Ben Washburne

Ben received the 2023 John A. Shaw Award for Commitment, Perseverance, and Commitment at Williams College. He was selected 2023 All-NESCAC Second Team. He won the 2018 Crew Coaches Award for Leadership and Dedication at Hopkins School. Ben enjoys fishing, traveling, eating good food, and learning. He is a diehard Denver Broncos fan, a big country music fan, and definitely has a sweet tooth. Bens dad rowed in college and encouraged him to learn. Ben lists his grandfather, Walter Koski, as his personal here because he grew up in a poor immigrant family to become very successful through hard work. Walter had a devastating stroke later in life, leaving half his body paralyzed. While they said he would never walk again, he not only learned to walk again but is still doing so 25 years later and is more positive than anyone else Ben knows. When hes done rowing, he wants to work in the green energy industry, which he finds as both exciting and critically important work. His favorite place to compete is Lake Onota, the Williams College home course. He enjoys traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Bens favorite band is Lynyrd Skynyrd, and his favorite song is Simple Man. His second favorite band is Nirvana. His favorite books are Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. He also played water polo in high school.