Our Story

First Coast Rowing Club began with a simple idea: that the lessons learned on the water—grit, teamwork, discipline, and confidence—could change the course of a young person's life.

In 1990, that idea took shape at Stanton College Preparatory High School with borrowed equipment and a handful of dedicated students and their teachers. What started as a small high school sport has since grown into a thriving non-profit organization that serves middle school and high school students throughout the Jacksonville area with an unwavering belief that rowing should be accessible to every young person who is willing to work hard. Most join with no rowing experience at all and graduate seasoned rowers with lifelong friendships that began in a boat on the Arlington River. Almost every year, we have seniors who are recruited to continue their rowing career in college.

Over the years, First Coast Rowing Club has become more than a team. It is a launching place for young people to grow. Our athletes have gone on to row for some of the most respected collegiate programs in the nation, continuing their academic and athletic journeys with confidence that was built here at home. Just as importantly, every athlete, from total beginner to national level competitor, carries forward the values that define our program: personal responsibility, resilience, humility, and the understanding that true success is earned one stroke at a time.

Rowing is a uniquely powerful and character-building sport, but it also comes with real financial barriers. Equipment is expensive, travel for races adds up quickly, and regatta fees can be difficult for families to manage. We believe that no motivated young athlete should be turned away because of cost, and that belief is the reason our scholarship fund exists.

Your support helps ensure that any student with the heart, discipline, and desire to row can find a place in a boat, no matter their financial circumstances. It allows us to reach more young people in the Jacksonville area, open doors that might otherwise remain closed, and continue building a community that represents the best of what sports can offer.

Thank you for helping us keep the river open to all.

First Coast Rowing Club Scholarship Fund

By First Coast Rowing Club

First Coast Rowing Club Scholarship Fund