advancing Diversity in Rowing 

Criteria: Awarded to an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding diversity opportunities in rowing. 

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners: 

2023 – Steady State Network  

2022 – Richard Butler  

2021 – St. Benedict's Prep  

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Philadelphia City Rowing 

2018 – Jenn Gibbons 

2017 – Arshay Cooper 

2016 – Juliana LoBiondo 

2015 – Judd Anderson 

2014 – Oakland Strokes 

2013 – Chicago Training Center 

2012 – RowLA 

2011 – Row New York

Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing 

Criteria: Awarded to an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding rowing opportunities for those with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners: 

2023 – Unity Boat Club 

2022 – Angela Madsen 

2021 – Paralympic Games PR3 Mixed Four with Coxswain (Karen Petrik, John Tanguay, Charley Nordin, Dani Hansen, and Allie Reilly) 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Patrick Johnson 

2018 – Pat Tirone 

2017 – Jeff McGinnis 

2016 – Mark McAndrew 

2015 – Ellen Minzner 

2014 – Judy Morrison 

2013 – Mark Baiada 

2012 – Oksana Masters and Rob Jones 

2011 – Isabel Bohn

John J. Carlin Service Award 

Criteria: Awarded to honor an individual who has made significant and outstanding commitments in support of rowing. 

Selector: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners:

2023 – Bill Manning 

2022 – Margot Zalkind Mayor 

2021 – Katalin Kariko  

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Chuck Pieper 

2018 – Beth Sala Covin 

2017 – T. Gary Rogers 

2016 – Peter Wilhelm 

2015 – Jack Galloway 

2014 – Ted Kakas 

2013 – Martha Schumaker 

2012 – Dick Bell 

2011 – Yan and Olga Vengerovskiy 

2010 – Albin Moser 

2009 – Not Awarded 

2008 – Amanda Kraus 

2007 – Marc Nowak 

2006 – Chip Davis 

2005 – Gary Caldwell 

2004 – Ed Hewitt 

2003 – Lynn Shannon 

2002 – William Fritz 

2001 – Clete Graham 

2000 – John Garnjost 

1990 – Charles Colgan 

1989 – Peter Gardner 

1985 – William M. Hollenback, Jr. 

1982 – Jack H. Frailey 

1981 – Charles S. Butt 

1980 – Ernestine L. Bayer 

1978 – W. Hart Perry, Jr. 

1977 – Julian Wolf 

1976 – Fred L. Emerson, Jr. 

1975 – George Y. Pocock 

1974 – Horace E. Davenport 

1973 – William J. Knecht 

1972 – Jack T. Franklin 

1971 – Ernest H. Bayer 

1970 – John J. Sulger

The Clayton W. Chapman Award 

Criteria: Awarded to an outstanding individual who emulates Clayton Chapman's 30-year stewardship of the Eastern Sprints and IRA Championships. This person will have consistently served behind the scenes in unrecognized, but important roles, in staging a regatta. The individual may be an athlete, coach, referee, administrator, volunteer or regatta organizer.

Selector: USRowing Board of Directors

Past Winners: 

2023 – Dorothy Lazor 

2022 – Leslie Pfeil 

2021 – Brice Crossley 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Schuylkill Navy River Restoration Committee 

2018 – Mitch Budman 

2017 – Jim Buckalew 

2016 – Polly Whiteside 

2015 – Harry Nyce 

2014 – Bob Whitford 

2013 – Kathy Frederick 

2012 – Tim Royalty 

2011 – Not Awarded 

2010 – Jack St. Clair 

2009 – Not Awarded 

2008 – Not Awarded 

2007 – Allen Eubanks 

2006 – Eric and Deborah Stoll 

2005 – Jon Smart 

2004 – Edward "Ted" Phoenix 

2003 – Lee West  

2002 – Al Wachlin 

2001 – William Leavitt

Man of the Year 

Criteria: Awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to men's rowing and/or to an outstanding man in rowing. 

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners:

2023 – Marc Oria 

2022 – Dave O'Neill 

2021 – Arshay Cooper 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Charlie Hamlin 

2018 – Steve Hargis 

2017 – Randy Benderson 

2016 – Gavin White 

2015 – Gregg Hartsuff 

2014 – H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest 

2013 – Michael Callahan 

2012 – Rob Jones 

2011 – Andrew Campbell 

2010 – Bill Engman 

2009 – Not Awarded 

2008 – Tom Terhaar 

2007 – Conn Findlay 

2006 – Not awarded 

2005 – Rescinded

2004 – Men's Olympic Gold Medal 8+ 

2003 – Not awarded 

2002 – Not awarded 

2001 – Jason Read 

1998-2000 – Not awarded 

1997 – Curtis Jordan 

Ernestine Bayer Award (Formerly Woman of the Year) 

Criteria: Awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to women's rowing and/or to an outstanding woman in rowing. 

Selectors: USRowing Board of Directors 

Past Winners: 

2023 – Ellen Minzner

2022 – Carol Schoenecker 

2021 – Olympic Lightweight Women's Double Sculls (Michelle Sechser and Molly Reckford) 

2020 – Award not given due to COVID-19 

2019 – Chris Ernst 

2018 – Nicole Marek 

2017 – Yaz Farooq 

2016 – Tessa Spillane 

2015 – Megan Kalmoe 

2014 – Joan (Lind) Van Blom 

2013 – Sandy Armstrong 

2012 – 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Eight 

2011 – Mayrene Earle 

2010 – Joanne Wright 

2009 – Not Awarded 

2008 – 1984 U.S. Olympic Women's Eight 

2007 – John and Phoebe Murphy 

2006 – Lori Dauphiny 

2005 – Jan Harville 

2004 – Women's Olympic Silver Medal Eight 

2003 – Not Awarded 

2002 – Nancy Den Besten 

2001 – Not Awarded 

2000 – Martha's Moms 

1999 – Holly Metcalf 

1997 – Dee Ashbaugh 

1996 – Not Awarded 

1995 – Paula Oyer 

1994 – The Women of Washington (Carol Brown, Jan Harville, Jean Laframboise, Eleanor McElvaine) 

1993 – The City of Chattanooga 

1992 – ZLAC Rowing Club 

1991 – Hope Barnes 

1990 – Holly Hatton 

1989 – Sue Ela 

1988 – Not Awarded 

1987 – Margie McHugh 

1986 – Anita L. DeFrantz 

1985 – Elizabeth Hills O'Leary 

1984 – Patricia Pinkerton 

1983 – Debbie Ayars 

1982 – Elizabeth O'Leary