Utah Athletics Celebrating 50 Years Of Title IX This Weekend
Sep 28, 2022, 2:32 PM
Women's gymnastics co-head coach Megan Marsden cheers during the Utah gymnastics Red Rocks Preview at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah Athletics announced this afternoon the opening of their online auction to benefit Utes with Wings- a program dedicated to supporting women in sports at the University of Utah as part of their celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX this weekend. Utah Athletics will also be hosting around 500 current and former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, leaders, friends and family at their Fifty Years Forward Banquet on Friday, September 30th.
𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱
How Flashing the U Began#TitleIX50 | #GoUtes https://t.co/yyAbVr3sZ1
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 27, 2022
Featured guests will include former Red Rock and coach Megan Marsden, former women’s basketball coach Elaine Elliott, former softball player and coach Jo Evans, volleyball coach Beth Launiere, and track and field athlete Maya LeBar.
Utes Fifty Years Forward
Title IX is a federal law that was enacted June 23, 1972 to give girls and women equal footing in education and sports. Since then many improvements have been made in how girls and women are treated in these realms, but there is also still a ways to go.
June 23, 1972
It’s only been 50 years since women gained equal footing in sports among other educational benefits their male peers received. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s crucial to recognize where we were to keep moving forward 💪🏽#WomenAthletes #SupportWomenInSports pic.twitter.com/7LYIOWIQxI— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) June 23, 2022
The University of Utah has been telling the many, many stories of their trailblazing women student-athletes and coaches over the summer, culminating in their Banquet coming up Friday night. KSL Sports took a look at a few standouts on the official Title IX Anniversary as well.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the online auction that features official gear, apparel and signed memorabilia. Utah is also auctioning off items representing some the finest brands in the state, and beyond, that support Utah Athletics and our women’s programs. All proceeds will go to Utes with Wings that helps support Utah’s women’s athletics programs through team-building exercises and retreats, foreign and domestic travel, as well as facility enhancements and overall program development.
The Fifty Years Forward Banquet begins Friday at 5:30 pm MT with a social hour at the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Legacy Hall followed by a dinner and program at 7 pm MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Former softball player and current Deputy Athletics Director for Internal Operations and COO Charmelle Green will give an opening statement, and Athletic Director Mark Harlan will give his closing thoughts on the night.
Celebrating Title IX With Utah Football
Utah football will also be in on some of the Title IX celebration during their game against Oregon State on Saturday. Throughout the game, videos, PA reads, and videoboard graphics will be present to help celebrate the accomplishments of Utah’s female student-athletes over the last 50 years. There will also be a recap of Friday’s banquet as well.
