LA Rowing Program Helps Inner City Teens Get Into College

MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA.com) —A Marina Del Rey rowing program helps inner-city teenage girls launch their college careers.

Liz Greenberger founded the non-profit "Row LA" in September 2009. It's the only athletic and academic program working with urban high school girls.

"(I thought) we should really tap into the public high school girls in the city of LA and give them the opportunity to use this water as a way to get into college," Greenberger said.

The girls have a tutoring session on Mondays and rowing lessons every other day after school.

"I have more discipline and I've met more people, and it's just really changed everything," said rower Ellie Mark.

"I've seen improvement in my grades since before and after rowing," said Michelle Castanaza.

For girl's who row, there are more than 2,000 scholarships available to colleges across the country.

Culver High School student Teresita Lozano, 16, says in just three years, the team has already started making an impression.

"Our past season, Long Beach didn't think we were that capable or that competitive until one of our races. We got second place and we got into the finals. And they were really shocked," she said.