The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is proud to honor and recognize the achievements of female athletes around the state in conjunction with the 36th Annual of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
In conjunction with the day, the NJSIAA joins with the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NJAIAW) to honor a female athlete from every high school, two-year college and four-year college within the state.
This is a special year for the celebration, since it coincides with the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the landmark federal legislation that created unprecedented educational and athletic opportunities for women.
National Girls and Women’s Sports Day began in 1987 as a way to honor volleyball legend Flo Hyman, who died a year earlier at age 31 after collapsing during a match. It quickly evolved into a day to recognize women athletes, the positive influence of sports participation for women, as well as the advances made since the passage of Title IX along with the need continue the momentum into the future.
The NJSIAA proudly leads all states in the country by sponsoring 18 sports and 25 championships each year for its more than 120,000 girl athletes.
This year’s celebration will go through Feb. 25, with a social media campaign. The NJSIAA award winners will be announced through 11. The campaign be followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the hashtags #NGWSD and #LeadHerForward.