LOGAN, Utah – Utah State Interim Athletic Director, Jerry Bovee has announced the establishment of the Women's Athletics Excellence Endowment.

Through generous donations from more than 20 individuals and proceeds generated from the Celebration of Women in Sport Gala held on April 14, nearly $100,000 has been contributed to officially establish the endowment.

The Celebration of Women in Sport Gala was developed to celebrate 50 years of Title IX and kick off the annual USU Athletics Hall of Fame weekend that included the induction of seven former female student-athletes and administrators. The 250 people in attendance heard panel discussions featuring past and present female student-athletes and administrators, and messages from Bovee, president Noelle Cockett and keynote speaker Tessa White.

"It was an amazing weekend as we honored and celebrated trailblazers who paved the way for women's sports at Utah State," Bovee said. "The Celebration of Women in Sport Gala provided an opportunity to educate all of us on Aggie women's athletics past, present and future. We are very appreciative of all who attended the event and the generous donors who contributed to the Women's Athletic Excellence Endowment. This fund will continue to grow and impact the lives of current and future female student-athletes."

The Women's Athletics Excellence Endowment will help provide operational funding for the women's sports programs at Utah State. The fund will exist in perpetuity and benefit women's student-athletes at USU for generations to come.

To contribute to the Women's Athletics Excellence Endowment, visit usu.edu/womensendowment, call the USU Athletics development office (Aggies Unlimited) at 435-797-2583 or email aggiesunlimited@usu.edu.

For more on Utah State Athletics, fans can follow the Aggies on Twitter (@usuathletics) or on Facebook by searching Utah State Athletics.

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