PHILADELPHIA – On Saturday, March 25, Penn Rowing welcomed more than 200 alumni, current rowers, family, and friends of the program to the Madeira Shell House to celebrate the inaugural Stan Bergman Class Day.
 
Through the effort of a group of alumni from the 1980s and 1990s spearheaded by Robert A. Plotka, C'87, the Stan Bergman Endowment was created in order to rename Class Day, the long-running tradition of Penn Rowing, in the former head coach Bergman's honor. The endowment also established a Stan Bergman Student-Athlete Award, and endowed a Stan Bergman 8-man shell that will be in the boathouse for perpetuity.
 
Former head Coach Ted Nash was also recognized by a group of alumni who helped raise funds for the purchase of a new Empacher 8+. The Ted A. Nash will formally be dedicated at race later this spring.
 
A formal speaking program kicked off the day, with Nicholas B. Paumgarten Head Coach of Men's Heavyweight Rowing Geoff Bond sharing the impact Ted Nash and Stan Bergman had on Penn Rowing.  From there, several alums spoke during the program including John A. Chatzky, Esq., C'78; Garr Di Salvo, EE'87; and Robert A. Plotka, C'87.
 
After the speaking program, the annual boat races took place featuring the undergraduates followed by alumni races.
 
Pictures from the day are available in the slideshow above.