"Thank you for that warm reception and those generous and kind comments. I would like to begin by extending congratulations to those students and administrators being honored today and throughout the week. I have such great respect for each of you and your accomplishments and your past, present and future contributions to the world of higher education and college athletics. Thank you for all you do.

"Thank you to NACDA for including me in the distinguished list of honorees. I truly am honored and humbled. When (NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary) called me last February to inform me of my selection as Corbett Award recipient, I sincerely was surprised and speechless ... and I still am. Given our tight time schedule, being speechless may be a good thing.

"There are so many people I would like to thank. Many are colleagues of many years as well as recent colleagues, teammates from the NCAA, UC San Diego, NACWAA, NACDA and other groups I have been privileged to work with, and all of them are cherished friends. Many of them are with me today to offer support and encouragement as they have done through much of my life. I can’t begin to express how much it means to me that you have traveled from the West, Rocky Mountains, Midwest, Northeast, South and parts unknown to share today with me. This award really belongs to all of you as it would not have happened without your constant support and encouragement. If time allowed I would like to publicly acknowledge each of you with a shout out, but that might take all afternoon and into the night, so if I may, I’ll borrow a line from the Broadway musical ‘Wicked’ and say to each of you (and I trust you know who you are and how much you mean to me) that ‘because of you, I am changed for the better.’

"As some of you know, one of my favorite artists, writers and philosophers is Brian Andreas, creator of the ‘Story People’ — and how could there be Judy Sweet comments without words from the Story People! One that has always resonated with me — as I believe it represents the journey that many of us experience in athletics — is titled ‘Wheelbarrow’:

" ‘This is a wheelbarrow I filled with all my dreams and my favorite clothes and now all I need is someone to help me push it.’

"My early help came from my college roommates Mary and Heidi who taught me the value of laughter and lifelong friendships, and my oldest brother Monte who drove my bright blue wheelbarrow (actually a 1969 Olds Cutlass literally filled with all my clothes and yet-to-be-defined dreams) from Milwaukee to New Orleans for my first teaching job at Newcomb College/Tulane University. How great to be back here (in New Orleans). Thanks to the NACDA executive committee and membership for supporting the ‘ReNew Orleans’ efforts. In athletics, determination, courage, persistence and teamwork are terms frequently associated with our enterprise. The actions of the great people of New Orleans give true meaning to those words; I applaud their strength and commitment.

"Also helping push my wheelbarrow was my UCSD colleague and longtime friend, Bert Kobayashi. Without his vision and suggestion in 1974 that UCSD not follow the traditional model of separate men’s and women’s athletics programs but rather assign a young female assistant athletics director responsibility for both men’s and women’s athletics, there is no doubt that my career would have been very different. Who would have thought that a tomboy from Wisconsin who loved sports all her life but never had an opportunity to play on a school team (because there were none) could have a meaningful career in athletics administration. Thank you, Birch Bayh; thank you, UCSD; thank you, AIAW and NCAA, for changing educational and athletics opportunities, and the world, in ways that are still evolving and ways that allow both young men and women to dream big dreams and make them a reality. 

"I have had the good fortune to work with many of the previous Corbett Award winners, who I greatly respect, and I have benefited from the lessons they taught me and the leadership examples they set. To be in their company and to be recognized in such a special way by my peers is an overwhelming honor. This recognition really speaks to the many quality people that I have had the privilege to meet along my career path, especially those who opened doors for me and encouraged me to take the risk of passing through those doors that previously had not been open to women. 

"Sports provide for a universal language that is understood by all regardless of background and that fosters dialogue across diverse populations. How fortunate we are to be an integral part of that amazing universe.

"Finally, I want to thank all of you with whom I’ve crossed paths during my journey for enriching my life in so many ways and for your commitment to providing positive experiences for student-athletes. I accept this award with sincere gratitude, and dedicate it to those who have sought opportunities and to those who have provided opportunities."