Special Events 4/11/2017 3:04:00 PM Mike Miranto, Associate A.D. For Communications

Daemen's Celebration Of Girls & Women In Sports Week Touted

AMHERST, N.Y. - Events held both on campus and off as part of Daemen College's celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Week from April 3-8 have been hailed as largely successful, director of athletics Bridget Niland announced today.

On-campus events, which were graciously presented by The Advantage Company, included speeches from Boston College Hall of Fame inductee Kathleen Sweet and U.S. Paralympian April Holmes, both of whom spoke in front of Daemen's student-athletes and other invited guests about the impact that competing in athletics has played in their lives. Off-campus events included the East Coast Conference Senior Woman Administrator Professional Series, a day-long retreat attended by Daemen's female athletics administrators and select student-athletes, as well as the Western New York Girls in Sport Service Day held at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena.

"When we started celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day here at Daemen several years ago, I never thought that it would grow into the week-long celebration that it has expanded to now," Niland said. "We were incredibly fortunate to hear from some very inspiring women once again, and I'm positive that our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and invited guests were able to take a lot away from each event. The student-athlete experience and service back to our community are at the forefront of everything we do here at Daemen, and those initiatives continue to be the driving force behind events like the ones held last week."

Sweet, a native of Clarence, N.Y. and a former basketball standout at Boston College, spoke on Tuesday, April 4 at the Premier Center Cabaret at MusicalFare Theatre on campus. Now a partner in the law firm of Gibson, McAskills, Crosby, LLP in Buffalo, Sweet spoke of her time playing scholastic and collegiate sports, and how those experiences have helped her attain success in the complex world of litigation, leading to her nomination by former U.S. President Barack Obama to serve as judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

4827 — Bobby Mills with Stephanie Albano

On Friday, April 7, Holmes made her way to Lumsden Gymnasium where she shared the inspiring story of her rise to prominence as the fastest female amputee in the world. After suffering a personal tragedy that resulted in the loss of her left leg below the knee, the former Norfolk State University track star went on to win three Paralympic medals and five World Championship medals. Her message of persistence in the face adversity struck a lasting chord with the audience.

4828 — Members of the Daemen women's basketball
team with Mary Wilson, founder of WNY Girls
in Sports

As part of the event on April 7, Bobby Mills, special advisor to the President at Daemen, was honored as the recipient of this year's Be Fierce Award which recognizes contributions to the advancement of girls and women in sports. Mills, a father of two daughters who each competed in athletics, is a constant figure at Daemen Athletics events, and a huge supporter of collegiate athletics as a whole.

The week-long celebration concluded on Saturday, April 8 as Daemen's female student-athletes participated in the Western New York Girls in Sports Service Day, a collaborative effort between Daemen, UB and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. The event brought area youths in contact with collegiate student-athletes for a day of instruction, competition and fun, all aimed at promoting the power and positive influence that sports can play in the lives of young people.

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