Mary KvammeMary Kvamme blazed a trail for girls' athletics in Colorado. As a teacher and coach at Arvada West High School, she launched multiple programs -- including volleyball, tennis, basketball, gymnastics, and track & field. Kvamme's legacy is defined not only by her 363-164 career volleyball record and 1977 state championship but also by her tireless advocacy for equity and opportunity for girls and women in athletics. She helped establish structures for girls' sports across Jefferson County and Colorado, laying the groundwork for feeder programs and pushing for statistics to validate and celebrate female athletes' achievements.
“Mostly, it’s just a great honor,” Kvamme said. “It means someone who nominated me looked back many moons ago, to the 1970s, and decided that some of the work I did along with 50 other women made a difference. I feel very honored to have been selected out of a large group of people without whom I would not be here tonight.”?
