By Ariana Harvin, ‘13
St. Bonaventure University will host the National Girls and Women in Sports Day on April 23.
Local high school girls and their coaches will participate with St. Bonaventure’s female student-athletes and staff in sporting event programs throughout the day.
Students from the following schools will attend: Allegany-Limestone, Archbishop Walsh, Austin Area Schools, Bath, Bolivar-Richburg, Bradford, Cuba-Rushford, Franklinville, Frewsburg, Jamestown Lutheran, Olean, Portville and Southwestern.
After 9 a.m. registration, students will listen to a keynote address from Mary Jane Telford, director of constituent relations in the Admissions Office at SBU.
“I try to rotate each year with someone connected to the university and someone outside the university,” said Paula Scraba, associate professor of physical education at SBU who organizes the annual event. “Telford works in admissions and was inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame.”
.jpg "The SBU lacrosse team works with area girls at the 2012 Women in Sports Day.")
The high school students will participate in two 45-minute clinics. Students can choose from softball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, swimming, cross-country, rugby and a rock wall fitness challenge presented by Army ROTC.
At noon, students and their coaches will enjoy lunch at Aramark dining facilities on campus, courtesy of St. Bonaventure students.
“If it wasn’t for the generosity of our students, Aramark and the cooperation of faculty and staff, I wouldn’t be able to do this event,” Scraba said. “Students donate a lunch from their meal plans to the female high school students. That’s about 400 to 450 athletes and coaches.”
Tours of the campus will be given to students who are interested in learning more about the university.
The day will end with a SBU women’s softball game. The game is optional for students and their coaches to attend.
The National Girls and Women in Sports Coalition started in 1987 in remembrance of Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball player who died in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan.
The NGWSD’s mission is to “develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities for all girls and women through relevant research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies and programming in a manner that promotes social justice and change.”
|