My name is Grace Bruckner, and I am a senior and a team captain on the Creighton rowing team. I am so grateful for our Athletics donors. Your gifts support a well-rounded college experience that prepares more than 300 student-athletes for success after graduation.
When I arrived at Creighton, competing in an NCAA Division I sport was the furthest thing from my mind. I was here at this prestigious university to focus on my dream of becoming a pediatric pharmacist. It actually took my best friend two full semesters to persuade me to join Creighton’s rowing team. Nearly three years later, I can’t imagine where I’d be without this amazing sport, and all the important life lessons that have come along with it.
Like every sport, rowing requires commitment. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. for practices. I devote spring breaks to training. I give up my weekends to compete. It is hard work. But the rewards are incredible!
My sophomore year, our team placed second at the West Coast Conference Championships —Creighton's best finish ever! Last season, we had the privilege of competing in Head of the Charles, a huge regatta on the Charles River in Boston, where thousands of fans stood on the historic bridges and lined the shoreline to watch the race. I will never forget that.
In rowing, success is determined by the strength of the relationships between the girls in the boat. It’s all about sacrifice and collective perseverance. And it doesn’t develop overnight! It takes effort to cultivate team chemistry and establish trust. I am so fortunate to have learned vital leadership and team-building skills, which will one day help me in my pharmaceutical career to inspire and create lasting change.
I hope you will continue your support for Creighton Athletics. Your generosity provides athletic scholarships, supports athletic programs, and makes a difference in the lives of every Creighton student-athlete. You make it possible for me and fellow Bluejays to strive for excellence in the classroom and with our teams. I am grateful every day for what you’ve made possible.
Thank you,
Grace Bruckner