Garden City, N.Y. - On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Adelphi University department of athletics hosted a National Girls and Women in Sports day event in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. 

"Athletics have always been a platform for life's lessons, leadership development, and camaraderie," said Marilou Owens, Chief Membership and Diversity Officer, Girl Scouts of Nassau County. "We are proud to partner with the Adelphi University's women's sports teams to provide unique programming experiences that broaden skills and boost confidence while encouraging teamwork and healthy choices. Events like these uplift our girls by providing them with positive role models and helping us celebrate the everyday lives and achievements of girls and women in sports."

With over 50 young girls in attendance, various sports teams provided activities throughout the morning for participants, concluding with attendance to the women's basketball game at 1:30 p.m. The day kicked off with an introduction to the theme of the day, "Stand up and speak out", which encouraged female representation in sports. 

"I really love events that give us the opportunity to give back and connect to the children in the community," said Head women's soccer coach Brooke Derosa. "It was inspiring to see females of all ages interacting and encouraging each other to have fun and be themselves."

In addition to learning skills for volleyball, field hockey and soccer, attendees were teamed up with Tobie Langsam, Counselor and Sport Social Worker, and some athletes to discuss mental health as it relates to performance. Participants got to create a mantra bracelet with a word or phrase that meant something to them as it pertains to sports. 

"Events like this are important for young females because they were able to express themselves through the different sports without judgment and are surrounded by other girls who are doing the same thing," said rising women's soccer sophomore Gia Mandile.

"The girls scout bonded with our student athletes through sport and activities, by the end of the event- they were expressing their excitement over learning new sports and the chance to spend time with collegiate student athletes," said Head field hockey coach Jess Mulhern.

At the conclusion of the day, the group gathered for a brief Q&A, in which many attendees expressed learning field hockey for the first time at the event and asked the student-athlete volunteers many questions about what it's like to be a collegiate athlete.