Pride, Purpose, & Power: Female Athlete Summit Brings Energy and Empowerment to Oskaloosa Summit

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – In a conference room filled with adults dressed in pink and high school female athletes wearing their school colors with pride, laughter mixed with applause as more than one hundred female student-athletes from across the region gathered at Musco Lighting at a first-of-its-kind event. The energy in the room reflected more than a celebration. It marked the launch of a new Female Athlete Summit in Oskaloosa, created to empower young women through leadership, wellness, and opportunity in honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

The summit was hosted by Oskaloosa Community School District in partnership with the support of several local and regional partners committed to investing in young athletes and leadership development. Sponsors included Musco Lighting, William Penn University, Mahaska Health, Central College, Kinetic Edge, and the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Other sponsors, such as Mahaska Bottling, Swims, Fareway, and Hy-Vee, provided refreshments and materials throughout the day. Together, the organizations provided speakers, interactive sessions, and resources to help female athletes build confidence, care for their bodies, and explore future opportunities in athletics and beyond.

The summit brought together students from Ottumwa, Pella Christian, Knoxville, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Centerville, and Oskaloosa for keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and hands-on learning opportunities focused on life beyond athletics.

Jamie Jacobs, Oskaloosa School’s director of activities, said the event was intentionally created to support female athletes at a critical stage of development.

“Females have their confidence peak at the age of 12, and that’s not OK with me,” Jacobs said. “Part of that is due to a lack of providing skills and support to work through that. This is about giving them tools they can use now and into the future.” 

Throughout the day, students rotated through four breakout sessions focused on leadership development, nutrition and recovery, and navigating the college recruiting process. One session explored how skills learned in sports can transfer into careers and adulthood, while others provided practical advice on fueling the body and understanding athletic opportunities after high school.

Jacobs said the summit was intentionally scheduled to align with National Girls & Women in Sports Day, a national celebration recognizing the impact of female athletes and the progress of women in athletics.

“There are a lot of events happening at the collegiate level this week, but this is the only thing like this in our area, if not the state for high school female athletes,” Jacobs said. 

Community partners played a key role in bringing the event to life. Kristen McMains, a talent outreach specialist at Musco Lighting, said the company was eager to support an initiative centered on youth, leadership and future career pathways.

“Musco is passionate about community connection and fostering relationships and career opportunities for students,” McMains said. “We want them to see a place where they can land someday and continue doing phenomenal things.” 

McMains said events like the summit give young women space to slow down, reflect, and grow.

“We’re all moving 100 miles an hour every day,” she said. “This gives them time to lean into themselves, understand their nutrition, develop leadership skills, and see opportunities beyond high school.” 

A key component of the summit focused on college athletics and the recruiting process. Laura North, head softball coach and senior women leader at William Penn University, led a session designed to educate athletes on what to expect as they transition from high school sports to the collegiate level.

“We’re celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day as a community for the first time, and there’s so much to be recognized,” North said. “We didn’t have these opportunities growing up. Now these young women get to learn about the process, hear from other women in sports, and see all the ways athletics can shape their future.” 

North said her goal was to both inspire participants and ease the stress often associated with recruiting.

“Education is power,” she said. “I hope they leave inspired and knowing there is a place for them if they want to play college athletics.” 

For students, the summit offered both practical takeaways and meaningful connections.

Brynlee Carney, a junior from Centerville High School who plays volleyball, basketball, soccer, and softball, said she attended after encouragement from her athletic director.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to learn and be surrounded by people who are like me and involved in sports,” Carney said. 

Carney said the leadership sessions stood out most.

“I learned how to be a better leader and captain,” she said. “It was nice hearing different perspectives, especially from someone who plays in college.” 

She said the leadership lessons learned in Oskaloosa would extend beyond athletics.

“In five years, people won’t remember your stats,” Carney said. “They’ll remember how you treated them. That’s something I can bring back to every team I’m on.” 

Oskaloosa junior Kamryn Maddy, a cross-country runner who also plays basketball and golf, said the nutrition and recovery sessions were especially helpful as she returned from an injury.

“It helped me be more mindful about what I put into my body and how important recovery is,” Maddy said. 

Maddy also valued the chance to meet athletes from other schools.

“When we compete, they’re the competition, so you don’t really get to know them,” she said. “It was exciting to branch out and connect.” 

As she prepares to step into a leadership role next year, Maddy said the summit helped build confidence.

“This helps girls not be timid in leadership positions,” she said. “I learned things I can take back to help younger athletes.” 

Jacobs said the long-term goal is to make the Female Athlete Summit an annual event, with plans to eventually expand opportunities to middle school students as well.

“We started small this year, but the hope is to grow,” she said. “These girls will take what they learned and bring that excitement back to their teams and schools.” 

As cheers echoed through Musco Lighting’s campus and young athletes exchanged stories, advice, and encouragement, the first Female Athlete Summit marked more than just a celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. It became a powerful reminder of what happens when schools, colleges, and community partners come together to invest in confidence, leadership, and opportunity. For the students who attended, the lessons learned will continue to shape not only how they compete but also how they lead long after the final whistle.