The Nebraska Athletic Department announced Monday that former University of Nebraska-Lincoln student and United States Congresswoman Patsy Mink has been posthumously selected as the 2022-23 recipient of the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award. Mink was an advocate for equal rights and co-authored the Title IX legislation while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mink's selection comes as Nebraska Athletics continues its year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.
The Trailblazer Award was created in 2000 to honor outstanding support and generous contributions to women's athletics at the University of Nebraska. In 2007, following Dr. Hibner's death, the prestigious award was renamed the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in honor of the longtime member of the Nebraska Athletic Department and the inaugural recipient of the award.
Patsy Takemoto Mink was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, where she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa for two years before coming to Lincoln to study at the University of Nebraska. Upon arriving in Lincoln in 1947, Mink was placed in housing designated for non-white students. Outraged by the segregated housing policies, Mink created a coalition comprised of students, faculty, parents, administrators, alumni and businesses to end the discriminatory policy.
Her work quickly paid off and in the same year she arrived at Nebraska, the University eliminated the segregation policy. A thyroid issue resulted in Mink returning to her home in Hawaii where she graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1948 with bachelor's degrees in zoology and chemistry. Mink's story of fighting for equality does not end with her efforts while attending Nebraska.
She graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1951 and passed the bar exam. She was rejected from numerous attorney positions as a married Japanese-American woman with a child. She decided to start a private firm and also taught law courses at the University of Hawaii.
Mink turned to politics in 1965 when she became the first woman from Hawaii elected to Congress and the first woman of color elected to the House of Representatives. As a member of Congress, Mink served on the Committee of Education and Labor where she introduced the Childhood Education Act. In 1972, Mink saw a need to help women break down barriers and defeat discrimination in the same way she did as a UNL student. Along with Oregon Congresswoman Edith Green, Mink co-authored Title IX legislation to protect women from discrimination and provide equal educational opportunities, including equal opportunity in collegiate athletics.
The Title IX Legislation Mink co-authored begins includes the iconic first sentence of: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'
The legislation championed by Mink was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972. Mink served in congress for 24 years from 1965 to 1977 and again from 1990 until her death in 2002.
"Describing Patsy Mink as a trailblazer is an understatement," Nebraska Senior Woman Administrator Marquita Armstead said. "Representative Mink was the first woman of color elected to Congress and as the co-author of the Title IX legislation, she left an undeniable mark on the nation's history. Her efforts to secure equal treatment for women in education and athletics changed the course of history. We are forever grateful for Patsy Mink."
"Thank you to the Nebraska Athletic Department for remembering Patsy Mink," her daughter Wendy said. "She would be particularly thrilled by this recognition as she spent a semester at the University of Nebraska, where she took some first steps as an equality activist."
Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award
The Trailblazer Award, re-named the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in 2007, is presented annually to an individual; family, or business "in recognition of outstanding support and generous contributions to Nebraska women's athletics."
Past Recipients
2000-01---Barbara Hibner, Former Nebraska Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator
2001-02—Dana and Melanie Raimondi
2002-03—Ms. Ione Bowlin
2003-04—Betty Geis in honor of Julie Geis, former softball player killed in 9-11 terrorist attack
2004-05—Carol Frost, former Nebraska Track & Field Coach/Student-Athlete/Olympian
2005-06—Pinnacle Sports Radio Productions
2006-07—Dr. Joann Owens-Nausler
2007-08—Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska Softball Coach
2008-09—Steve Rohman
2009-10—Terry Pettit, former Nebraska Volleyball Coach
2010-11—Tom and Mary Hendricks
2011-12—Dick Herman
2012-13—JoAnn Martin and Ameritas
2013-14—Linda Olson
2014-15—Sid and Hazel Dillon
2015-16—Bill and Ruth Scott
2016-17—Gary and Janet Latimer
2017-18—Marian Andersen
2018-19—Larry and Sheryl Snyder
2019-20—Jo Potuto
2020-21—Bill Straub, former Nebraska Bowling Coach
2021-22—Pat Logsdon, Athletic Administrator and Senior Woman Administrator
2022-23—Patsy Mink, former UNL student
Video produced by New York Times.