National Girls & Women in Sports Day, established by the Women's Sports Foundation in 1987 as a day in the nation's capitol to recognize women's sports, has evolved into an annual event to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.
St. Bonaventure is an active participant in NGWSD, and each year hosts some 500 middle school and high school girls for daylong activities on campus. The SBU event is organized by Dr. Paula Scraba, associate professor of physical education at St. Bonaventure.
This year's National Girls & Women in Sports Day at St. Bonaventure will be held Thursday, April 30.* There is no cost to attend, but schools are asked to register by contacting Dr. Scraba by
email.
Girls from more than 20 schools in the region will arrive at Reilly Center on campus starting at 9 a.m. for events that continue through 2 p.m.
The day will begin with a welcome from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m., which will include a keynote talk by Dr. Jennifer Karash-Eastman, project coordinator of the Department of Justice Campus Program at St. Bonaventure. Karash-Eastman has Ph.D. in philosophy and a graduate certificate in women's and gender studies from the University of South Carolina. She is also a certified yoga instructor and has provided programs for Girls & Women in Sports Day at St. Bonaventure through the Olean YMCA.
Participants will then choose to attend three sports clinics from among about 10 being offered, including those on softball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, swimming, cross country/track and volleyball. Clinics are conducted by St. Bonaventure coaches and student-athletes.
Lunch is provided by St. Bonaventure students, who donate a meal from their Aramark meal plans to sponsor a participating student/athlete for the day.
Other activities include a question-and-answer session with a panel of St. Bonaventure student/athletes, a ROTC rock-climbing wall, a visit to the St. Bonaventure Bookstore (and a 20 percent discount). Groups may also sign up for campus tours provided by the Office of Admissions.
*The Women's Sports Foundation has designated Feb. 5, 2020, as National Girls & Women in Sports Day. St. Bonaventure has scheduled its annual celebration for April 30 to better accommodate the schedules of students, faculty and administrators on campus, as well as the middle and high school students and others attending from surrounding communities.