University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
2018 ‘Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon’ Presented by Wells Fargo a Record-Breaking Success
05.02.2018 | Athletics News
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – It was a record-breaking day at Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.
This time though it was not about a big UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball victory, but rather it was about the well over 500 individuals who came out to support the annual "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo.
The event recognizes the many successes of women in athletics and encourages all to support gender equity.
The keynote speaker for this year's "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo was Donna Orender, who is the CEO of Orender Unlimited, a Jacksonville-based consulting and advisory firm.
A former professional women's basketball player, Orender previously served as the WNBA President and she has also worked with the PGA.
Orender was thrilled to see the turnout in support of UNC Asheville women's athletics.
"This is a truly outstanding gathering of people and a tremendous show from the community," Orender said. "I was very excited and, honestly, a little nervous because even though you are in a friendly group, you want to make sure you can connect with them and provide a message that they can feel and hear and drive results. It's really important for our female athletes to be supported in a way that's representative of a community that cares."
The event featured all of the women's athletics teams at UNC Asheville in attendance with numerous student-athletes helping in various capacities.
In addition, Laura Webb received the Trailblazer Award at the luncheon.
Laura Webb founded Webb Investment Services, Inc. in 1995, where she serves a select number of clients with independent and experienced financial advice.
The force behind WomanUP in Asheville, Webb is widely-recognized as a leader in the Asheville area with her family name helping to provide service in the fields of insurance and financial management throughout Western North Carolina for more than 80 years.
UNC Asheville volleyball alum Cindi Miller (Class of 2012) also spoke about how receiving an athletic scholarship transformed her life, while swimming student-athlete Elizabeth Conte (Class of 2019) relayed to the audience why being a Bulldog means so much for the current women's student-athletes.
In a surprise announcement near the end of the event, Conte was also named the recipient of the inaugural Janice Brumit Rising Star Award. Brumit has long championed focusing on the rising stars at UNC Asheville.
"It is truly a gift and honor to be able to speak in front of that many people," Conte said. "I've never done that before, and just being in front of so many influential women and hearing their stories and accomplishments that they have achieved in their lives is special."
UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone could not have been more proud of how the community stepped up to support women's athletics.
"It was so exciting to see so many people out today supporting women's athletics, and truly as our keynote speaker, Donna Orender, said 'it's our time,' and the energy and excitement that was in the Sherrill Center today was phenomenal," Cone said. "I want to say thank you to not only our sponsors and Our Turn to Play committee members, but to Asheville for showing up for our women."
To learn more about all of the great things happening with UNC Asheville athletics, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
To watch the entire "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo, please visit HERE.
To check out some of the highlights from the annual event, please visit HERE.
**Photo by Adrian Etheridge of left-to-right of Cone and Orender**
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – It was a record-breaking day at Kimmel Arena inside the Sherrill Center on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.
This time though it was not about a big UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball victory, but rather it was about the well over 500 individuals who came out to support the annual "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo.
The event recognizes the many successes of women in athletics and encourages all to support gender equity.
The keynote speaker for this year's "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo was Donna Orender, who is the CEO of Orender Unlimited, a Jacksonville-based consulting and advisory firm.
A former professional women's basketball player, Orender previously served as the WNBA President and she has also worked with the PGA.
Orender was thrilled to see the turnout in support of UNC Asheville women's athletics.
"This is a truly outstanding gathering of people and a tremendous show from the community," Orender said. "I was very excited and, honestly, a little nervous because even though you are in a friendly group, you want to make sure you can connect with them and provide a message that they can feel and hear and drive results. It's really important for our female athletes to be supported in a way that's representative of a community that cares."
The event featured all of the women's athletics teams at UNC Asheville in attendance with numerous student-athletes helping in various capacities.
In addition, Laura Webb received the Trailblazer Award at the luncheon.
Laura Webb founded Webb Investment Services, Inc. in 1995, where she serves a select number of clients with independent and experienced financial advice.
The force behind WomanUP in Asheville, Webb is widely-recognized as a leader in the Asheville area with her family name helping to provide service in the fields of insurance and financial management throughout Western North Carolina for more than 80 years.
UNC Asheville volleyball alum Cindi Miller (Class of 2012) also spoke about how receiving an athletic scholarship transformed her life, while swimming student-athlete Elizabeth Conte (Class of 2019) relayed to the audience why being a Bulldog means so much for the current women's student-athletes.
In a surprise announcement near the end of the event, Conte was also named the recipient of the inaugural Janice Brumit Rising Star Award. Brumit has long championed focusing on the rising stars at UNC Asheville.
"It is truly a gift and honor to be able to speak in front of that many people," Conte said. "I've never done that before, and just being in front of so many influential women and hearing their stories and accomplishments that they have achieved in their lives is special."
UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone could not have been more proud of how the community stepped up to support women's athletics.
"It was so exciting to see so many people out today supporting women's athletics, and truly as our keynote speaker, Donna Orender, said 'it's our time,' and the energy and excitement that was in the Sherrill Center today was phenomenal," Cone said. "I want to say thank you to not only our sponsors and Our Turn to Play committee members, but to Asheville for showing up for our women."
To learn more about all of the great things happening with UNC Asheville athletics, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
To watch the entire "Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon" presented by Wells Fargo, please visit HERE.
To check out some of the highlights from the annual event, please visit HERE.
**Photo by Adrian Etheridge of left-to-right of Cone and Orender**
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