Commitment to Broad Access

The Sparks Rowing Foundation is a non-profit organization providing need-based scholarships for Sparks rowing camps and college counseling.

Compliance And Access To Rowing

NCAA bylaw 13.12.1.7 is known as the 'open to any and all rule.' It states everyone at camps where NCAA coaches are employed must pay the same price for camps unless clearly posted guidelines are provided that are open to any and all within the scope of the guidelines. This rule exists to prevent US collegiate programs (notably those in 'revenue sports' - football, basketball, etc.) from providing discounted or free admission to sport camps to athletic recruits of interest. However, the bylaw has an unintended consequence in that the rule can prevents efforts at diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This is particularly important for what some term "non-revenue country club sports." The Dartmouth Lightweight and Stanford men's rowing programs were cut in 2020 (luckily, both were re-instanted) partially as a result of their lack of contribution to their universities' admissions initiatives.

Working together with IceMiller, LLP - an NCAA compliance law firm based in Indianapolis - and contacts at the NCAA itself, Sparks has devised a first-come, first-serve, objectively evaluated camp scholarship scheme in order to provide rowing camp access to a small number of individuals who contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the sport of rowing. Scholarship recepients also are eligible to receive college counseling from our extremely experienced team of Olympians and former Division I collegiate head coaches.

Scholarship Criteria

1. Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first serve basis established at the time of registration submission.

2. Applicants are given two weeks from the time of scholarship registration submission to submit the qualifying paperwork in order to receive a rowing camp scholarship.

3. Qualifying paperwork and number of scholarship slots shall be specific to the camp, but generally comprises the following:
- Proof of Free or Reduced Lunch
- First Generation to University
- Submission of an essay (graded on an objective rubric)

General Donation

100% of every dollar donated goes to paying all of the expenses (lodging, food, coaching, etc) for scholarship athletes to join us at camp. We can provide a receipt for tax purposes.