General 1/24/2024 9:30:00 AM

Rockhurst announces schedule for 50 Years of Women's Athletics Celebration

The 2023-24 Women's Basketball Team and Sue Sweeney, '76. Sue was a member of the first women's basketball team at Rockhurst in 1975-76. All women's athletics alumni, fans, and student-athletes are invited to be part of the celebration April 12-14, 2024.

Rockhurst University Athletics is excited to announce that it will be hosting a special celebration to commemorate and honor 50 Years of Women's Athletics at Rockhurst the weekend of April 12-14, 2024.

Women's intercollegiate athletics first came to Rockhurst after the passage of Title IX in 1972. The first sport featured was bowling and the university's first female varsity letter winner, the late Jan Schultehenrich, graduated in 1974. By 1976 the university had women's teams in basketball, volleyball, tennis and bowling. The university later went on to add women's programs in soccer in 1990, golf in 1995, softball in 2004, cross country and lacrosse in 2013, and track and field and swim and dive in 2023.

"Over the past 50 years, we have had amazing female student-athletes come through Rockhurst. The 50th anniversary celebration is a great way to honor and celebrate their accomplishments, as both students and athletes. I am looking forward to honoring all generations who made an impact at Rockhurst, and who have built the foundation of what women's athletics is today," said Kristy Bayer, Director of Athletics.

The celebration weekend will feature a schedule of events that will highlight the history and success of women's athletics, provide opportunities for alumni to reconnect with friends and teammates, and showcase current women's programs and its student-athletes. The signature event for the weekend will be a Women's Athletics Reception and Celebration Program on Saturday evening, April 13. The celebration program will include the following highlights:

A keynote address from special guest Katherine Holland, KC2026 Executive Director. Holland has been one of the premier leaders that has driven the growth of sports in Kansas City. Before her appointment with KC2026, she served the Kansas City Sports Commission and played a leading role in bringing major professional and collegiate events to Kansas City including the 2023 NFL Draft and U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
A panel conversation moderated by Katherine Holland featuring women's athletics alumni and current student-athletes.
The presentation of the St. Ignatius Alumni Award to women's basketball alumnus Amber Schreiber, '02, '05 MBA, President and CEO of the Golden Scoop, a nonprofit ice cream and coffee shop dedicated to providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Recognition of the finalists and winner of the Taylor (Skala) Sares,' 15, Female Student-Athlete of the Year award.

Alumni, family members, and fans can view the full schedule and registration details at www.rockhursthawks.com/womens50.

Questions about the weekend's events, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities? Please contact Brent Blazek, associate athletic director, at brent.blazek@rockhurst.edu.

Rockhurst University Athletics thanks Bukaty Companies in Leawood, Kansas for serving as the lead sponsor for this celebration.

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