The William Smith College Athletic Department will celebrate the 27th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Heron basketball game against Skidmore College. The game is scheduled to tip off in Bristol Gym at 2 p.m.
The
William Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is coordinating this year's celebration. Admission to the game is free for all fans. Girls will also receive a voucher for free popcorn. Prior to tipoff, there will be free face painting for fans. During halftime, girls will be invited to participate in relay races and shooting contests on the court.
Immediately following the contest, girls in eighth grade and younger will be given a tour of the Carver-DeLaney Basketball Team Room where members of the Heron basketball team will sign autographs.
William Smith's celebration is one of more than 1,000 events taking place across the country in recognition of NGWSD. Congress has proclaimed this national day each year since 1987. Last year, 350 people attended the Heron's NGWSD game.
NGWSD began as a day to remember
Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Mafan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation and continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
The theme of this year's NGWSD is “Girls in Sports: An Investment in the Future.” According to the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport website, “when young girls participate in sports and physical activity, they learn many life lessons like teamwork and how to win and lose. Girls who play sports also do better in school and are healthier, both physically and mentally, than those who do not.
“Sports build confidence, determination, dedication, focus, and courage to be the best you can be. Success in the business world, on the stage, in the cockpit, or in any other professional venue, can be attained by using the traits learned through playing sports.”
During the fall 2012 semester, William Smith's 259 student-athletes had a collective grade point average of 3.3 with 77 percent recording a 3.0 or higher GPA. Twenty Herons attained a 4.0 or higher GPA. In the athletic arena, William Smith won three conference championships, appeared in three NCAA championship events, and competed for the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Doubles Championship during the fall.
