Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lynn Coutts (Orono) – senior associate director of athletics at UMaine, Sara Vanderwood, Sen. Amy Volk, Jillian Lary (Orono)- track athlete at UMaine, Kendra Ridley (Orono) – soccer player at UMaine, Sheila Brennan Nee (Falmouth) – Executive Director of the Maine Sports Commission

AUGUSTA – Assistant Majority Leader Amy Volk (R-Cumberland) honored woman athletes by sponsoring a Joint Resolution declaring February 7 as National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1986, tomorrow is the 32nd National Girls & Women in Sports Day, and the first year that the Maine Legislature has taken action to recognize this day.

Volk presented the Joint Resolution at a press conference held in the State House’s Welcome Center where she was joined by representatives of the Maine Sports Commission, the University of Maine Athletic Department and student athletes from Maine.

According to Fortune, “EY research shows that among senior business women in the C-suite today, 94% played sports and over half played at a university level — suggesting a strong correlation between their success in sports and their success in business.

Senator Volk said, “National Girls & Women in Sports Day is a time to celebrate the extraordinary achievements in girls and women’s sports and the positive influence athletic participation brings to their lives. It also recognizes the ongoing effort towards equality and access for women in sports and the nation’s commitment to expand sport and participation opportunities for all girls and for our future generations.”

“As the mother of female athletes, I understand the role sports play and the positive impact it has on the individual, the family and the community. My husband and I have always encouraged our children to be active in sports and the community, and I believe this helped my girls as they grew up and found their passions in sports. I know that my girls have made life-long friends and have learned the benefits of discipline and competition. They are confident and bold as a result.”

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