Fort Worth ISD

Ages: 16-21

Hail From:

Fort Worth, Texas

Where Are They Now:

• Danielle (Danny) plays for Panther City Rugby Women’s Team

• Karen and Rachel attend the University of Texas – Arlington

• Precious attends Missouri Southern College on a track scholarship

• Emelin attends Texas Christian University on full-scholarship as a community scholar where she is helping to re-institute TCU’s club rugby program

• Leilani is taking a “gap year” to explore her options and interests and looks forward to returning to rugby on a women’s team

• High school seniors, Angela, Cate, Hung, and Jay continue to advocate for girls' high school rugby

Leading Like Bosses:

Early in 2017 a group of female students began a concerted effort to elevate rugby to a girls’ varsity sport in Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD). As a coordinated group, each played a central role in sustaining a Title IX advocacy campaign to improve the breadth and number of female athletic opportunities through the inclusion of rugby.

Why We Love Them:

• They were only 14 and 15 years old when they started advocating for rugby at school board meetings and with school administrators.

• Through their efforts, student-club rugby teams are now active at North Side HS, Paschal HS, South Hills HS, Trimble Technical HS, and Wyatt HS.

• Four individuals are complainants on recently filed Title IX lawsuit against FWISD.