St. John’s Community to Celebrate 17th Annual Women in Sports Day

Celebrating the achievements of women athletes within and beyond the University community, St. John’s will hold its 17th Annual Women in Sports Day festivities at the Queens campus on Saturday, February 8.

The event, featuring the Annual Awards Dinner, coincides once again with a woman’s basketball game. The Red Storm will face the Providence College Friars at 12:30 p.m. in Carnesecca Arena. Dinner follows the game at 2:45 p.m. in Marillac Terrace.

Four current athletes will receive awards. The keynote speaker will be Olympic volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings. She and her teammate, Misty-May Treanor, were gold medalists in beach volleyball in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics.

“Women in Sports Day is truly a community-wide event,” said Mary H. Pelkowski, associate dean for student engagement, Division of Student Affairs. “It’s not just an athletics celebration—it’s a sorority, resident, and commuter student celebration as well.” Pelkowski added that Athletics, Student Affairs, and Student Government partnered to coordinate the activities.

Ultimately, Pelkowski explained, Women in Sports Day “commemorates the legacy of Title IX and women’s history.” Title IX is the landmark civil rights law that Congress passed in 1972, which bars gender discrimination in any educational institution receiving federal aid. The initiative significantly expanded women’s athletic opportunities.

To attend the 17th Annual Women in Sports Day dinner, please RSVP by Wednesday, February 5. Contact Janie Grisanti at [email protected] or 718-990-6258.