Newton SCCC Student-Athlete Meghan Rath will be representing Sussex County Community College at the annual National Association for Girls and Women in Sports luncheon, as “Woman of the Year,” this February. The National Girls and Women in Sports Day was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1986, to honor female athletic achievement and recognize the importance of sports and fitness participation for all girls and women. On Feb. 11, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students and parents across the country will show their support of the day and of this year’s theme, “Throw like a girl Lead like a champion!” The celebration of the day began in 1987, as a tribute to Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports. Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, the tribute has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. The celebration is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition, which combines the experience and resources of the seven premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: American Association of University Women; Girl Scouts of the America; Girls Incorporated; the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport; National Women’s Law Center; the Women’s Sports Foundation; and the YWCA of the United States. Rath represents the best that SCCC has to offer. She is a “New Jersey Star,” academically and in personality. A quadruplet, she represents her clan well, having played both softball and soccer. In softball she batted .314 with a .495 on base percentage and in her first year in soccer she was All-Conference and All-Region. Academically, she was All-Conference and All-Region first team and All-American, through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. With respect to her social conscience, she tutors members of her team, volunteers for the College’s social outreach program, and was an active counselor with our summer youth camps.