VESTAL, N.Y. – Major League Baseball Announcer Suzyn Waldman was the featured speaker at the 15th Annual Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon on Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The luncheon, which had an event-record 810 attendees, was geared towards raising support for the Binghamton Bearcats Athletics Association (BBAA) Women's Scholarship Fund.

Waldman is considered a female pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting. Since the 2005 Major League Baseball season, she has been the color commentator for the New York Yankees, working with John Sterling on radio broadcasts, first for WCBS-AM and currently for WFAN in New York City. She is the first woman ever to provide color commentary in the radio booth for a Major League Team.

Waldman was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016. In addition, she was part of the 2006 exhibit in the Baseball Hall of Fame exhibit entitled "Women in Baseball."

In 1987, Waldman became the first voice ever heard on WFAN, the first all sports radio station in the country, and was a mainstay there was 15 years. She created the job of the radio beat reporter, covering both the NY Yankees and the NY Knicks. Her news breaking reports, exclusive interviews, and always original and controversial opinions, won her countless journalism awards, including the International Radio Award for her live and emotional reporting from the upper deck of Candlestick Park during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the 1996 NY Sportscaster of the year, the American Women in Radio and TV Star award in 1999, the Alliance for Women in Media Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the prestigious Gracie Award in 2016.

On Monday at the Events Center, Waldman shared her appreciation for the university's commitment to supporting women's athletics.

"I never thought I would see the day that this type of event would take place," she said. "Everything that I see here today is very moving. This type of event never would have taken place when I first started. I am really glad to be here today."

Waldman arrived Monday morning at the Events Center with a message for everyone in attendance, especially the young athletes.

"Whatever you've learned through your sport, take it and use it in your future," she said. "Think of the smiles of your teammates and support system to get you through whatever challenges you face in the future."

This year's student speaker was senior Olivia Batista of the women's lacrosse team. She expressed her gratitude for being able to come to Binghamton and continue to play the sport that she loves.

"I have been lucky to attend this event all four years I have been a student-athlete at Binghamton University," she said. "To now be the student speaker is a very big honor for me. Thank you for allowing me to share a small part of what being a student-athlete has meant to me."

Since 2006, the Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon has raised more than $550,000 to support the Women's Scholarship Fund – including over $50,000 on Monday.

The Women's Athletics Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 and this year, 10 female student-athletes were the honored recipients with Batista being one of them. The Celebrating Women's Athletics Luncheon began in 2006, with just 75 attendees, and is today one of the Athletics Department's primary fundraisers. 

Waldman 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 Joan Benoit-Samuelson (2019), Shannon Boxx (2018), 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.