USF Athletics: Stampede For Women Fund Announced

Bulls Club Announces Stampede for Women Fund, to Support USF Athletics Female Student-Athletes

The new fund is designed to build and support USF’s 220+ female student-athletes across 10 sports

TAMPA, Feb. 3, 2021 – USF Athletics and the Bulls Club announce the launch of Stampede for Women, an initiative to champion and support the incredibly successful women’s athletic programs at the University of South Florida. The initiative is a part of USF’s long-time commitment to foster success on and off the field of competition for female student-athletes.

Stampede for Women aims to raise funds in support of USF’s 10 women’s athletic programs that provide opportunities for more than 200 female student-athletes. Funds will be used in multiple ways, including directly supporting scholarships, facilities enhancements, foreign tours, mentorship programs and career development opportunities. The idea for the program was born in the fall of 2019 when a group of powerful women leaders and philanthropists in the Tampa Bay community came together on a mission to enhance the collegiate experience by raising the bar for support for USF’s women’s athletic programs.

“I’m so excited to announce this initiative that will not only garner more financial support for our women’s athletics programs but will build and develop a powerful culture and support network, connecting past and present, for the excellence of women student-athletes at USF,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said.

In addition to raising funds for the Bulls’ incredible student-athletes, Stampede for Women will allow avenues for donors to more closely interact with teams. This access will provide opportunities for student-athletes to build relationships with members of the community and further connect the Bulls to the Tampa community.

The successful tradition of USF women’s athletics includes 54 conference championships won by current women’s programs, led by 13 in women’s tennis and 12 in volleyball. USF boasts 12 women’s All-America honors since 2013, 12 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year awards, and the 2009 WNIT Women’s Basketball Champion. Historically, the Bulls claimed an NCAA Division II national championship in women’s swimming in 1985 and saw Alicia McHugh, Suzanne Crenshaw and Dawn Hewitt win individual NCAA titles for the swimming program, which no longer competes at the varsity level. Michelle Scarborough also won NCAA Championships in women’s rifle in 1989 and 1990.

Scarborough, members of the 1985 swimming team and standout women’s basketball player Wanda Guyton were among the Bulls’ first class of USF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees in 2009. The Hall of Fame is now graced by 11 women, including Sherry Bendingfield (tennis), Kerine Black (track and field), Monica Triner (softball), Michelle Collier (volleyball), Jessica Dickson (basketball), Dayana Octavien (track and field), Shantia Grace (basketball), Sara Nevins (softball) and Courtney Williams (basketball). 

The launch of the Stampede for Women coincides with National Women and Girls in Sports Day, recognized every Feb. 3, which celebrates the impact of sports on women and their continued success in life. Showing their dedication to success beyond competition, former Bulls go on to develop inspiring career paths. Bulls alumnae forge paths as lawyers, teachers, doctors, coaches and more, giving back to their communities and showing their accomplishments as Bulls student-athletes are just the start of their impact on the world.

“We have such a strong history of success and excellence in women’s athletics at USF and many of our student-athletes have gone on to very successful careers and roles in the community,” Kelly said. “We look forward to connecting our current student-athletes with our great community of Tampa Bay and our many successful former student-athletes and build a unique and powerful network that will provide support and a road map to future success.”

The Stampede for Women initiative will not only enhance the student-athlete experience but will allow alumni and Bulls Club members to offer their talents and resources for student-athlete development during an important time in the young women’s lives. Female student-athletes will feel the impact of joining the ranks of former Bulls’ student-athletes, a powerful network of Athletics women alumni supporting each other. The initiative will bolster the mentorship and career development opportunities available to student-athletes and will be leveraged in the process of recruiting the next generation of Bulls.

Supporters of the program can make an impact on the experience of USF women student-athletes through financial contributions and through time contributions, becoming an active member of the Stampede for Women.

Gifts toward the Stampede for Women can be made online, by phone, by mail, or by stock or corporate matching for qualifying employees. Gifts will count toward My Bulls Club benefits and tiers.

To learn more about the Stampede for Women, or to make a gift, please visit MyBullsClub.com or contact Assistant Director of Athletics for Development, Abby Ritter at abritter@usf.edu or (813) 974-4223.

About USF Athletics

USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 55th season in 2020-21. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fifth straight year in 2019-20 and have posted a program-record 12 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had nearly 400 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.

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