Two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup Soccer Champion Lauren Holiday (formerly Cheney) will be the special guest at the All-Mohawk Valley All-Stars event June 19, 2020, at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Jorgensen Center. Holiday will participate in a Q&A session during the event and take photos with award winners.
Tickets are on sale now for athletes and their families and can be purchased on uticaod.com/mvallstars. Student-athletes selected to one of the All-Mohawk Valley All-Star teams will receive a letter during their headshot day with instructions on how to claim their complimentary ticket to the awards show. Due to the limited seating, we will be opening up tickets to the general public at a later date This event is presented by the Observer-Dispatch with presenting partners Chanatry’s Hometown Market, Carbone Athletics at the Fitness Mill, Lupini Construction and host sponsor MVCC.
“Lupini Construction is impressed with the level of commitment these athletes have for their sport, and we are humbled to be able to be a part of their celebration of excellence,” said president Lori Lupini.
Holiday is a retired professional soccer player who played as a midfielder and forward for the U.S. women’s national soccer team from 2007 to 2015. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. Holiday won gold with the national team at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 2012 London Summer Olympics, and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Holiday is married to Jrue Holiday, fellow former UCLA Bruin and current NBA All-Star guard for the New Orleans Pelicans.
In September 2016, Lauren was diagnosed with a brain tumor during her pregnancy. Jrue took off six weeks of the NBA season to care for her. Ultimately, the tumor was benign, and Lauren gave birth to Jrue Tyler Holiday (now 3-years-old), and the tumor was successfully removed later that year. They shared their amazing story of overcoming this adversity for the first time at the NBA Disney Experience at Disneyworld in Orlando, FL this past summer. Holiday will be sharing stories like this, and her amazing soccer career, as the guest speaker at the annual All-Stars event.
“When I first heard that Lauren Holiday was going to be our guest speaker at this year’s All-Mohawk Valley All-Stars awards banquet, I couldn’t help but be excited,” said Observer-Dispatch Sports Editor, James McClendon. “She has exemplified excellence on the playing field, but I am most excited to hear how she and her family were able to overcome her personal challenges, and become a beacon of hope for all others facing their own difficulties. I believe our all-stars and everyone else who will get to hear her speak are extremely lucky and we are all in for quite a treat.”
The awards show will consist of a plated dinner, awards show and a Q&A with Holiday. Visit uticaod.com/mvallstars for more information.
