A digital render of the new Gladys Ziemer Women’s Athletic Lounge.
Former Huskies basketball player Bonnie Henrickson ’86 kicked off the campaign for the new Gladys Ziemer Women’s Athletic Lounge by matching all gifts (dollar for dollar) up to $15,000.
As of March of 2015, more than $44,000 was raised for the multi-purpose space that will be used for team meetings, video review and a student-athlete study area. It will include enhanced technology for game preparation and Internet access for research, planning and student studies.
In May of 2014, St. Cloud State lost a pioneer in women’s athletics with the passing of Gladys Ziemer, former coach and director of women’s athletics. Ziemer understood the benefits of sport participation for young women and was committed to developing competitive opportunities at St. Cloud State.
Ziemer was instrumental in forming the first athletic teams for women at St. Cloud State and was a leader on the state, conference and national levels of women’s athletics. She served as the women’s athletics director from 1969 to 1995, was the head women’s basketball coach from 1973 to 1993, and coached volleyball, gymnastics and softball in their infancy.
She held the University accountable for creating quality opportunities for women, and along the way became a mentor and guide to many.
Current Director of Athletics Heather Weems began a discussion last summer to formulate a plan to honor Ziemer for her trailblazing efforts. Out of that discussion was born a fundraising campaign for the Gladys Ziemer Women’s Athletics Lounge.
