November 30, 2019

Dear Members of the Admissions Committee:

It is a true honor to write this letter of recommendation for Jalyn Stinardo. I have served as the head
women’s rowing coach at the University of Washington since the fall of 2016 and was Jalyn’s rowing
coach during her senior year. Jalyn is one of the most diligent, determined and committed people I have
had the pleasure to coach. She proved to be an outstanding teammate from the outset who I later
learned had overcome substantial hardship to simply be on the team. In 2017, during her senior year,
Jalyn raced in Washington’s third varsity eight that won the Pac-12 Championship, helping Washington
to a sweep of the conference championship. As a teammate she was a key contributor to our 2017
NCAA Champion team.

Academically, Jalyn was a strong student who fully committed to 18-20 hours of training each week
while taking a rigorous academic load. She was a member of the Dean’s List and earned College Rowing
Coaches Association Scholar Athlete and a PAC-12 Scholar Athlete honors.

Jalyn was a “walk-on” at Washington, which means that she was admitted to the school on her own and
then tried out for a spot on the team. Washington is a Division I program in the NCAA and has been one
of the top programs in the nation since women’s rowing began. Most walk-ons ultimately don’t survive.
Prior to my arrival, Jalyn was deemed to be one of the walk-ons who was not good enough to continue.
When she was formally cut, she instead decided to train at an off-campus Seattle rowing club with the
goal of earning her way back in. Fortunately for us, she was successful. Nonetheless, Jalyn would
overcome additional hardship before her senior year with me. An on-water accident where her coxswain
(boat pilot) rammed Jalyn’s rowing shell into a channel marker at high speed left Jalyn with a broken
thumb and subsequent spinal infection. She was sidelined for the remainder of the Championship
season. Her teammates voted her “Most Inspirational” that spring.

When I arrived the following fall, the Jalyn I remember meeting was calm, friendly—and persistent. In
Jalyn’s senior year, the selection process for the Pac-12 Championship squad was quite rigorous. Jalyn
was versatile. She could row any seat in any lineup. She was tough. She had residual pain from her
injuries, but she never made an excuse and consistently overachieved. Despite being on the small side
for a Division I rower, she made it impossible to overlook her contributions. Most importantly, she was a
steady guide for her teammates. Her perseverance left no room for excuses for anyone else. Jalyn
approached daily workouts with integrity and heartfelt enthusiasm and made it clear to her teammates,
and me, that we were always going to get her best effort.

Jalyn’s enthusiasm for her sport and gratitude for her academic opportunities made her a joy to coach.
Simultaneously, it rubbed off on her teammates, and helped them recognize that striving to be
exceptional was an incredible gift, not a burden.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Yasmin Farooq, Head Coach 650-387-8969 mobile yfarooq@uw.edu
CONIBEAR SHELLHOUSE BOX 354070 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98195-4070 206-685-1677 FAX
www.GoHuskies.com/wrowing
Jalyn has always held herself to the highest standard. She deeply cares about people—inside and out.
Should you accept her, you will be training an inspired, effective and genuinely exceptional human being
—the kind of person who can be wholeheartedly entrusted with the care of those in need. She has my
highest recommendation.

Sincerely,

Yasmin Farooq
Head Coach Women’s Rowing

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Yasmin Farooq, Head Coach 650-387-8969 mobile yfarooq@uw.edu
CONIBEAR SHELLHOUSE BOX 354070 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98195-4070 206-685-1677 FAX
www.GoHuskies.com/wrowing