Billie Jean Honored By Barnard

Tag : jean cap

Billie Jean King exchanged her racquet and World TeamTenniswarm-ups for a cap and gown yesterday.
The Hall of Famer and social activist, accepted the Barnard Medalof Distinction  Barnard Colleges highest honor  at the Colleges116th commencement ceremony on May 20 in upper Manhattan. King washonored for her inspiring work and accomplishments as a pioneeringathlete and champion for social equality.
Kings award was presented by alumna Laila Shetty, who graduatedBarnard in 2003 and excelled as a tennis player and served asStudent Government Association president during her time atBarnard.
"You have broken boundaries as you have broken records, both inyour sport and in the game of life," Shetty said during theceremony.
"Ms. Kings career is nothing short of incredible  she inspireswomen and men, athletes and non-athletes, activists andentrepreneurs, alike. Her penchant for smashing records andstereotypes teaches all of us that no goal is ever out of reach,"said Judith R. Shapiro, president of Barnard College, in a preparedstatement before the ceremony. "We are honored and pleased topresent Ms. King with the Barnard Medal of Distinction."
One of the most celebrated tennis players in history, King iscredited with spearheading the women's movement in tennis and isoften recognized as the single most influential player inpopularizing professional tennis in the United States. King has won39 Grand Slam titles, in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles,including a record twenty titles at Wimbledon. In 1973, Kingempowered women and educated men by defeating male opponent BobbyRiggs in the famed "Battle of the Sexes" match staged in theHouston Astrodome.
Ten years later, King officially retired from tennis, but nevertruly hung up her racquet. She founded the Women's TennisAssociation and the Women's Sports Foundation, and co-founded WorldTeamTennis, the groundbreaking co-ed professional tennis league.King has coached Olympic and Fed Cup teams, leading the U.S. squadto four Olympic medals and the 1976, 1996, 1999 and 2000 Fed Cuptitles.
King has received countless honors and awards. In 1990, she wasnamed one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century"by Life magazine, and in 1994, she was ranked No. 5 on SportsIllustrateds "Top 40 Athletes" list. She has been inducted intothe National Womens Hall of Fame, the International Tennis Hall ofFame, and the Court of Champions at the USTA National TennisCenter.
King is an advocate for LGBT rights and a staunch supporter ofwomen in sports. She currently serves on the boards of both theElton John AIDS Foundation and the Women's Sports Foundation. Lastyear, King launched GreenSlam, an organization that challenges thesports industry to be more proactive about supporting theenvironment and adopting green initiatives.
Illana Kloss, Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of WorldTeamTennis, accompanied Ms. King to the ceremony. An accomplishedprofessional tennis player, Kloss was recently named "SportsBusiness Woman of the Year" by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center,and inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame inCommack, New York.
In addition to honoring King, Barnard celebrated the achievementsof Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and editor-in-chief of The NewYorker David Remnick, and lifelong Harlem advocate and chieforganizer of Harlem's Head Start programs Dr. Thelma DavidsonAdair. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed theapproximately 590 members of the Class of 2008. All four honoreeswere awarded the Barnard Medal of Distinction.