PROVO, Utah — BYU Athletics and the Big 12 Conference will host a women’s empowerment event on the Marriott Center floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, during BYU’s Homecoming Week.
Participation is open to all members of the BYU campus community, including students, faculty and staff.
The event’s focus on women is an extension of BYU’s Homecoming theme this year, “Lean into Light.” Highlighting an opportunity to bring together women from within and outside of BYU and within and outside of our typical circles of influence, this special event has been branded “Lean into Light TogetHER.”
The Big 12 has already held three homecoming collaborations this year with schools from other conferences on women’s empowerment as part of its Be You Women’s Empowerment series, featuring a beauty bar from event sponsor Maybelline, headshot stations, giveaways and a panel discussion with representatives from Sports Illustrated Swim with a special focus on women’s mental health awareness.
BYU Athletics will be adding to the event with a booth showcasing various services, programs and businesses on campus and in the local community.
BYU Women’s Services Utah Women and Leadership Project Sorenson Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership United Way of Utah County Her Y Podcast HIGH Fitness Mixer
During the event, a variety of speakers from BYU and the local community will deliver short TED Talk-style talks. These include:
Jocelyn Allan, Head Coach of the BYU Cheerleading Team Bitsy Tallis, BYU Women’s Tennis Student-Athlete Bridget Madrian, Dean of the BYU Marriott Business School Rita Little Giddins, Vice President for Alliances at BYU Shante Stutznegger, Let’s Talk Sis
A BYU panel discussion will be moderated by Whitney Johnson Catt, associate athletic director for student-athlete development, diversity and inclusion for BYU Athletics. The panel will include:
Liz Darger, BYU Athletics senior associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator Diljit Taylor, BYU women’s cross country head coach and associate director of track and field Camille Johnson, Relief Society general president, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Sports Illustrated Swim panel will be moderated by Big 12 Chief Impact Officer Jen Hunter and will include SI Swim models Maddie Dewey, Jasmine Sanders and Berkley Wright.
Other event activities:
Maybelline Beauty Bar Nike Custom Headbands Friendship Bracelet Making Bouquet Making Affirmation Board BYU Sorority Wall Photo Opportunity
Event performers:
BYU Cougarettes BYU Afro Dance Ensemble Women’s Sarah Sun, Miss Utah 2023 HIGH Fitness
The event will feature lunch provided courtesy of Costa Vida.
Big 12 and BYU Women’s Empowerment Thursday Event Schedule
10:00 – Doors open
10:10 – TED Talk by Jocelyn Allan
10:20 – TED Talk by Brigitte Madrian
10:30 – TED Talk by Shante Stutzenegger
10:40 – Sarah Sun’s piano performance
11:00 – SI Swim Panel with Maddie Dewey, Jasmine Sanders and Berkeley Wright
12:00 – Cougarettes performance
12:10 – BYU Panel with Camille Johnson, Diljit Taylor, and Liz Darger
1:10 – High Fitness Performance
1:20 – TED Talk by Bitsy Tallis
1:30 – TED Talk by Rita Little Giddens
1:40 – Afro Dance Ensemble Performance
2:00 – Event ends
Leading up to Women’s Empowerment, representatives from the Big 12 and BYU student-athletes and coaches will visit Cherry Creek Elementary School in Springville on Tuesday, Oct. 17, to show off a new $50,000 STEM center renovation project as part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s signature program, the Extra Yard Makeover Project.
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