In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the University of Notre Dame, its Athletics Department and the Notre Dame Monogram Club will celebrate the passionate group of women who paved the way for the success of the University’s current women’s varsity programs by awarding more than 250 honorary monograms.
Given that their contributions represent the product of a true pioneering effort, the honorees, including both the founders of the Women’s Athletic Association and the women who competed for Notre Dame during the first five years of coeducation (1972-77), will receive honorary monograms in a ceremony this fall.
“The women’s athletics programs at Notre Dame have enjoyed remarkable success over the years, but none of that would have been possible without the commitment, dedication and passion of the women who blazed the trail 50 years ago,” University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., said. “We are indebted to their pioneering efforts and are pleased to welcome them into the ranks of the Monogram Club.”
“The women’s athletics programs at Notre Dame have enjoyed remarkable success over the years, but none of that would have been possible without the commitment, dedication and passion of the women who blazed the trail 50 years ago.” - University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
On June 23, 1972, the Education Amendments of 1972 were enacted. Title IX of the amendments prohibited sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. Later that year, Notre Dame enrolled its first class of undergraduate women.
While athletics was not specifically mentioned in Title IX, the statute was soon applied to collegiate sports programs and, over the past half-century, played the primary role in opening up opportunities for women in athletics.
Beginning in 1972, a group of passionate female students formed the Women’s Athletic Association, and over the course of the next five years, this organization provided leadership to the many students who were interested in developing varsity teams. The association created a path to that status through the organization and promotion of interest groups, club teams and varsity programs.
“Many women who enrolled at Notre Dame during those first five years had opportunities to use their athletic talents at other schools,” Jack Swarbrick, vice president and the James E. Rohr Director of Athletics, said. “Instead, they chose to come to Notre Dame and build a rich coeducational environment that would ensure equitable opportunities for future students. Laying a strong foundation would be their measure of success, and their efforts cannot be overstated. Most importantly, they inspired others to follow their example, both in how to compete and how to build for the future.”
Kate Markgraf, Monogram Club president, decorated national and international soccer player and current general manager of the U.S. Women’s National team, added: “I am proud that we are recognizing this group for their sacrifices, and the contributions that live on today. Using ingenuity and their personal resources, they figured out a way to train, compete and navigate programs toward varsity status. I am among thousands of Notre Dame female student-athletes who benefited from their vision, drive and determination all those years ago.”
Notre Dame currently fields 26 varsity athletics programs, half of which are for women, beginning in 1976 with tennis and adding through the years fencing, field hockey, basketball, volleyball, swimming and diving, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor and outdoor track and field, lacrosse and rowing. Irish women have won 14 national championships in fencing, soccer and basketball, as well as many individual national championships.
