Sussex County Community College hosted its first Lead Like Her Leadership Summit on Feb. 4, bringing together female high school athletes, coaches and athletic professionals for a day focused on leadership development in sports.

The summit took place at the college’s Performing Arts Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It  is designed to give participants an opportunity to reflect on how athletics can shape leadership skills. The event aims to encourage confidence and collaboration among women in athletics through interactive sessions and guided discussions.

A central part of the program will be the keynote address by Dr. Cindy Jebb, president of Ramapo College of New Jersey and a retired U.S. Army brigadier general.

Additional sessions featured former collegiate athletes Vicky Ziolkowski, Katie Ord, Jamie Borger and Kelsie Stefkovich, who shared perspectives shaped by their experiences competing at the college level in sports such as soccer, field hockey and softball. These discussions were designed to explore leadership skills for athletes both now and in the future.

The summit will additionally present two awards meant to recognize leadership within local high school athletics: Female Athletics Professional of the Year and Lead Like Her Athlete of the Year. These awards highlight commitment among coaches, athletic professionals and student-athletes.

Ultimately, the sessions and recognitions aim to show that leadership in athletics goes beyond competition, emphasizing growth, accountability and impact on others.