KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
February 20, 2025
By Natalie Cook Clark
For the fourth year, Katy ISD celebrated female student-athletes by hosting the National Girls & Women in Sports Conference at Morton Ranch High School. The event drew more than a hundred student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors and community members to hear from a slate of passionate and successful speakers.
Katy ISD hosted the National Girls & Women in Sports Conference this week. Morton Ranch High School has welcomed the event for the last four years. Hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors and community members attended. All speakers were former high school athletes.
The speakers shared personal stories and tips of encouragement on topics including discipline, resilience and making wise choices. Jennifer Vaden, head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director at Jordan High School, recounted her personal journey from high school athlete to her time as a Division I athlete and coach.
“Success is not a scoreboard or a position; it’s whether or not you reach your full potential,” says Jennifer Vaden. “In reality, failure is what will make us grow.”
She also spoke about world-famous athletes like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky and the mental toughness that has helped them become inspiring individuals.
Melissa Hoffmann, Morton Ranch’s head girls’ track coach, began organizing the event four years ago as part of a class assignment for her master’s program.
"This event is about celebrating and empowering our female athletes in Katy ISD to dream BIG. It is my hope that after attending the conference they will leave feeling inspired and motivated to be the best version of themselves both as an athlete and as a person," says Coach Melissa Hoffmann.
Among this year’s attendees were Coach Jill Voss and the Freeman High School softball team, recently honored at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as recipients of the Grant Teaff Beyond the Game Team Award. The team attended this year’s induction banquet, held in Waco, Texas, met with 2025 hall inductee and 3x Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner and attended a Baylor softball game.
“I’ve attended this event for several years now with my teams because I want my athletes to hear from women who have been where they are now and who have so much wisdom to share,” says Coach Jill Voss. "Participation in sports teaches life lessons, values that I want my players to have with them beyond their playing time."
This year marks the 39th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day held in remembrance of Flo Hyman, Olympic silver medalist and University of Houston 3x All-American volleyball player. Since her passing from Marfan syndrome, the day has evolved to recognize the positive influence sports has on girls and women, and to bring attention to the continued fight for equality in sports.
Visit the Women’s Sports Foundation for more information.