The University will invite the honorees back to campus for the UNLV football weekend Oct. 21-23. There will be a special recognition ceremony and the group will be recognized during the Notre Dame football game.
The Honorees
If you are an honoree, please complete this form.
Anne Marie Adams
S. Ahoy
Kam Amato
Kathryn Anderson
Judy Arenson
Maria Arminio
Lorainne Armstrong
Susie Augustus
Cheryl Baggen
Bev Baginski
Kathleen Bailey
Sue Bailey
Becky Banasiak
Kathy Banbury
Leslie Barnes
Sarah Bartzen
Mary K. Baty
Jean Benedett
Anne Berges
Betsy Bernard
Liz Berry
Argery Bitchakas
Kim Bledsoe
Ann Bond
J. Bonifert
Lenore Bottino
Barb Boylan
Martha Boyle
Bonita Bradshaw
Mary Brady
Barb Breesmen
Nancy Brenner
Cindy Buescher
Mary C. Burke
Pat Burke
Erin Burns
Boni Burton
Shotsie Caine
Maria Calabrese
Ellen Callahan
Maura Carroll
Mary Champion
Mary Clemency
Ann Colbert
Cathy Comerford
Mary Conley
Beth Conlisk
Patty Coogan
Elizabeth Corbin
Kathy Cordes
Peg Crehan
Marilyn Crimmins
Nancy Cueroni
Peggy Curtin
MaryJo Cushing
Debbie Dean
Anne Deighen
Jill Delucia
Kate Dickinson
Anne Dilenschneider
Kathy Dilworth
Camille Doan
Laura Dodge
Betsy Dorzweiler
Kathy Downs
D. Dressler
Nora Duffy
Sally Duffy
Chris Dziwura
Margaret D’Aquila
Jeanne Earley
Robin Eresman
Jeanne Essling
Betsy Fallon
Kathy Farhart
Pat Farro
Sue Fitzpatrick
Mary Fitzsimons
Laura Flaherty
Sue Flanigan
Liz Flood
Maureen Flynn
Sue Fondi
Joan Fremeau
Barb Frey
Carole Froling
Fidele Galey
Christie Gallagher
Erin Gallagher
Kathy Gallogly
Libby Galloway
Ann Gardner
Jane Garland
Jody Gormley
Nora Grace
Sue Grace
Debbie Grady
Carol Guckert
Mary Gumble
Mary Kay Hanson
Meme Hanson
Anne Marie Hawkins
Mary Hayes
Peggy Hester
Mary Beth Hines
Astrid Hotvedt
Ellen Hughes
Mary Jaeger
Mary James
Diane Johnson
Kathleen Jones
Kathy Juba
Kathy Kane
Louise Karas
Veronica Keefe
Jennifer Kellow
Ann Kelly
Regina Kelso
Lory Kerger
Jay Kiley
Roberta Kilpatrick
Mary Koch
Sue Krakora
Judy Kseniak
Sue Kunkel
Cindy Labriola
Mary Lammers
Carol Latronica
Pam Leary
MaryBeth Leonard
Janet Longfellow
Geri Lopez
Donna Losurdo
Maria Losurdo
Adella Malvezzi
Mary Mannion
Kim Manzi
Melanie Marshall
Mary Marten
Molly Martin
Rita Martin
Anne Mattimore
Mary Beth Mazanec
Laurie McAllister
Kathy McCann
Marie McCarthy
Pam McGinley
Molly McGuire (Ohio)
Molly McGuire (Iowa)
Karen McKeon
Jean McQuillan
Kathy McRae
Lynn Mertensoto
Kristin Meyer
Coletta Miller
Nikki Miller
Terry Molony
JoAnn Mooney
Carole Moore
Meg Morgan
Mary Lou Mulvihill
Byrne Murphy
Marianne Murphy
Ellen Myler
Dana Nahlan
Lori Nolan
Margaret Noonan
Barb Norcross
Mairin North
Sue O’Brien
Kathy O’Connell
Eileen O’Grady
Michele O’Haren
Trish O’Donnell
Judith Offerle
Julianne Olech
Sharon Orbeson
Jayne O’Reilly
Charmaine Ortega
Ginny Ott
Brenda Pallone
Sandy Parnell
Joan Porter
Laure Prestine
Phyllis Provost
Joanne Prusiecki
Cindy Rebholz
Susan Reis
Joan Richtsmeier
Nancy Rickhoff
Maggy Rietman
Barb Riley
Kathleen Riordan
Janet Robert
Judy Robert
Gina Robillard
Ann Rockey
Laura Rohrbach
Melissa Roman
Diane Rortvedt
Gill Rose
Judy Rupprucht
Mary Ryan
Janet Scanlon
Gail Schahade
Janel Schliesman
C. Schoendienst
Margaret Schuler
Mary Setlock
Kathy Shanahan
Judy Shiely
Carolyn Shiffels
Elizabeth Short
Ginger Siefring
Sue Smiggen
Carol Simmons
Chris Simony
Mary Singer
Linda Sisson
Andrea Smith
Sally Smith
Mary Spalding
Brooks Stasse
Nancy Stoltz
Elizabeth Storey
Monica Stupke
Camille St. Hilaire
Eunice Sullivan
Kathy Sullivan
Sharon Sullivan
Judy Temple
Amy Thornton
Becky Thornton
Rosemary Tirinnanzi
Beth Towne
Nina Tressler
Debbie Valentino
Monica Vogel
Ellen Walsh
Mary Walsh
Vicki Warren
Helen Weber
Cindy Weidner
Jule Wetherbee
Mary White
Linda Wilber
Lisa Winkelman
Lauren Wood
Kathy Zablotney
Mary Ann Zdinak
Ruth Zurcher
If you are an honoree, please complete this form.
Contact Info:
If you have any questions, please contact the Monogram Club at ndmonogram@gmail.com