National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a national event celebrating and recognizing the girls and women who participate in sports and athletics and all of their achievements, was recognized again this year at Lake Forest College.
The day honors the progress and continuing struggle of women to achieve equality in this particular arena, and provides all female athletes with important lessons, resources, and encouragement. It is also a day to inspire and empower those girls and women who do not play a sport to be more active in general.
Lake Forest hosted its annual event to celebrate NGWSD on Saturday, February 11th, hosting a host of youth female athletes for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This year’s program featured a question-and-answer session with Forester female student-athletes (who also served as volunteers for the day) as well as an all-sports activity session.
"My favorite part of NGWSD was the Q&A session," said Margaret Bugnacki from women’s tennis. "It was fulfilling to hear that so many of the girls are in sports, and they want to be like us, female college athletes, when they are older."
In addition, those in attendance went to the home women's basketball and hockey games to cheer on the Foresters. The Lake Forest cheer and dance teams put on a special halftime performance for the girls at the women's basketball game as well.
Izzy Nordstrom of the Forester dance team said: "As a child, going to sports camps were one of my favorite things, learning from the older girls meant so much to me. To now be in the position to be the role model was amazing. It was awesome to see the girls having fun, learning, and engaging with us! I look forward to helping with this in the future."
"Honoring girls and women in sports allows a community of women to form from all different backgrounds," said Lauren Volk of women's volleyball. "This event has allowed that community to be fosters and allowed young women and girls to grow in something they love."