Reporter
CSU Bakersfield female student athletes take part in Women Inspiring Next Generation through Sports, which allows CSUB student athletes the opportunity to give back to junior high school students. As the student athletes mentor young girls they also, share experiences, best practices, and knowledge with successful women role models from the Bakersfield community. Professional women within the Bakersfield community mentor women student athletes and the student athletes mentor junior high girls. The WINGS program assists generations of women from the Bakersfield community.
“WINGS has been a massive impact on my life, by opening my eyes to the struggles women have overcome in sports, by giving me a chance to inspire and teach generations below me,” said Athletic Advisor President and psychology major Nicola Barrett.
The program helps the young student athletes prepare for life after college by building positive relationships with women role models in the community, developing life skills, and preparing for the working world. The program also assists junior high students by enhancing the importance of an education and displaying the endless opportunities available. The mentors designated to each student athlete contribute significantly. Not only are the mentors of the student athletes a phone call away, but provide a fantastic example for the student athletes.
Senior Associate Athletics Director and chair of the WINGS program, Cindy Goodmon recognized the Kern County Women’s and Girl’s Fund for launching the program forward with a $10,000 grant. Goodmon believes in the collaborative effort and the community.
“Our lives are all about mentoring, whether we are being mentored or we are mentoring somebody else, it’s an ever moving target,” said Goodmon, “We always have to keep our hearts and souls open to what we can do for others.”
Karen Langston Associate Director of Athletics Advancement for CSUB and a member of the WINGS committee originally wrote the grant. Langston recognized the impact WINGS has on the student athletes.
“It provides them with great examples of how to become successful,” said Langston. “It gives them context outside of an academic and athletic experience.”
Langston says that the structure of academia and sports is different from the outside world. Langston enhances that the WINGS program helps student athletes build these relationships so they are not left out in the cold and are able to transition into the working world.
“CSUB really wants to be the heart and soul of our community,” said Goodman.