By Jennifer L. Warren
NEWBURGH – Academics, fitness, and service. They have been three of the top priorities in Arshay Cooper’s incredible journey, golden nuggets, which contain the beautiful pathways to a prosperous, balanced and well spent-meaningful life.
Guided by those transformative forces, Cooper returned to a place close to his heart, San Miguel Academy of Newburgh, Monday, joining in on the school’s Annual Reverend Martin Luther King’s Day of Service, highlighted by a Rowing Exhibition Fundraiser. A pivotal member of America’s first all-black high school rowing team, Founder of A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, as well as award-winning author and sought after motivational speaker whose triumphant life’s tale-laden with seemingly insurmountable obstacles- has been detailed in an inspiring documentary along with an assortment of other revered publications, Cooper carried a special message aimed at MLK’s immeasurable legacy.

“This is a day on, not a day off,” Cooper reminded students about the holiday. “My journey started with saying, ‘yes,’ and doing high school rowing, which changed my life- learning to swim, getting healthy with sport as well as seeing the importance of education and really wanting to serve; I think it’s how MLK would want us to be: people who serve, not just today, but every day, helping the person next to you.”
Sixty-four San Miguel Academy of Newburgh students turned those words into tangible actions Monday inside of their school’s gymnasium following Cooper’s motivating remarks.
Surrounded by 20 state-of-the-art ergometers, generously donated by Cooper’s Foundation and diligently used to train year-round, the fifth-eighth graders enthusiastically participated in a Rowing Exhibition, each tallying three kilometers. Their arduous efforts, wielded the lofty goal of a $3000 generous donation of critically needed fiscal support to be divided between two causes: the local Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall NICU and the national Knights of Columbus Relief Fund serving those impacted by the California Wildfires.
“Every year for MLK Day, we promote rowers all over to serve,” said Cooper who formed his Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund in 2021to help under resourced communities in multiple ways, including via their rowing programs. “I grew up in inner-City Chicago very poor and was raised by a single mom, and one of my biggest childhood memories was people coming to our area to provide much needed food, and I want to now continue that service.”

That overriding day’s theme- call to service- was equally felt by another guest at Monday’s Rowing Exhibition, two-time Olympic Rowing Team member, Molly Reckford, who after listening in on Cooper’s inspiring words at her team’s Princeton training center was inspired to donate her earnings from a speaking engagement to his Foundation, knowing, “He can do so much with everything given, and it would go directly to the athletes for opportunities, making it more impactful in his hands.” Then, when she heard from him about his MLK Day venture to San Miguel at an opportune time, Reckford could not have been more excited to lend some priceless guidance and inspiration of her own to the memorable day.
“I went to a small, similar school and dynamic like San Miguel, so I really felt like I could relate to the students here, and having the time to do this now, really worked out well,” said Reckford who could be seen smiling Monday as she interacted with appreciative students, while delivering coaching guidance, energetic support as well as signed treasured autographs in one of the gifts-a nifty rowing cap- San Miguel presented her. “The students here are just so driven with their impressive mindsets; it’s also incredible how they are able to do so much with the infrastructure they have here and having limited resources, such as not having a boathouse or a dock, makes for much more work, and they still accomplish so much.”
Those feats extend far beyond Monday’s philanthropic three kilometers, as they are a year round commitment-in both the classroom as well as in the waters rowing. The special determination and inner drive that resides at the epicenter of so many of the San Miguel Academy students was even further ignited by the presence of two pretty extraordinary people, carrying potent messages-ones undoubtedly heard- on this symbolic day.
“Molly’s speech was very inspiring because her coaches never believed in her when she was younger, but she never gave up and just kept going because she loved rowing so much; it was her true passion,” said 8th grader and fourth year San Miguel Academy student, Aylen Mendez, who just placed second in the grades 7-8 one kilometer race at the Ironman Erg Classic last weekend. “Also, just like Arshay said, I too really want to serve others, and not just today on MLK Day, which still is very special because he believed people from other races and backgrounds should get chances as well, and we should all be united.”