Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day Throughout February

Every week from 4 - 6 p.m., different sporting events will be held for all faculty, staff, students, and alumni to participate in. Activities will take place on February 11, February 19, and February 26, and are all-inclusive. Participants will have the chance to win free swag at each event, and the sport activities offered will include pickleball, spinning, yoga, volleyball, strength training, swimming, and more.

Each year, the NGWSD Committee selects a woman who has contributed significantly to the advancement of girls and women in sports. Shelby Williams was selected as this year’s recipient and will be awarded the Trailblazer Award on February 8 during halftime at the women’s basketball game.

Williams is an ISU alumni who graduated from the College of Education with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2003 and a master’s degree in athletic administration in 2004. She has worked for ISU’s Campus Recreation for twenty years where she leads the Intramural Sports Program, providing sport and recreation opportunities for all ISU students.

Additionally, Dr. Heather Van Mullem, a professor of kinesiology in the Physical, Life, Movement and Sport Sciences Division at Lewis-Clark State College, was the keynote speaker at this year’s keynote address.

Highlighting the importance of NGWSD and sport in our lives, Van Mullen said, “Sport is captivating and can be a powerful teacher. As we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day at Idaho State University, come to this engaging and interactive talk on the power of possibility, the influential role of sport and its undeniable impact on our lives, and lessons learned from female leaders in kinesiology and sport studies that we can all apply in our pursuit to lead lives that make a positive impact on our communities.”

NGWSD is presented by ISU’s Department of Human Performance and Sport Studies (HPSS) housed in the College of Education. NGWSD was established by Congress in 1987 as a national day to recognize and appreciate women’s sports. NGWSD honors the achievements of girls and women in sports and the benefits sports and fitness have on the lives of all girls and women.

The events this year are sponsored by the HPSS Department and Campus Recreation. All events are free of charge.

For more information about National Girls and Women in Sports Day at ISU, please call the ISU Human Performance and Sport Studies Department at (208) 282-5613 or email Kinsey Isham at ishakins@isu.edu.