DIRGA HONORED WITH PATHFINDER AWARD

Sports: Develops A Girl’s Pride in AccomplishmentS

 Rochambeau Middle School physical education teacher, Linda Dirga, has been honored as a Pathfinder Award winner and will receive an award at the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance banquet on November 18^th.

  The Pathfinder Award is given by the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport at the state level and then each state representative is recognized nationally. The award began in 1991 and recognizes women who have “demonstrated continuous dedication to the advocacy, recruitment, and enhancement of girls and women in sports and sport leadership in their states.”

  “I strongly believe in the power of sports,” said Ms. Dirga. “Sure, sports helps a girl develop self-discipline and a sense of teamwork with others, but most of all, sports helps build pride in what you’ve accomplished. Women make up a significant part of today’s workforce and I believe that sports can prepare our young girls for future leadership roles in that workforce.”

  Ms. Dirga is in her 20th year with Region 15. She has been the physical education teacher at Rochambeau Middle School for her entire tenure with the district, as well as the girls’ field hockey and track and field coach at Pomperaug High School. Last year, Ms. Dirga was selected as the Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and the National Coach of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches. Ms. Dirga was also inducted into the Connecticut Coaches Hall of Fame. The PHS Field Hockey Team was undefeated in 2004, was the State Class L Champions and was ranked number one in Connecticut.