Support Cal Women's Crew

JILL COSTELLO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

This is a scholarship fund in memory of Jill Costello, a former coxswain for Women's Crew. This fund supports scholarships for Women's Crew athletes at the University of California, Berkeley. Cal Athletics will seek donationsand expand funds for the Jill Costello Memorial Scholarship fund on a yearly basis to Women's Crew student-athletes.

Jill Costello, a coxswain for the Golden Bears, was diagnosed with lung cancer upon returning from the 2009 NCAA Rowing Championships. Despite battling the illness throughout the 2010 season, she continued to train and compete with the Bears. An inspiration to her teammates for her courage, determination and resolve, Costello coxed the varsity 8+ to the 2010 Pac-10 Championships and to a second place finish at the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championship. During her senior year season on the Golden Bear Women's Crew Costello made the Pac-10 All-Academic second team and was named the Pac-10 Women's Rowing Athlete of the Year. She was awarded the Joseph McDonnell Kavanagh Award as Cal's 'Most Inspirational Student-Athlete' and received the Women's Crew Bettina Bents award for loyalty, proficiency and spirit. Costello passed away just weeks after her graduation from Cal in May 2010 with a degree in political economy. In 2011 Costello was awarded the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame Service Award and in 2012 was one of two recipients of the NCAA Inspiration Award, presented to a current coach or administrator or to a current or former varsity student-athlete who, when confronted with a life-altering situation, used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the event and now serves as a role model to give hope and inspiration to others.

WOMEN'S CREW ANNUAL FUND

Become a Women's Crew game changer! A gift to Cal Women's Crew helps create champions on the water, in the classroom and beyond. Your continued support of Cal Women's Crew provides critical support for the program including scholarships, equipment and exceptional coaching - the tools necessary to uphold a program that has won 6 National Championships and 6 Pac-10 Championships. The teamwork required to accomplish such success is reflected in each Cal Women Rower's academic discipline, service to the Cal community and success beyond campus.

Cal Women's Crew Highlights

NUMBER OF FORMER CAL WOMEN’S ROWERS IN THE OLYMPICS = 4

• 2008 Beijing - 1 Gold in the 8
• 2004 Athens - 2 Silvers in the 8
• 1984 L.A. - 1 Gold (in cycling)

NUMBER OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS = 6

• 1980 - Women's Varsity Eight
• 1980 - Women's Varsity Four
• 1981 - Women's Varsity Four
• 2005 - Women's Varsity Eight
• 2006 - Women’s Crew
• 2011 - Women's Varsity Four

FORMER CAL WOMEN’S ROWERS IN THE NEWS:

• In the past three years 2 former Cal Women’s rowers have received USRowing's Female Athlete of the Year Award- Julie Nichols (‘00) in 2011; Erin Cafaro (’06) in 2009.
• Silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in the double skulls won by Megan Smith