Special events
Athletics holds 11th Annual Celebrating Women’s Athletics Luncheon
Olympic gold medalist and world champion swimmer Amy Van Dyken was the featured speaker at the 11th Annual Celebrating Women’s Athletics Luncheon on Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The event, which had 620 attendees, was geared towards raising support for the Binghamton Women’s Scholarship Fund.
At the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Van Dyken became the first American female athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympiad. Four years later, she captured two more gold medals at the Sydney Olympics. In between those two performances, Van Dyken won three gold medals at the 1998 World Championships, which were held in Perth, Australia.
Following the Atlanta Games, Van Dyken was named the 1996 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. She was also named the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Sports Woman of the Year and was selected as one of the 25 most influential females in sports by Women’s Sports and Fitness Magazine.
Athletics hosts “You Can Play” night at Events Center
The lights in the Events Center dim, the music starts to blast and the fans in the bleachers rise to their feet cheering. The voice booms over the loudspeakers announcing the arrival of our Binghamton University Bearcats. You can feel the electricity pulsating through the building—it’s game night here in Binghamton for the men’s basketball team. Players are warming up and you see point guard Marlon Beck nail a three. As he is running back to the shooting line you notice his shirt—a white long sleeve that differs from their normal team warm-ups. The front of the shirt says #ourhouserules in rainbow, and the back has a logo with three words, “You Can Play.” That’s when it hits you, not only is it a huge game night for the team, but also a night dedicated to something that transcends basketball—the idea that regardless of sexual orientation, gender or identity, if you can play, you can play.
University and President Stenger honored by Rotary at basketball game
More than 300 local Rotarians and supporters attended the first Rotary Club International Night, hosted by BU athletics on Jan. 21. The event, held in conjunction with the men’s basketball game against Vermont, also featured a presentation to University President Harvey Stenger and the entire University for its widespread community service.
At halftime, Rotary Club #64 presented Stenger with a Paul Harris Fellow award, which represents the Rotary Foundation’s appreciation to the University’s contributions to philanthropic and scholastic programs.
“This is Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for Binghamton University’s substantial donations to humanitarian and educational programs and demonstration of a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation,” the Club noted in its presentation. “Congratulations and sincere thanks for the University’s commitment toward our common goals of world understanding and peace.”
The athletics department extended its thanks to Binghamton Rotary Club #64, Whitney Point Rotary, Endicott Rotary and Excellus for their great support in making the evening a success.
Basketball teams work with American Cancer Society
Binghamton men’s basketball and the American Cancer Society will again join forces as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Program. The event will take place Wednesday night when the Bearcats host UMBC at 7 p.m. at the Events Center.
Head coach Tommy Dempsey has pledged five dollars for every point his team scores in its game against the Retrievers. In addition, the coaching staff will wear attire in support of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
Bearcats Coaches vs. Cancer T-Shirts, which commemorates the program’s role in the Coaches vs. Cancer Program, will be given away prior to the game (while supplies last). The American Cancer Society, meanwhile, will be setting up tables during the game with information and activities to raise awareness in the fight against cancer.