Liza Gurtin Season 2012-13

The Gurtin File
• Symbolic systems major with a concentration in human-computer interaction
• Interested in how humans interact with technology side of computer and cognitive science and hopes to start a company related to the accessibility to technology for those with visual and auditory impairments
• Worked at Microsoft in Summer, 2014 with the digital marketing team for Windows 10
• Summer of 2013 she did software development for startup in San Diego
• Stanford tour guide, giving two tours a week
• Oral communication tutor
• In high school worked with Project Concern International to start San Diego Walk for Water to raise awareness on water conservation and raise money for wells and water structures in third world countries
• Received a grant for Walk for Water that was donated with the help of the United Nations to a flood emergency project in Ethiopia
• Organized a team fundraising event in 2013 to pledge money for number of hours in winter training to donate to Project Concern
• Enjoys running half marathons, yoga, hiking and public service
• Got start in rowing off recommendation from a man in the grocery store after her asthma got bad and she couldn’t run cross country any more

2014-15 (Junior)
• Team placed sixth at the NCAA Championships and fourth at the Pac-12 Championships
• Missed most of the spring season after recovering from brain surgery in December
• Raced for the first time in the spring with the varsity four, placing fifth at the Pac-12 Championships
• Placed ninth overall with the varsity four at the NCAA Championships, finishing third in the petite final
• Finished second in the collegiate 4+ and 13th in the collegiate 8+ at Head of the American

2013-14 (Sophomore)
• Pac-12 All-Academic second team 
• Team Leader
• Split time between the varsity eight and second varsity eight 
• Placed fourth in the second varsity eight at the NCAA Championships after winning the heat and taking second in the semifinal 
• Won gold in the 2V8 to help Stanford capture its first Pac-12 Championship 
• Led the 2V8 to its first win over No. 2 Cal since 2011 
• Guided the second varsity eight to victories over No. 4 USC and No. 9 Notre Dame at the Lake Natoma Invitational 
• Defeated No. 9 USC a second time with the 2V8 in a dual match at Redwood Shores 
• Defeated No. 16 Louisville and lost to No. 3 Virginia with the second varsity eight at the Pac-12 Challenge 
• Finished second in a pair of varsity eight races at the Oregon State Classic 
• Served as coxswain for the Stanford B boat that finished 15th in the Women’s Collegiate 8+ at Head of the American

2012-13 (Freshman)
• Recorded a fourth-place finish in the I Eight Petite Finals at the NCAA Championships 
• Placed fifth in the II Eight at the PAC-12 Championships 
• Defeated Syracuse in a morning dual race and placed first in a five-team afternoon competition as part of the Four at the Oregon State Classic 
• Downed Oklahoma with the Cardinal Four at the PAC-12 Women’s Challenge
• Came away with a third place finish in the Cardinal Four at the Lake Natoma Invitational

High School 
• A 2012 graduate of Francis Parker School in San Diego, Calif.
• Competed in track and field and cross country 
• Track and field MVP in 2009 and 2010 
• Earned cross country's Coach's Award in 2008 
• Rowed for San Diego Rowing Club from 2010-12 
• Twice competed at Head of the Charles, first with women's eight in 2010 then with master's men's four in 2011 
• Team MVP in 2011, team captain from 2011-12

Personal 
• Born in Evanston, Ill.
• Parents are William and Kay 
• Has one older brother, Grant

Gurtin on Stanford
"Rowing is a defining part of my Stanford experience. Being a student-athlete gives you two major facets of your life you have to balance. Stanford opens up so many opportunities for you both athletically and academically."