Student-athlete receives Woman of the Year award

SUSSEX COUNTY-Student-athlete Nikki Apgar, of Sussex County Community College, received a Woman of the Year award at the annual National Association for Girls and Women in Sports luncheon, Feb. 13, a day chartered by Congress in 1986 to honor female athletic achievement and the importance of sports and fitness for all girls and women. New Jersey celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day with a luncheon, where each high school and college was represented by a female athlete. About 1,000 people gathered for this year's luncheon and women's basketball game between Seton Hall and Providence. At halftime, all the athletes and their school's representative went court side, where the student-athletes received their awards in front of the capacity crowd at Walsh Gymnasium on the Seton Hall campus. Thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students, and parents across the country showed their support for this year's theme, "More Than A Game." National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies, and activities honoring the achievements and participation of girls and women in sports. NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 during a volleyball tournament in Japan. MGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition, which combines the experience and resources of the seven premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States including the American Association of University Women, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the YWCA USA. Collectively, these organizations have been in existence for more than 432 years and have a membership reach of 5.5 million girls and women