1979 TWU Softball won
1979 TWU Softball won the 1979 AIAW Women’s College World Series that was held in Omaha, Neb., to become National Softball Champions. Photo: TWU Special Collections > 2017 Nicole Nordie ’17 was named to the 2017 D2CCA Softball All- South Central Region First Team. She was also recognized as a NFCA All-Region First Teamer and was chosen as the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year and to the All-LSC First Team. THEN AND NOW Seriously Sporty Women TWU reflects on 50 years of Title IX NOT MANY universities can claim two Olympic medalists as coaches. But at TWU, Sara Lilly, a 2004 bronze medalist in synchronized swimming, and Randi Miller, a 2008 bronze medalist in wrestling, are two of nine head coaches. Fifty years ago, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act passed, affording women equal opportunity in athletics. At TWU, this included the advent of athletics scholarships, championed by former Athletics Director Jo Kuhn. Since its inception in 1906, TWU Athletics has prided itself on serving women student-athletes. In 1979, the university named its athletic teams the Pioneers, then adopted a Minerva owl as its mascot in 2017. In 1982, TWU joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Today the university competes in five intercollegiate Division II NCAA sports — basketball, gymnastics, soccer, softball and volleyball — and also offers competition in artistic swimming, dance, STUNT and wrestling. Thanks to Kuhn and other visionaries, Texas Woman’s continues to empower women through education, competition and leadership development. 14 TEXAS WOMAN’S
BOLDLY GO > A BRIGHT FUTURE A graduate from the class of 2020 savors the moment at Dallas’ Reunion Tower TEXAS WOMAN’S 15
