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VESTAL, N.Y. – Olympic gold medalist and WNBA All-Star Rebecca Lobo was the featured speaker at the Tenth Annual Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon on Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The event, which had over 550 attendees was geared towards raising support for the Binghamton Women's Scholarship Fund.

In 1995, along with being named the National Player of the Year and a two-time All American for the NCAA, Lobo helped lead the University of Connecticut Women's Basketball team to its first ever National Championship. A year later, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team to win a gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics. 

This led up to the start of her professional career, as Lobo successfully made her mark in the WNBA as she was named second-team All-WNBA and was selected to the league's inaugural all-star game.  After playing six more seasons, she retired in 2003, and was later inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Alongside all of her basketball accomplishments, she has contributed to today's world with the founding of a scholarship fund with the help of her mother to encourage diversity in the health professions, and now works as a sports analyst for ESPN. 

On Monday at the Events Center, Lobo spoke about the role athletics has played in her life throughout the years.  In the process, she has been able to grow as a player and person right alongside women's athletics, which has transformed significantly since she was growing up.

"What is a thrill for me is when an older woman in her 70's will come over to me and grab my hand, tears in her eyes, and say to me how they loved playing sports as a kid and that there weren't the opportunities that there are now," Lobo said. "I'm fortunate to be a Title IX baby and had the chance to benefit from the opportunities that other women didn't get."

Lobo told the audience how she uses her fame as a platform to encourage younger female athletes.

"When I get a chance to meet young girls, I tell them that things I thought would never be possible as I was growing up are available now to them," she said. "I want to encourage them to take full advantage of that and to be proud of who they are."

Senior track standout Alexis Murray was this year's student speaker. She touched on many of the same topics as Lobo and credited Binghamton for helping her become the person she is today.

"I grew up during a great time for young female athletes when Women's athletics was just starting to become popular."  Murray said. "During this time, I admired the women's US National Soccer Team.  After watching them compete and be successful, I too wanted the same things.  Binghamton athletics has given me the tools to grow and become a stronger individual both on and off the track."

Murray will be graduating this May with a degree in economics to continue on to a Master's Degree in accounting at the College of William and Mary. 

"I know I've been more than prepared by this University to be successful in my future endeavors," she concluded. "I may be a member of the William and Mary Tribe next year, but I will always be a Bearcat for life."

Later in the afternoon, Lobo met with the Binghamton women's basketball team in their locker room of the Events Center. She answered numerous questions and shared many of her athletic and personal experiences.

"I grew up watching her play when I was in high school around the time when they won their first championship," head coach Linda Cimino said. I know this experience (of meeting Lobo) was exciting for me and I know the girls were really excited as well. I think it was a perfect opportunity for our girls to see where basketball can take them through college and in life."

Lobo is the latest of an impressive group of guest speakers who have come to Binghamton for the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon. She is preceded by Jennie Finch (2014), Shannon Miller (2013), Amanda Beard (2012), Julie Foudy (2011), Kara Lawson (2010) and Jessica Mendoza (2009). The luncheon began in 2006, with just 75 attendees, and today is one of the Athletics Department's primary fundraisers.

Since 2006, the Binghamton Women's Scholarship Fund has raised almost $250,000. This includes money raised through the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon as well as donations. The scholarship was established in 2007, and is awarded annually to two female student-athletes.

NOTE: The attendance of over 550 is a record for the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon.