BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont (UVM) has created a new endowment fund, totaling $250,000, to support women’s athletics. This generous gift comes from alumna Mary Hynes ’80 and her husband, Marc. The Hynes Family Women’s Sports Fund was introduced during a special ceremony at a UVM Women’s Basketball game, which coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
UVM’s Director of Athletics, Jeff Schulman, expressed gratitude for the gift, saying, “This will greatly enhance our women’s sports teams by providing crucial support for coaches and players.”
During the presentation, Interim UVM President Patricia Prelock, UVM Foundation President Monica Delisa, and other athletics staff joined female student-athletes to acknowledge the donation. Cathy Osmers Rahill, Associate Director of Athletics, emphasized the importance of this contribution for the future of women’s sports at UVM.
Mary Hynes reflected on her time playing sports at UVM, sharing, “The breathtaking mountain views and strong team bonds created unforgettable memories. We hope this fund inspires future generations of young women to chase their athletic dreams.” During her time at UVM, Mary played field hockey and women’s lacrosse. After earning her B.A. in Psychology in 1980, she obtained a Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and now leads a lab at Stanford University.
President Prelock praised the investment in female student-athletes, highlighting that it not only helps their sports performance but also empowers them to thrive in many areas of life. The endowment will provide essential resources for women at UVM to excel in athletics and beyond.
In recent years, UVM’s women’s teams have experienced significant success. They have captured seven America East Championships over the past five years. Notably, the Field Hockey team made its first NCAA Tournament appearance after a remarkable championship win. In addition, the Swimming & Diving team claimed its first league title, while Natálie Mlýnková earned recognition as Hockey East Player of the Year. Ava Vasile ’24 also left her mark by becoming the all-time leader in goals and points for Women’s Lacrosse and making the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022.
To celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, UVM Athletics collaborated with Vermont Mutual to invite local girls to participate in game day activities. They took on roles such as Public Address Announcer, Marketing Assistant, and ESPN Broadcast Assistant, providing a unique behind-the-scenes experience.
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