Samantha Smith, a 1999 graduate of Fordham College, was a four-year member of the varsity crew for the Rams, leading the top shell to four straight Atlantic 10 titles, a first for a Fordham women's rower.
 
As a freshman, Smith walked on to the squad and made the top crew, the varsity open weight four, helping the crew win the Atlantic 10 Championship and finish second at the Dad Vail Regatta.
 
As a sophomore, Smith again made the top crew and again won the Atlantic 10 title. That year, she also won the Dad Vail and would have qualified for the NCAA Championships as the Dad Vail winner received an automatic bid. Unfortunately, Fordham was not eligible that season because of their club status. However, Smith did go on to race at Women's Henley in England as a sophomore and made the final four of thirty international college crews.
 
In her junior year, Smith was in the top four again, winning the Atlantic 10 Championship for the third year in a row and also repeating as the Dad Vail Champion.
 
Smith's senior year brought her another Atlantic 10 Championship and Dad Vail title. Her crew also went undefeated for the spring season and added a New York State Championship to their list of accomplishments. As a senior, Smith made a return trip to Henley where she suffered a severe injury during the regatta. After receiving medical clearance, she went on to race three more times and made the final four among twenty-nine international university crews.
 
Smith's three victories at the Dad Vail mark the only victories the Fordham women have ever had at the Dad Vail.