What does a National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Society member, National Latin Honoree, George Washington U. School of Engineering Medalist, and National Merit Commended Scholar Award winner with a 97+ GPA and 800s on his Math and Writing SATs do in his spare time?
By Mitch Silver
What does a National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Society member, National Latin Honoree, George Washington U. School of Engineering Medalist, and National Merit Commended Scholar Award winner with a 97+ GPA and 800s on his Math and Writing SATs do in his spare time? He captains the Rye Crew team and strokes his 4s+cox boat to the State championship.
Is it any wonder the Rye High athletic department has joined with the Rye Lions Club to name senior Grant Janart Athlete of the Month for May? The four-year varsity rower will join the other 2013-14 monthly honorees at an awards dinner at The Osborn Monday, June 9, right before his team leaves for the U.S. Rowing National Championships in California.
“It’s an amazing feeling and kind of unexpected,” Grant told us. “The other sports are much more popular than rowing; I didn’t think we’d be considered.” He smiled and added, “I’m very excited to be chosen.”
It might not have happened but for a broken arm in eighth grade. “When I wasn’t able to go out for football, I looked around for something else to do and found rowing. Now, obviously, I’m hooked.” He’s also a double State titlist, teaming with junior Jim Palmer to win the Scholastic Doubles crown in Saratoga last month, along with the 4s+cox gold.
Incredibly, Janart’s resumé runs another couple of pages. He’s President and Co-Founder of CrewCares, an organization that makes it possible for other athletes to give back to their communities. Grant wrote the handbook that guides athletes through the fundraising process, and his efforts earned a Citation of Merit from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for “leadership in the fight against cancer.” He was Director of Activism at Junior State of America and one of the early youth volunteers with Sole Ryders & Friends, a local non-profit that supports cancer-related programs.
So, where does he go from here? “In the fall I’ll be attending the University of Virginia. It’s a good school and they have a strong club program in rowing.”
Of course, that won’t be until he’s completed his summer internship with Gardiner & Theobald, an engineering and construction management consultancy that’s currently renovating New York’s Whitney Museum. So the moral of the story is: if you want something done, call Grant Janart.
The Rye Lions did.
