University News

National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebrated at WIU

January 16, 2015

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University will commemorate the 29th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) Wednesday, Feb. 4, and will hold celebration activities Saturday, Jan. 31. The theme for NGWSD 2015 is "Game On!"

NGWSD was established in 1986 to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports and to honor Flo Hyman, a member of the 1984 Olympic silver medal volleyball team, who died suddenly while competing in Japan in 1986. Held annually on the first Wednesday in February, the day also serves to recognize the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

WIU President Jack Thomas and Macomb Mayor Mike Inman will sign a proclamation declaring Wednesday, Feb. 4 as National Girls and Women in Sports Day at Western Illinois University and in Macomb. The proclamation will call for the recognition of the role athletics play in the development of young women throughout the country.

Activites surrounding NGWSD are planned on the WIU campus Saturday, Jan. 31, prior to and during the WIU Women's basketball game, and on Wednesday, Feb. 4 when information and resources will be available in the University Union Concourse from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and in the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center Concourse.

Girls ages 8-13, including Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Council, are invited to attend the NGWSD activities Saturday, Jan. 31 to learn about a variety of sports from college student athletes. Volunteers from Campus Recreation, the WIU Women's Center, Campus Girl Scouts, and the kinesiology and recreation, park and tourism administration (RPTA) departments and student organizations will provide activities and resources and information about the importance of fitness, exercise and sports. Participants will then head to Western Hall to watch the WIU women's basketball team play Fort Wayne. All participants and WIU women's teams be recognized on the court at the game.

The cost to participate is $10 per person. Participants will receive a t-shirt, goodie bag, free admission to the game and pizza. General admission tickets to the game may be purchased in Western Hall by parents or others who would like to attend the game but who will not be attending activities earlier in the day.

Advance registration is required, and the deadline for forms and payment to be received has been extended to Thursday, Jan. 22. Girls whose registrations are received by Friday, Jan. 16 will get a t-shirt at the event, and those whose forms are received after that date will get a shirt at a later date, if not available at the event. A waiver signed by a parent/guardian of each girl participating must accompany the registration form. Registration forms and waivers are available at wiu.edu/wc.

Western's NGWSD celebration is sponsored by the Women's Center, Campus Girl Scouts, Campus Recreation, Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the kinesiology and RPTA departments, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois.

NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Coalition. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of organizations such as the Women's Sports Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Women's Law Center and the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE).

For more information, contact the Women's Center at (309) 298-2242 or visit wiu.edu/wc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing