WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference Community Engagement Award of Excellence is presented annually to the institution that hosts an activity on their campus that embodies the principles of community engagement by building relationships and bridging the gap between campus and community. This year’s winner is Daemen Athletics.

The Wildcats take home the honor for their work on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 25. 

Daemen's celebratory event was free and open to the public, with female athletes in grades four and above encouraged to attend. 

The event included a workshop about being a well-balanced athlete, led by featured speakers Dr. Amy Trabert, a psychotherapist from Whole Wellness Counseling, and Natalie Robertello, a sports dietician from Be Fueled Sports Nutrition. Trabert, a 2018 Daemen graduate and former cross country/track & field athlete for the Wildcats, spoke about the importance of a healthy brain, while Robertello, who provides her nutritional expertise to Daemen's current student-athletes, spoke about the importance of a healthy body. 

In addition to the hour-long event, attendees received a commemorative National Girls and Women in Sports Day poster signed by Daemen's female student-athletes. Also, those with tickets to the event were offered free admission to the women's basketball game between Daemen and D'Youville, beginning at noon that same day at Lumsden Gymnasium. 

The award comes with a $500 grant from the ECC to be used towards community efforts during the 2024-25 season.