Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

An MIT group has brought inner-city students onto the water as part of a program designed to raise their confidence and achievement.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

The program blends athletics and rigorous academics.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Ron Rosenberg, left, and Noam Angrist, center, co-founded Amphibious Achievers. They have recruited 30 mentors for 40 students.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Angrist, right, sometimes starts practice five minutes early, mimicking a tactic he learned from high-powered CEOs.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Students arrive at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. They have two hours of classroom instruction and two hours on the water.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

The tutors use games to connect with students in the classroom. One example: "Get Triggy with It," a rap game for trigonometry.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Rowing is foreign for many of the students. “You can’t play pickup rowing,’’ says Angrist. “It’s not like pickup baseball or basketball."

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Rosenberg is heartened by reaction from parents who've said their children are "more disciplined" and "happier."