Central Islip, N.Y. - Paralympian and Women's Sports Foundation past president, Aimee Mullins addressed a crowd of over 200 coaches, administrators and senior female student-athletes at the Eighth Annual East Coast Conference's Senior Female Athlete Brunch on Sunday (Feb. 8).  The Brunch was held at the ECC office on the New York Institute of Technology's Central Islip campus.

Mullins spoke to the ECC's mission of promoting the total person and stressed the importance of character.  Through her comical narratives of how she faced and overcame adversity, Mullins displayed the value of believing in oneself as well as having an "I can do it" mentality.  Mullins emphasized the importance of a positive mental outlook on life and quoted Henry Ford by stating "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right."  She challenged the audience to dream big and let nothing get in the way of achieving the most out of life.

"Aimee shared her stories and told us that nothing is impossible," reflected Barbara Puszkiewicz, senior volleyball player and rower at Dowling College.  "She explained that we are the biggest obstacle in attaining our dreams and if we believe that we can overcome anything, then we will.  In the end it is our life, our strength and our will to succeed."  

The Senior Female Athlete Brunch was established in 2001 by the conference's Senior Woman Administrators Council, in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day.  The annual event highlights the strides women have made in the sports arena as well as acknowledging the importance of women in sports.  Previous speakers include Dot Richardson, Judy Sweet and Ann Liguori.

"The Senior Woman Administrator's Senior Female Athlete Brunch is a unique event to the East Coast Conference," stated Lenore Walsh, Senior Associate Athletic Director at New York Institute of Technology and ECC SWA chair.  "Today's speaker left our seniors moved to keep re-evaluating their goals and never settle for less then they expect of themselves.  This is what graduating seniors needed to hear since they are moving on to the next phase of their lives."  

In addition to the keynote address by Mullins, senior female student-athletes from the ECC's 10 institutions were recognized for their accomplishments.  Awards were given out for four-year participation, multi-sport participation and highest grade-point average at each institution.  Mariel Andersson of C.W. Post received the Highest GPA award as she accumulated a 3.9 GPA, which was the highest of all the graduating female senior student-athletes.