VESTAL, N.Y. – Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Shannon Boxx was the featured speaker at the 13th Annual Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon on Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The luncheon, which had an event-record 725 attendees, was geared towards raising support for the Binghamton Women's Scholarship Fund.
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 finishers. 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.
On Monday at the Events Center, Boxx shared her appreciation for the university's commitment to supporting women's athletics.
"Binghamton University is one of the only athletic programs around the country that does (an event like) this," she said. "I am really happy and honored to be here today."
Boxx arrived Monday morning at the Events Center with a message for everyone in attendance, especially the young female athletes.
"There are so many age groups of young women coming here today, each with a different journey they are on both in sports and in life," she said. "I really want to talk about the journey that it took to get to where I am -- not just the end result but all of the sacrifices and hard work along the way. For females, it's so important to trust and believe in yourself and do what you are passionate about. That is really what I want to tell these girls here today."
One female athlete in attendance also delivered a speech at the Women's Athletics Luncheon. Senior back Emma Maslin of the Binghamton women's soccer team shared how playing a college sport impacted her life.
"I am grateful to have so many other people in my life and throughout this university and department that have taught me the true definition of what it means to be resilient," she said. "To all the young female and male athletes in the audience -- believe in yourself and if you get knocked down, make sure you get back up so you will be ready for the next play of life."
Maslin and the rest of the Binghamton women's soccer team had an opportunity to meet Boxx before the Women's Athletics Luncheon. Boxx came into the TAU Room of the Events Center to share her story and answer any questions the players had.
Since 2006, the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon has raised more than $400,000 to support the Women's Scholarship Fund – including over $45,000 on Monday. 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.
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).
Luncheon attendees on Monday had the opportunity to meet current Bearcat student-athletes and coaches from the women's teams. In addition, guests had the chance to bid on several auction items with all proceeds going toward the BBAA Women's Scholarship Fund.
NOTE: M&T Bank was this year's title sponsor of the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon.
