Molly Hudgins is the special guest speaker for the 2026 Celebrate Women. (SIU Carbondale photo)
January 28, 2026
Get tickets now for 2026 Celebrate Women at SIU, sponsors welcome
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Celebrate Women, an event to recognize the successes of women throughout the region while raising funds to foster the next generation of accomplished women, is happening March 26, and tickets are available now.
Molly Hudgins, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association, will be the guest speaker. The event will include awards presentations, a light dinner and more. It begins at 4:45 p.m. as the silent auction kicks off and takes place at the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center, which is in the Southern Illinois Airport.
Sponsored by the Carbondale Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the 29th annual celebration is the primary fundraiser for the group’s scholarship program, which has expanded to add a new scholarship each of the last three years.
Diverse program
The theme for the evening is “Champions Beyond the Scoreboard: Women in Sport” and a silent auction kicks off the night.
Diane Daugherty, former SIU golf coach, will introduce Hudgins, a 1997 SIU graduate, former undergraduate women’s golf team standout and a longtime SIU supporter. After nearly 20 years as a Lindenwood University administrator and faculty member, including a stint as dean of the business school, Hudgins returned to her alma mater as deputy athletic director for administration and student services. In 2023, she assumed her leadership role of the alumni association.
She has fostered success among women athletes, taught at the college level on sports issues, served as a spectator and fan, and created a golf consulting business. She will share her story and highlight the accomplishments of women, in the classroom, sports and the world.
A light dinner reception is set for 5 p.m. followed by the awards presentation, during which student scholarship winners will be announced.
Get tickets now
Tickets are available now by contacting Martha Ellert at msellert@aol.com or 618-521-0613. The cost is $30 per ticket or $150 for a table of six. SIU students can purchase tickets for the reduced price of $15.
Numerous scholarships given
The inaugural Elaine Blinde Women in Sport Administration AAUW Scholarship will be presented to a female SIU student who is continuing or entering the sport administration field in the School of Human Sciences. Sponsored by Bobbi Knapp master’s in human sciences program director and associate professor, this is award joins the Karen Greenberg Menders and Builders Scholarship, added last year for SIU students in the automotive technology, aviation technologies and engineering fields, and the Lorelei Ruiz Women in Aviation scholarship, established in 2024 for SIU aviation students.
The Carbondale AAUW presents other undergraduate and graduate scholarships as well, with the goal of helping women complete their educational and life goals.
Sponsors are also needed for the event, thus ensuring that all revenues raised from ticket sales and the silent auction to future scholarships. Contributions are also welcomed for the Elaine Blinde classroom-naming fundraiser and the Davies Hall Project fundraiser; note that the websites show only the online donations. To donate or receive more information about sponsorship, contact Knapp at 618-453-3324 or bknapp@siu.edu.
For more information, visit the website.