Owls Honor Soroptimist International at ? Time

Feb. 7, 2003

BOCA RATON -

Florida Atlantic University's Athletic Department honored the Soroptimist International Club and FAU's female student-athletes at the Thursday, February 6 women's basketball game. The Owls will also host a free clinic, Saturday, February 8 as part of the National Girl's and Women in Sports Day.

The National Girl's and Women in Sports Day has evolved into a day devoted to the acknowledgement of past performances and a day to recognize current sport achievements, as well as the positive influence of sport participation. This year's day of recognition marks the 17 year of celebration.

Much like the academic side of the University, FAU athletics is a gathering place for many of the World's best in their respective field of study. Those professors, or in the case of athletics, the coaches become mentors to young women as they seek to matriculate through college. They encourage success, lend experience and console adversity.

A prime example of this cycle lies within the FAU softball program. The Lady Owls softball team is coached by Joan Joyce. Joyce reached the pinnacle in softball and has accomplished nearly everything that an athlete would dare to accomplish. She has played four sports professionally, struck out several of the greatest baseball players, including Ted Williams, and is one of just two American women to be inducted to the International Softball Hall of Fame.

Joyce has coached the Lady Owls to six-consecutive conference championships and four-consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. One of many student athletes affected by Joyce's knowledge is Nikki Myers. Myers, a four-time Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament MVP and a top-10 finalist for the National Player of the year, was a member of every FAU team to play in a regional tournament and is now part of the staff lending experience to the younger women who are striving for a seventh title.

While the young ladies who represent FAU on the competition field move on to other facets of their lives the giving back to the community is still made available through organizations such as the Soroptimist International Club.

Soroptimist is an outstanding example of a group of individuals who provide leadership, volunteerism, success and service to the communities of South Florida.

The Soroptimist "Winner of Distinction" honored at FAU's game were:

Janice Dilorenzo: Ms Dilorenzo provides leadership and support for the YMCA programs, activities and facilities. She also identifies community needs and advocates for ways the YMCA can meet these needs.

Michele Poole: Ms Poole is a tireless advocate for services and programs for disabled individuals. She is the founder of the Shaken Baby coalition and chaired the Association for Retarded Citizen's $2 million capital campaign.

Reverend Elizabeth Pankey-Warren: Ms. Pankey-Warren has served the last 12 years as a volunteer for the Junior League of Boca Raton. In 2002 she chaired a capital campaigns and projects with Habitat for Humanity to construct a home solely by women.

Carla Shulman: Ms Shulman is a registered nurse practitioner who has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate care for the thousands of South Floridians and serves as Vice-President of Medical Services and Risk Management for Planned Parenthood

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