Brian Hofman Speaker for Kenton-Hardin County Soroptimists Celebration of Women at ONU

Kenton-Hardin County Soroptimists are planning to celebrate the positive energy that women and girls have generated in the past year. The annual banquet, Celebration of Women, will be held at Ohio Northern University’s McIntosh Center’s ballroom on Thursday, March 23. The doors will open at 5 p.m. with a buffet at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from any member. One can also contact 419-231-3039 or email: sikenton@soroptimist.org to reserve tickets. Please RSVP by March 16.

The group has asked one of the most caring and supportive coaches of women at ONU to be the guest speaker. Brian Hofman has been the assistant coach for ONU Women’s Volleyball for 30 years.

Hofman has recently stopped being an assistant coach, but his support is not stopping there. As director of ONU’s sports management program, he is engaged in two research projects in the field of women’s collegiate athletics. His first project is exploring the impact that motherhood has on the careers of female coaches in NCAA Division I and Division III. His second project is a book detailing the history of women’s sports at ONU.

Hofman has conducted many interviews to gather material for his research. The sports world was changed in 1972 with Title IX which gave girls opportunities for sports that had usually been enjoyed only by boys. He is very proud of the 3 influential ONU women whom he refers to as the triumvirate. This combined driving force of Helen Ludwig, Gayle Lauth, and Sheila Kolvachik worked as coaches and teachers as well as behind the scenes to advance women’s sports. These women are considered the roots that have allowed for more women to play, coach, and teach sports through the 50 years at ONU since the inception of Title IX.

All citizens, who support women and girls, are invited to this Celebration of Women banquet. It is a chance to be inspired by speaker Brian Hofman and to show appreciation to the women and girls who will be awarded for their efforts to improve their lives and make a difference with more education and better paying jobs.

(Story and picture submitted)