About
Mission
The mission of Friends of Sharks Crew is to foster a community who seek to maintain their Simmons Crew relationships and to encourage maintenance of the university's rowing program at the highest possible level of excellence.
Friends of Sharks Crew is volunteer-run and is not formally affiliated with Simmons University.
History
Nikolay Kurmakov served as a coach, friend, and mentor to nearly three decades of Simmons Crew. For years, Nik envisioned an alumnae/i group that would keep the values and friendships of Simmons Crew alive long after graduation, though previous plans never got off the ground.
Launched in 2020, Friends of Sharks Crew was created by two former teammates and Coach Nik. Though Nik passed shortly after FSC's announcement, we are honored to fulfill his vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? We have an answer! If it's not below, please contact us!Join us as a volunteer! Our Leadership Team is the executive volunteer board behind FSC working to achieve our mission, and is the most consistent and formal way to be involved. If you don't have the capacity to join the Leadership Team, reach out to us about getting involved in other ways. We're fundraising, planning events, reaching out to our community, and more, and can use additional hands throughout the year!
Help us build our database! Know someone out of the loop? Send us their name and contact info and we'll reach out to connect them with FSC and bring them up to speed. We know we have a huge crew community and we're striving to reach everyone.
Drop Us a Line! Have an idea, want to make a specific purchase for the team, or plan to donate something other than cash? We'd love to hear from you and can help direct you to the right people if needed.
How can I donate to the team?
Do I need to be a Simmons Crew alum to be engaged with FSC?
No! Friends of Sharks Crew aims to foster a community of alums, parents, coaches, friends, and more. Anyone with a connection or interest in Simmons or its rowing team is welcome to connect with us and join us at events.
Why are you called Friends of Sharks Crew and not Friends of Simmons Crew?
Because we are a separate entity and not formally affiliated with Simmons University, we have chosen not to use Simmons' name within our own.
