Celebrating the Women of the NAIA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – To celebrate Women's History Month during the month of March, the NAIA office celebrates the strength and success of the women who have made their stamp in NAIA History.
One of the women featured was former Cascade Collegiate Conference student-athlete Maya Ah You-Dias from Eastern Oregon University:
Maya Ah You-Dias
I was named after Maya Angelou (famous poet) and Maya Lin (famous architect), two very strong and inspiring women who overcame a lot of adversity in their lives. As an athlete in the NAIA I was able to hold many leadership positions and although these roles were intimidating to me at times, I always thought of the women I was named after and the confidence and courage they had. When I think of the strong women in my life who have inspired me to do good things, I am filled with the desire to be that person for others.
As I continue my career working with troubled youth, I hope to be able to empower those I work with like the Maya’s I was named after have empowered me. Maya Angelou once said “you may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” This month I will continue to think about the women that came before me who did not let the circumstances of their time keep them from providing future women with the freedoms and opportunities we have now.
- Maya Ah You-Dias, former NAIA student-athlete, Eastern Oregon University
Check-out the Top 10 "Firsts" for Women in the NAIA:
https://bit.ly/3bGYHRA
More on NAIA
#womeninhistory:
https://adobe.ly/3sfkHJX