Judy Kruckman to be honored at Zorn Arena Ceremony Feb. 3
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Judy Kruckman, the former University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's athletic director who dedicated her career to securing and ensuring athletic opportunities for women, will be honored by Blugold Athletics at the UW-Eau Claire vs. UW-Oshkosh women's basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 3 at Zorn Arena.
Kruckman, a member of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and Blugold Hall of Fame, will be recognized for establishing the Judy Kruckman Women's Athletics Opportunity Fund through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. The fund is designed to help Blugold Athletics address a variety women's program needs.
"We greatly appreciate Judy's generosity, which provides us with additional resources to continue to build on the successes of Blugold Women's Athletics," said UW-Eau Claire Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher. "The fund also represents a lasting and fitting legacy to Judy's pioneering and tireless and dedication to providing quality competitive opportunities for generations of Blugold women student-athletes."
Donors can contribute to the Judy Kruckman Women's Athletics Opportunity Fund online at https://connect.uwec.edu/donate.
Kruckman served as the Blugolds' women's athletics director from 1974 to 1984. She was also a physical education instructor, women's swimming coach and women's tennis coach. Kruckman went on to serve as commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from 1984 to 1996 and assistant commissioner of the WIAC from 1996 to 1998.
Kruckman was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame in 1988 and the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame in 1992. She was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012. Among her many honors, Kruckman has earned the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association's President's Award; the Women's Sports Advocates of Wisconsin Lifetime Achievement Award; and the National Association of Girls and Women's Sports 'Wisconsin Pathfinder' Award.
A native of Eau Claire, Kruckman earned a bachelor's degree in history from UW-Eau Claire and a master's degree in physical education from UW-Madison.
Donors can contribute to the Judy Kruckman Women's Athletics Opportunity Fund online at https://connect.uwec.edu/donate, or by contacting Rick Foy, UW-Eau Claire Foundation, at foyrp@uwec.edu or 651-497-8530.
