VESTAL, N.Y. -- The Binghamton Bearcats Athletic Association (BBAA) will host the 13th Annual Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon presented by M&T Bank at noon on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Events Center.

Held each year to recognize the achievements of Binghamton University's female student-athletes, the luncheon also raises funding for scholarships awarded to female student-athletes at Binghamton University. This year, former Olympic Soccer Gold Medalist and World Cup champion Shannon Boxx will be the featured speaker.

Boxx was part of the United States Olympic Team that captured gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012. She was also a member of four World Cup Teams, including the 2015 squad that won the championship, the 2011 finalist and the 2003 and 2007 third-place finisher. In addition, Boxx was a finalist for the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

During her collegiate career at Notre Dame (1995-98), Boxx and the Irish won the NCAA Championship in her freshman season. She was a three-time all-conference selection and her 101 games played is tied for the most in Notre Dame history.

While she was a member of the U.S. National Team, Boxx also played professionally with three different leagues – the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) from 2001-03, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009-11 and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from 2013-15.

Boxx 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 Swin Cash (2017), Amy Van Dyken (2016), Rebecca Lobo (2015), Jennie Finch (2014), Shannon Miller (2013), Amanda Beard (2012), Julie Foudy (2011), Kara Lawson (2010) and Jessica Mendoza (2009).

Since 2006, the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon has raised more than $300,000 to support the BBAA Women's Scholarship Fund.  The scholarships were established in 2007, and are awarded annually to two female student-athletes. The luncheon began in 2006, with just 75 attendees, and is today one of the Athletics Department's primary fundraisers. In 2016, more than 650 guests attended the event.

Luncheon attendees will have the opportunity to meet current Bearcat student-athletes and coaches from the women's teams and to hear them speak about the role athletics has played in their development, careers and life. In addition, guests will have the chance to bid on several auction items with all proceeds going toward the BBAA Women's Scholarship Fund.

Tickets for the event are $60 and table sponsorships are $600. To purchase tickets, visit the Events Center Box Office or order tickets online by clicking here.

Click here for the three-minute Celebrating Women's Athletics promotional video.