GORHAM, Maine –   As part of Girl Scouts of Maine two-day virtual conference, Transforming Leadership, three members of the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics Coaching Staff will serve as panelists during the November 8, Well-Being Session.  Veteran head coach Bonny Brown-Denico who has more than two decades of experience as the Huskies' field hockey coach will be joined by 2015 Little East Conference Softball Coach of the Year Sarah Jamo and 2018 WBCA Thirty Under Thirty recipient, USM women's basketball coach Samantha Norris. 

Leaders on the USM campus and for their teams and student-athletes, Brown-Denico, Jamo and Norris have joined the two-day online conference aimed to help encourage young women and girls to become agents of change in their school, community or state, build confidence and problem-solving skills, and connect participants with ways to turn their aspirations into action.

"As a department, we encourage civic and community engagement among student-athletes and staff alike," noted Brown-Denico, who has earned LEC Coach of the Year honors several times in her career and had 11 members of her 2019 squad named to the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) All-Academic Squad.  "Led and organized by Girl Scouts members, this is a great opportunity to share our collective knowledge with future leaders."

Moderated by senior members (grades 9-12) of Girl Scouts of Maine, the Well-Being Session, will consist of a 30-minute panel discussion followed by a question and answer segment from participants.  The session's intent is for its participants to gain perspective on how and why well-being, physical and mental, can impact an individual and the issues they are passionate about.
In her eighth season as the Huskies' softball coach, Jamo, a former standout pitcher at UMaine, has coached numerous all-conference performers in her tenure, including CoSIDA Academic All-American and standout shortstop Mary Caron '15, who was named the Little East Conference Woman of the Year as a senior.  Jamo contributes to the administration and leadership of the Huskies' Learning Center which has helped the USM Department of Athletics achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 for its nearly 500 students.

"Leadership is more than the on-the-field work," noted Jamo.  "Leadership is taking care of the big and small things necessary to achieve success.  Student-athletes in particular must maintain a standard of excellence academically to maintain their privilege of athletics participation.  When student-athletes are taking care of their academics, work, and social responsibilities it translates into success on and off of the field."

In her sixth year at the helm of the Southern Maine women's basketball program, Norris also serves as the Advisor to the Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is an instructor for the NCAA Life Skills program.  Earning the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 award, given to 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under in the sport across all levels (NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA) who have exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship, impact on others, and professionalism.

Recently named the University's Advisor of the Year, and a previous winner of the Maine Campus Compact Award for Community Service, Norris has spearheaded a large portion of the department's community oriented activities.

"Civic engagement and community service are an essential part of every day life, and is a benefit not only to the individual but also to society," noted Norris.  "The Girl Scouts organization is a tremendous asset in developing mindful and engaged leaders.  When we take on the opportunity of connecting with others through community service and other leadership activities, we've opened a dialogue to greater understanding, reflection and communication."

To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Maine check out the organization's website at girlscoutsofmaine.org