At the women's volleyball game last Friday, September 27, senior Olyvia Kennedy was presented with the 2024-25 George Mason Athletics Equality Impact Award. The Equity Impact Award is presented to a George Mason student who contributes to furthering inclusion on campus through visibility, representation, and action.

Last summer, Kennedy attended the Athlete Activism Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. She was invited, in part, to accept an award on behalf of George Mason, who received a perfect score from the Athlete Ally Equality Index. She spent four days at the summit learning, interacting, and being inspired by LGBTQI+ activists in the athletics space. Since then, she has started an Athlete Ally chapter at George Mason to continue to promote inclusivity within the athletics department and across the campus. 

Upon her return from the summit, Kennedy wrote an article reflecting on her time in Louisville. That article is below:
 
Last summer, I had the opportunity to attend the Athlete Activism Summit put on by Athlete Ally in Louisville, Kentucky. Athlete Ally is a non-profit organization with a mission of activating the athletic community in order to exercise leadership and champion LGBTQI+ equality in sports. The summit was hosted at the University of Louisville, and over four days brought together student-athletes and administrators from a variety of NCAA institutions.
                 
I was one of several student-athletes there who were representing universities that received a perfect score on Athlete Ally's Equality Index. Mason Athletics' perfect score comes from several different factors, such as department policies, resources available for students and administrators, codes of conduct, and inclusion initiatives all pertaining to advocacy and inclusion for LGBTQI+ athletes. The award ceremony recognized several student-athletes and administrators that were awarded as schools that had perfect scores on the Athlete Equality Index, and we were additionally recognized at the Racing Louisville soccer match that weekend. As a student-athlete who has been a member of Mason Athletics since my freshmen year in 2021, I am so proud to be part of a department that goes above and beyond when it comes to advocating for LGBTQI+ student-athletes and administrators.
                 
Beyond accepting the Equality Index Award on behalf of Mason Athletics, I participated in the summit by attending panels, collaborating in workshops, and bonding with other student-athletes and administrators who are also members of the LGBTQI+ community or are allies to the community. I had the privilege of hearing from several amazing activists who also happen to be amazing athletes, such as Dr. John Carlos, Angel McCoughtry, and Gaby Vincent. The stories and acts of leadership from these speakers were incredibly inspiring, as these individuals displayed to us that we have the power to use our voices and stand for what we believe in through sport. Within the workshops, I had conversations with other athletes regarding identity as an athlete and a member of the LGBTQI+ community, our experiences as LGBTQI+ athletes, and how we can take pieces of this summit back to campus with us in order to make athletics a safe and inviting space for LGBTQI+ athletes and administrators.
                 
Having the opportunity to represent Mason at this summit was one of the most incredible and important moments in my time as a student-athlete. Sharing stories, experiences, and gaining support of other LGBTQI+ student-athletes has allowed me to build a network that is not limited only to my community at Mason, but also extends to other NCAA institutions, displaying the level of care and community that is fostered by Athlete Ally. Over the four days of that the summit was held, I was able to be both vulnerable and diligent, as sharing my own story and hearing the stories of others ignited a spark to make impacts in our own worlds of athletics. Being in this space was one of the most inviting experiences, as I was able to connect with so many people—whether it was a simple "hello" or a connection that lasted the entire weekend, every person I interacted with was kind and ready to uplift me and others around us, both as student-athletes and as individuals with the common goal in mind of championing inclusion in athletics.
                 
As I have returned to campus, my goal for the coming school year and sports season is to establish a campus chapter of Athlete Ally within our own athletic department. This is a space I know I really could have benefited from within my first three years as a student-athlete at Mason, therefore my goal is to work hard in order to establish a sustainable space for current athletes and athletes of the future. The intention of creating this space is to give athletes and administrators a space not only to celebrate LGBTQI+ identities within our athletic community, but also to educate and inform on policies and discuss the ways we can continue to improve.
                 
I am extremely grateful to Mason Athletics not only for giving me the opportunity to attend Athlete Ally's Athlete Activism Summit, but also for allowing me to bring this organization back to campus with me in order to create a space for both LGBTQI+ individuals and allies.