The contest theme: What does a female athlete look like?

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 4, Team-Up for Youth, a Bay Area program dedicated to promoting the importance of sports among low-income girls, honored 27 young female athletes. The ceremony was held at MOCHA, which was packed with proud parents and young athletes.

"This (award ceremony) inspires us to go out and express how we feel," said Selam Workeneh, 2003 Team-Up for Youth contest winner and volunteer tennis coach. "(Sports participation) builds a lot of confidence in girls, and the (awards ceremony) shows them that whatever they draw and write is valued."

Aseelah Bolden, 8, has been playing tennis since she was 4.

"I feel good playing with my sisters and my friends," said Aseelah, who attends Washington Elementary School in Oakland.

"I felt happy for winning," said Aseelah, who practices six times a day.

Aseelah's mother, Donna Bolden, said she was surprised and proud that her daughter won the essay contest.

"I try to encourage them (her three daughters) to do the best at what they love," said Bolden, a teacher for the Oakland Unified School District. "She (Aseelah) even got her older sister playing tennis".

Kids will go to a program that is fun, said Isa Hendry-Eaton of the Team-Up program.

"Girls who participate in sports start off shy, and quiet and they just bloom into confident girls," said Hendry-Eaton. "Girls feel very good about themselves and that transcends into school and friendships."

Michelle Lam, 12, won an award for a collage she made of different girls playing sports.

"I like hitting the ball really hard and I feel special," said Michelle, who is ranked No. 1 among young girls tennis players in Northern California. "I started playing tennis when my uncle was teaching me how to ride a bike. And when I saw a tennis court, he introduced me to tennis."

"Shoot for the stars" was the name of Monica Lam's drawing, also a winner in the art contest. Monica, who is Michelle's sister, practices four times a week at Mission Playground, a recreational site in San Francisco.

"Tennis makes me feel more confident in myself," said Monica, 14.

"I feel relaxed when I play tennis. That's the only time when I'm not working hard on school work," said Monica, who dreams of playing college tennis.

Women student-athletes graduate at a significantly higher rate than women students in general, according to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Study on Graduation Rates, 2000.

"Sports may provide that place where young girls feel very good about themselves," said Hendry-Eaton. "We need places for kids to go. If there aren't accessible and affordable programs, what are the alternatives?"

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
(510) 208-6477 Fax
lmclaughlin@angnewspapers.com