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Posted: Mar 16, 2021

'A Most Beautiful Thing': Wellesley Athletics to Host ZOOM Discussion on April 8

A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING is based on Cooper's memoir about the first African American high school rowing team in the United States (© 2019 Richard Schultz. Courtesy 50 Eggs Films)
A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING is based on Cooper's memoir about the first African American high school rowing team in the United States (© 2019 Richard Schultz. Courtesy 50 Eggs Films)

RSVP for the ZOOM panel discussion: https://forms.gle/hPUJA5y4HaoULKMx6

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics (PERA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, in partnership with LeadBLUE and the Division of Student Life at Wellesley College, will welcome rowing coach and award-winning author Arshay Cooper for a ZOOM panel discussion of A Most Beautiful Thing, a documentary feature film based on Cooper's memoir chronicling the first African American high school rowing team in the United States, on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:00pm ET.

This is a private event for members of the Wellesley College campus community (students, faculty and staff). Please RSVP for the ZOOM panel discussion to participate.

Lorna Li '22, a student-athlete representative on PERA's DEI Committee and a member of the varsity lacrosse team, will moderate the discussion with Cooper, which will include the opportunity for those who register to ask questions. Those who RSVP will have the opportunity to view the film from April 3-8, 2021 prior to participating in the panel discussion. A Most Beautiful Thing can also be streamed now on Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, and Google Play Movies & TV (with a subscription).

RSVP: A Most Beautiful Thing ZOOM Panel Discussion with Arshay Cooper

RSVP for the ZOOM panel discussion: https://forms.gle/hPUJA5y4HaoULKMx6

  • Access to the Zoom Panel on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:00pm ET
  • Private access to watch the Film from April 3-8, 2021
  • The ability to submit/ask potential questions to Arshay Cooper

This is a private event for members of the Wellesley campus community (students, faculty and staff).

Narrated by the Academy Award/Grammy-winning artist, Common; executive produced by NBA Stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade along with Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder; and directed by award-winning filmmaker (and Olympic rower) Mary Mazzio, the film chronicles the first African American high school rowing team in this country (made up of young men, many of whom were in rival gangs from the West Side of Chicago), all coming together to row in the same boat.

Nominated for a Critics' Choice Award, an NAACP Image Award, and nominated for Best Documentary by the International Press Academy, A Most Beautiful Thing was called "amazing" by Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times; "a movie we all need right now" by Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter;  "extraordinary" by film critic Wade Major; an "absolute must watch" by Deadspin, and "one of the best films this decade" by ChicagoNow (garnering a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating).

50% of all profits from box office, film screenings, and license fees from A Most Beautful Thing will be donated to support inclusion efforts in the sport as well as trauma research in low income communities, along with social justice initiatives with the NAACP.

Wellesley Athletics strives for excellence at the conference, regional, and national levels, while providing opportunities for students to achieve their potential and learn the values of discipline, leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility to oneself and others.