Masthead Maine and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame will present a panel discussion commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. Panelists include University of Maine Basketball Coach Amy Vachon, University of New England Athletic Director Heather Davis, and Lisa Blais Manning who won a national championship as a player at Old Dominion. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 18th from 7:00-8:00 P.M.

Blais was a pioneer during the early days of Title IX, when opportunities for women is sport began expanding. However, progress was slow and uneven. Along with being one of the greatest players Maine ever produced, she is a long-time coach and the mother of Kristy Manning who was Maine’s Miss Basketball in 2010.

Showing how sports evolved, Vachon was named Maine’s player of the year by three different organizations. As a player at Maine, she contributed to four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament and a noted first-round victory over Stanford in 1999. As Head Coach, she has led the Black Bears to six consecutive trips to the America East finals while posting a 114-54 record.

Heather Davis earned regional honors in soccer for Plymouth State playing on a team that lost a national championship game. She has been a coach and administrator for 20 years and is currently Athletic Director and Title IX Deputy Coordinator at the University of New England. She helps oversee and coordinate the University’s response to reports of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, stalking as well as partner and domestic violence. She is considered an authority on Title IX.

The three will discuss the importance of Title IX, how it affects sports and education and how it has changed since its enactment in 1972.

The forum will be hosted by Travis Lazarczyk of the Portland Press Herald. Lazarczyk has been named Maine Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association two of the past three years. Former Colby basketball star and MSHOF Vice Chair Lisa Hook will host the event.

To sign up for the Webinar, please click this link.

Below are the videos from the last webinars held on February 24, 2021.

The first video focuses on "Lifelong Fitness" and features astronaut Chris Cassidy and Olympic gold medalist Joan Samuelson.

The second video discusses "What Sports Agents Do" and features Peter Carlisle of Octagon Sports and Kristen Kuliga of Vanguard Sports.

The third video discusses the tremendous opportunities awaiting right outside our backdoor in Maine. It features Dana Bullen (President of Sunday River) and Judy Camuso (Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife).