For the sixth straight year -- and the seventh time in eight years -- a Yale alumnus has won the prestigious Silver Anniversary Award from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
Former field hockey player Lawrie Mifflin, who graduated magna cum laude in 1973 as a member of the first class of women at Yale, was presented the award during the annual NCAA Convention in January. The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes former student-athletes who have distinguished themselves since completing their college athletic careers 25 years ago. Mifflin was among six former athletes to receive the honor this year.
While an undergraduate, Mifflin organized a team in women's field hockey, which became one of Yale's first varsity sports for women, and she served as the team's first captain. She was the first woman to work for the sports department of the Yale Daily News and was honored with Saybrook College's Fellows Prize, which is given for distinguished intellectual achievement above and beyond the call of academic duty.
After graduating, Mifflin became the first woman sportswriter for the New York Daily News, where she worked 1976-81. She covered four Olympics and two World Cup soccer tournaments. She is currently the culture reporter for The New York Times, but she has continued her involvement in the world of athletics as a founding member of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association of America and head coach of the Boys and Girls Under 12 soccer program. She coauthored "Women's Basketball," an instructional book for young girls.
The NCAA's presentation of its Silver Anniversary Award to so many Yale athletes is a great honor for the University, says Thomas A. Beckett, director of athletics. "The qualities that we are particularly proud of in our athletes are those centered around leadership," he says. "Our athletic program tends to attract athletes who are leaders, and when one of our former athletes is honored, like Lawrie and the other Yale athletes who have received the Silver Anniversary Award, it's an indication of how our students are leaders in competition on the fields and, ultimately, in their chosen professions."
The other Yale recipients of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award are Tone Grant '66 (football, lacrosse) in 1991; Donald A. Schollander '68 (swimming and diving) in 1993; Calvin Hill '69 (football) in 1994; Kwaku Ohene-Frempong '70 (soccer, track and field) in 1995; Kurt L. Schmoke '71 (football, lacrosse) in 1996; and Jack Ford '72 (football) in 1997.