Welcome to the 2026
18th Annual
Awards Ceremony
@thefemaleathletenetwork
@TheFemaleAthleteNetworkTHEFAN
#Fanvirtual2026
(Banquet hashtag for tonight-take a photo and tag us)
The FAN is dedicated to creating opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports, and encouraging and supporting their lifetime appreciation of and participation in athletics.
The FAN
Board of Directors
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer
Patty Harsch Amanda Kehmeier Marsha Smeltzer Lisa McVicker
The FAN
Board Members
Olivia Damage
Jo Dixon
Ashlie Rowley
Linda Witt
Di Worner
The FAN
Volunteers
Ann Guiberson
Deb Artzer
Karen Bennett
Jess Cooper
Stacey Coseo
Susan Stabler
Chris Hutton
Maddie Bennett
Congratulations to all of the FAN Scholarship and Grant Recipients for 2026!
Greetings from Amy Parson, Colorado State University President
Keynote Speaker
Susie Wargin
Susie is the sideline reporter for Broncos radio broadcasts. She is a fourth generation Colorado native. Susie began her communications career in Fort Collins as a radio intern, while attending Colorado State University. After graduating with a B.A. in Speech Communications from CSU, she pushed buttons for syndicated radio broadcasts. Her dream to be a DJ on the FM dial came true in 1992 when she started weekend overnights at 93.3 KTCL. From there Susie “Rocked the Rockies” at 106.7 KBPI for 9 years before becoming the midday DJ at 103.5 The Fox. While Susie loves music, her passion for sports has been tightly woven into her radio and TV careers: CSU radio football sideline reporter, first full-time female sports reporter for KOA, morning sports anchor at KUSA-TV and the host of specialty shows like the weekly John Elway Show and CSU Coaches Show. Susie has traveled and covered Denver area teams in two Super Bowls, the World Series, Stanley Cup playoffs, Frozen Four and NCAA Bowl games and March Madness. She also covered the 2010 Olympics. She is married and has two children.
2026
Scholarship
Recipients
Facts about the 2022 Opportunity Gift Winners
Our scholarship winners compete in 11 different sports:
Baseball, Basketball, Endurance Riding, Football, Horseback Riding, Figure Skating, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball
Our scholarship winners
come from 2 states and 16 different cities:
Berthoud, Carbondale, Erie, Fort Collins, Frederick, Greeley, Highlands Ranch, Kersey, Longmont, Loveland, Pierce, Pueblo, Purdue Indiana,Thornton, Wellington, and Windsor
Introduce Yourself
Annabelle Crider
Volleyball
Jessica Ferguson
Figure
Skating
Natalynn Gandara
Basketball
McKenna Grady
Fastpitch
Softball
Cherish Hilson
Volleyball
Izzy Horne
Fastpitch
Softball
Faith Howe
Volleyball
Cashlyn Kottwitz
Volleyball
Bailey Kuhn
Fastpitch
Softball
Audrey Larson
Baseball
Maizie Magana
Fastpitch
Softball
Jannae Marquez
Volleyball
Erica McDonald
Swimming
Basil Murphy
Swimming
Camryn Olivas
c
Fastpitch
Softball
Lola Padilla
Fastpitch
Softball
c
Harper Peterson
Horseback Riding
c
Reese Peterson
Football
c
Sarah Reega
Equestrian
Keyanna Reeves
Fastpitch
Softball
c
Masyn Walker
Fastpitch
Softball
Kaiya Walters
Volleyball
Emmaline Warner
Mountain
Biking
Mia Whitcomb
Fastpitch
Softball
Jillian Wind
Lacrosse
Kate Wind
Lacrosse
Congratulations to all of our
2026
Scholarship Recipients!
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The FAN is pleased to award Grants to the following non-profit organizations for
Girls and Women�Sport Participation Programs �
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AFA FALFINS
Mission:
We take pride in developing world class kids in an environment of excellence.
Arsenal Colorado
Mission:
Arsenal Colorado uses the power of soccer to inspire, to develop, to achieve, and to build community.
Azteca Softball
Mission:
To be an elite player in Division 1 girls softball in order to show girls from all over if you want to play at the highest college level you can. You just have to be willing to work hard and believe.
Colorado WILD Softball
Mission:
To provide a softball organization for young women, which, will promote citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership, and good conduct.
EmpowHER Athletics
Mission:
Our mission is to create an inclusive, empowering space where female athletes of all ages and backgrounds come together through athletics to build strong, supportive communities. We are dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging, confidence, and resilience in every participant, regardless of experience or ability.
Friends of FOCO Fondo
Mission:
The Friends of FoCo Fondo creates access, opportunity, and community connection for people who ride bikes or want to ride bikes.
Girls Rugby
Mission:
Girls Rugby aims to empower girls to reach their potential through rugby.
Infinity Volleyball Club
Mission:
| | | | |
Infinity Volleyball Club, we are dedicated to developing well-rounded athletes through focused positional training, a supportive club culture, and a commitment to both sports performance and personal growth.
We emphasize not only physical skill and volleyball IQ, but also mental well-being and character development. For athletes pursuing the collegiate level, we provide comprehensive and personalized recruiting guidance to help turn aspirations into opportunities.
Infinity families, athletes, and coaches are part of an inclusive, diverse, and passionate community that values teamwork, growth, and balance. At Infinity, we believe you can achieve excellence—both on and off the court.
SIMPLY FORT FOLLIES
Mission:
The Fort Follies is a grassroots, Fort Collins based non-profit women’s cycling team. We work to empower women in northern Colorado to be active and impactful members of our cycling community. We do this through riding, racing, and community involvement.
Poudre School District
Elementary Track and Field Program
Mission:
To honor over 50 years of community tradition by providing Poudre School District 4th and 5th graders with a foundational track and field experience that connects generations of athletes through sportsmanship, competition, and the spirit of the Manuel Cordova Memorial Meet that spans the entire PSD District.
The P.L.A.Y. Education Foundation
Mission:
Creating inclusive and supportive environments where female athletes and children feel empowered to be their authentic selves is crucial. It allows them to thrive, develop their skills, and reach their full potential, fostering a lifelong love for sports and an active lifestyle. Encouraging authenticity helps build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging, enabling them to face challenges and celebrate their unique strengths.
Did you know that only 1.8 percent of all U.S. philanthropic dollars currently goes to women’s and girl’s organizations?
For this reason and so many more, we are incredibly grateful for our financial sponsors!
for your ongoing generous support!
Thank You Corporate Sponsors!
Join us June 30th
5p-8p
Join us October 13th
5p-8p
WAYS YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR CAUSE
qr code to donation page
Final Thoughts
THE FAN ORGANIZATION PLEASE STAY ON THE CALL ONCE THE AWARDS CONCLUDE