Celebration of Women's Athletics to Culminate at Banquet Sunday

Lincoln -- The University of Nebraska is in the midst of celebrating its 25th year of intercollegiate women's athletics, which will culminate at a banquet for all former student-athletes and coaches this Sunday, April 30, in the Bob Devaney Sports Center arena, beginning at 4 p.m. Fourteen of Nebraska's 25 Women of Distinction have confirmed that they will attend the banquet (see list at bottom), and over 500 people are also expected to attend.

Merlene Ottey, a world-class sprinter who competed at Nebraska from 1980 to 1984, will speak at the banquet on behalf of the student-athletes. An outstanding Husker athlete, Ottey competed in five Olympic games for Jamaica, earning seven Olympic medals. While competing for NU, she earned 14 national individual titles, 24 All-America awards and 28 Big Eight titles. Ottey was recently named to the Track & Field News Women's All-Century team and was selected as the women's athlete of the decade in the 200 meters.

The program will also include remarks from former Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit, who will speak on behalf of the coaches; Director of Athletics Bill Byrne, who will speak on behalf of the staff; a vocal performance by Ariel Bybee, and portions of the NETV documentary video on the last 25 years of women's intercollegiate athletics at NU.

Members of the media are invited to attend the program portion of the banquet, which should begin at 6 p.m. Please contact the Nebraska Sports Information office for more information.

A limited number of tickets are still available to the public for $25 each, and must be reserved through the Nebraska Ticket Office (402-472-3111).

Nebraska's 25 Women of Distinction

Shelly Bartlett*

Lisa Reitsma

Rhonda Blanford*

Karen Dahlgren Schonewise*

Joanne Brooks

Janet Kruse Sellon

Michele Bryant

Lori Sippel*

Denise Day*

Ann Swanson-Bartek*

Sherri Hayward*

Fran ten Bensel*

Penny Heyns

Angela Thacker

Maurtice Ivy*

Stephanie Thater*

Karen Jennings*

Tressa Thompson*

Fiona Nepo

Lori Endicott Vandersnick

Sharolta Nonen*

Ali Viola

Merlene Ottey*

Allison Weston

Linetta Wilson

* - indicates athlete is expected to attend banquet