Olympic Gymnast to Kick Off Women’s Empowerment Symposium
Contact: Andrea C. Hauck, 581-2410; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — Motivational speaker and former Olympian Dominique Dawes, the first African-American to win gold in Olympic artistic gymnastics, will be at UMaine April 4 to lead the Fourth Annual Women’s Symposium, a program dedicated to annual community education and female advocacy.
The event is free and open to the public. It’s being held at the Memorial Union, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and will include breakout sessions on the topic of networking. The title of this year’s symposium is “Women and the Power of Networking.”
The event is sponsored by Student Government, Student Affairs, Panhellenic Council, IFC (Interfraternity Council), All Maine Women, Senior Skulls, ROC (Residents on Campus), and various local donors, including Maureen Elizabeth Handbags, according to Andrea C. Hauck, coordinator of Academic Advising and Student Services, who is assisting with planning this year’s event.
“Once a year, this group of undergraduates and volunteers plans this event for women’s advocacy,” Hauck says. “It’s a day devoted to women and the impact networking can have in their personal and professional lives. This year’s theme is networking, skills-building and advocacy for women in general, particularly in view of the obstacles they face in life.”
Hauck expects a turnout of 100 or more people. Dawes, a member of the gold-medal-winning “Magnificent Seven” at the 1996 Atlanta Games, will give a keynote address.
“Dominique Dawes is by far the biggest name we’ve ever brought in,” says Hauck. “We are thrilled to bring Dominique to Orono to kick off our event.”
Dawes’ accomplishments were first internationally recognized in 1992, when, as part of the bronze-medal winning women’s Olympic gymnastic team in Barcelona, she was the first African American gymnast to ever qualify and compete in the Olympics games. Throughout her career, the three-time Olympian “Awesome Dawesome” won more national championship medals than any other athlete, male or female since 1963, according to her website.
In addition to her motivational speaking, Dawes has appeared in the hit Broadway musical “Grease” and is establishing a fledgling career in broadcasting.
For additional information, contact Kendall Fitzpatrick, Women’s Symposium chair, at kendall_fitzpatrick@umit.maine.edu.