After two years of virtual events, MIAMI WOMEN celebrated an exceptional return to Oxford.

The two-day event of advancing, mentoring and investing in women was highlighted by the Giving Circle awarding nearly $100,000 in grants to support nine projects during the annual fast-pitch Hawk Tank event. Miami students, faculty and staff appeared in front of Giving Circle members to present their ideas, and members voted on which projects would receive funding.

The MIAMI WOMEN Giving Circle is a collective giving effort that allows participants to combine resources with other members and make a greater impact on the Miami community. The collective power of each member’s annual $1,000 gift creates a large pool of money that funds multiple, vital projects via Hawk Tank.

This year’s Leadership Symposium, also back in person for the first time since 2019, featured an all-Miamian speaker lineup that personified the theme of Moving Forward.

“Being back on campus for our signature MIAMI WOMEN events was refreshing and inspirational,” said Kim Tavares MBA ’12, executive director of the Miami University Alumni Association. “It was extraordinarily gratifying to welcome back our Giving Circle members and to experience Hawk Tank and the Leadership Symposium again.”

This year’s Hawk Tank winners are:

• Creating fluorescent newts by genome editing to study lens regeneration
• CIQS Day: Showcasing Careers in Quantitative Science for high school girls
• Sustainable Engineering for Water Sanitation in Rwanda
• Alumni/Student Mentorship in Sport Leadership and Management
• myaamiihkwia maawipyaaciki ‘Coming together as Myaamia Women’
• Identity Library
• Mental Health First Aid
• Miami Women in Naval Science Outreach Program
• Expansion of the Miami University Rowing Club Women's Fleet 

“Each and every one of these projects and initiatives was truly worthy,” said Emily Berry '01, MA '11, assistant vice president for individual and annual giving. “Our Grants Committee had the difficult assignment of narrowing down the initial pool of 70 applicants to 16 projects. The Giving Circle members had a task that was just as challenging – selecting the winners.”

The number of applicants increased from 40 in 2018 and 29 last year. Since that inaugural event, the Giving Circle has awarded more than $500,000 in grants.

This year’s MIAMI WOMEN events were extra special. Four alumnae and one dean shared how their Miami Experiences shaped them, and they inspired attendees to move forward personally and professionally.

Their presentations will be available online and on demand through May 6.

MIAMI WOMEN empowers women – alumni, faculty, staff and students – to make connections and to support opportunities that mentor, advance and invest in the future of Miami University. 

For more information on the Giving Circle, please visit MiamiAlum.org/GivingCircle.

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