University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Kristi Coleman Headlines 2025 Our Turn to Play Scholarship Dinner
04.30.2025 | General, Athletics News
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The UNC Asheville Athletics Department hosted the "Our Turn to Play" scholarship dinner on Tuesday (April 29) in Kimmel Arena and saw its highest-attended event in department history.
"A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this year's Our Turn to Play event," said Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. "Seeing the way our Bulldog community rallies together to support our women's athletics programs is truly remarkable. Each year we continue to see more support for this event, and I can not begin to express how much it means to our Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, staff, and me."
Before the start of Tuesday's dinner, $300,000 had already been raised in support of women's athletics, including a generous challenge gift of $150,000 from an anonymous donor to fund scholarships for female student-athletes. To take part in the challenge, click here.
The event drew a record-breaking 450 attendees and sold 50 tables in support of Bulldog women's athletics. This unprecedented show of support, from both those present and those who couldn't attend but still made contributions, led to a staggering fundraising total, estimated at over $350,000 at this time, with more gifts still to come.
This year's keynote speaker was Kristi Coleman, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment and President of the Carolina Panthers. A powerhouse in the industry, she is one of the most influential women in sports today. When she was named Panthers President in 2022, Coleman became just the second female team president in NFL history. Her historic rise reached another milestone in September 2024, when the Panthers faced the Las Vegas Raiders in the league's first-ever matchup featuring female presidents leading both franchises. An advocate for supporting youth and sports, she has played a pivotal role in growing girls' flag football across the Carolinas with an aim of achieving sanctioning in both North and South Carolina, as well as supporting camps and clinics to create a positive change for at-risk youth through the sport of soccer.
Debbie Antonelli, college basketball analyst and former player, returned as emcee. Antonelli has served as emcee for Our Turn to Play for five years and was the 2022 Trailblazer Award recipient.
Mary Ann Myers was named the recipient of this year's Trailblazer Award. Riley Edmundson, a senior member of the swim & dive team, earned the Rising Star Award for her accomplishments both in and out of the pool. UNC Asheville women's tennis coach Lise Gregory, who announced her retirement at the end of this season, was recognized as well for her accomplishments during her tenure at UNC Asheville.
The Athletic Department would like to thank the following event sponsors:
- Title Sponsor: First Bank
- Dinner Sponsor: Harry's on the Hill
- Cocktail Sponsor: Colton Groome Financial
- Rising Star Award: Janice Brumit
- Trailblazer Award Sponsor: Gratz Park Wealth
- Keynote Speaker Sponsor: Harrah's Cherokee Resort & Casino
To see the full list of event sponsors, learn more about the program, or make a donation, please visit the Our Turn to Play landing site here.