(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright joined Union County College (UCC) student athletes Shandy Fitts and Giavanni Shim, both of Roselle, Donna Herran of the UCC Board of Governors, former professional basketball player Carol Blazejowski and UCC President Margaret McMenamin at the college’s 1st Annual Outstanding Women Leaders Celebration at the UCC Cranford Campus.
The event marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX, a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972, which states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Carol “Blaze” Blazejowski, an alumna of Cranford High School and Montclair State University, served as captain of the U.S. Women’s Olympic basketball team and was later inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. She is also the former president and general manager of Women’s National Basketball Association’s New York Liberty.
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)