Rollins' Pennie Parker Selected for WISE Women of Inspiration Award
Will be presented by Greater Orlando Sports Commission in September
By: Rollins Athletic Communications
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) has announced five award winners that will be honored during the 2024 Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. The 6th annual luncheon will be hosted at UCF's Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday, September 25 at 11:00am.
The luncheon will recognize the honorees in three categories: Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (UCF Athletics & USWNT), Angela Suggs (Florida Sports Foundation), and Joanne Wallen (USTA) will receive the Women in Sports Leadership Award, while Grace Burr (USTA) will receive the Rising Star Award and Pennie Parker (Rollins College) will receive the WISE Greater Orlando Women of Inspiration Award. Honorees were voted on by panels made up of GO Sports and WISE Greater Orlando Board Members, respectively.
"We are honored to recognize Tiffany, Angela, Jo, Grace and Pennie for their passion, leadership and dedication to Greater Orlando's sports community," said Sharon Line Clary, Chairman of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board of Directors and Senior Vice President of Community Impact & Partnership Engagement at AdventHealth. "We are also thrilled to welcome Doris Burke as this year's keynote speaker, continuing our tradition of offering insight and inspiration from some of the most noted female athletes and executives in U.S. sports history."
WISE (Women in Sports + Events) is dedicated to recognizing women who achieve a standard of excellence in sports business, lead by example and support other women. The WISE Women of Inspiration Award, determined and awarded by local WISE chapters, honor women in chapter markets who exemplify the spirit of the WISE mission and are making a positive impact on the business of sports while serving as positive role models and mentors for other women.
Since joining Rollins College in 2002 and being named Director of Athletics in 2006, Pennie Parker has led the Tars to an era of unprecedented success. Parker was appointed to the Division II Athletic Director's Association (ADA) Board of Directors in 2011 and she served as the president of the association in 2016-17. During her tenure on the board, she was the liaison to the Division II NCAA mentoring program for many years. Her passion for mentoring has continued throughout her career and she currently serves as the Division II liaison for the distinguished NCAA Pathway Program. Parker's efforts were recognized by her peers in 2013, 2017 and 2021 as she was named Under Armour Division II Athletics Director of the Year. In 2020, she was selected as the Nike Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sport. Under her leadership, Rollins has won three NCAA Division II National Championships, 22 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) titles, 13 SSC tournaments and five SSC Mayor's Cup All-Sport trophies.
"Congratulations to this year's class of winners. We're excited to host this annual event and continue to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women in our sports community," said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. "Thank you to Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute for their ongoing support as our presenting sponsor."
Courtesy of Rollins Athletic Communications