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Published February 15, 2017

Monroe, La. 鈥擲occer player, Mia Hamm, and artistic gymnast, Shawn Johnson, will share their unique stories at the University of Louisiana Monroe as part of this year鈥檚 Lyceum Series held on Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m. in 网曝门鈥檚 Brown Auditorium. Hamm and Johnson are both retired after outstanding professional careers, with seven Olympic medals between the two of them.听

Sponsored by the 网曝门 Student Government Association (SGA), 网曝门 Lyceum Series听promotes intellectual exchange among 网曝门 students, faculty and staff, as well as the community. The 网曝门 Lyceum Series has hosted many authors, political pundits,听journalists, captains of industry, movie and听TV celebrities, as听well as other notable personalities. The most notable ones include: renowned author Nicholas Sparks, political strategists听James Carville听补苍诲听Mary Matalin, ice cream entrepreneurs听Ben and Jerry Greenfield, journalist and TV host听Lisa Ling, lawyer and social activist听Robert Kennedy, Jr., three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Thomas Friedman, and more. Hamm and Johnson are the first-ever athletes to be featured.

Laura Jennings, Director of Student Life and Leadership, said since March is Women鈥檚 History Month, the Lyceum Committee wanted to focus on finding a strong female speaker to honor.鈥淲e ended up finding two speakers who worked well together and created an interesting dynamic,鈥� Jennings said. 鈥淗amm and Johnson will discuss several topics during a moderated interview-style event, including the determination and dedication it takes to win Olympic gold. We could not be more excited!"

网曝门 students may purchase one ticket at a discounted price of $5. 网曝门 faculty and staff may purchase one ticket at a discounted price of $15. General admission tickets are $25; and Patron Party tickets are $50 and are limited.

The Patron Party will precede the event at 5:30 p.m. in the 网曝门 Library Conference Center, located on the seventh floor of the 网曝门 Library.

Tickets may be purchased online at听ulm.edu/lyceum/tickets.html

About Shawn Johnson:

Although only 25-years-old, Johnson has already accomplished a lifetime of achievements, including four Olympic Medals, a book on the New York Times Best Sellers list, a business and a career in broadcast.

Johnson was only 16-years-old when she won four medals, including gold, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Soon after, in 2009, she published her first book, titled Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion-Stories Behind the Smile. Johnson鈥檚 second book, Winning Balance: What I鈥檝e Learned So Far About Love, Faith and Living Your Dreams, was published in 2012 and soon made the New York Times Best Sellers list. Her first Young Adult novel, titled The Flipside, was published last year.

Johnson became an entrepreneur in 2014, when she launched TheBodyDepartment.com, a website dedicated to offering a digital space where people can talk about body image, wellness and fitness in a healthy way.

Johnson remains a strong advocate of health and wellness initiatives, while her philanthropic activities include working with animal and children鈥檚 charities, as well as cancer charities.

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About Mia Hamm:

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Making her debut at age 15, Hamm was the youngest woman to ever appear in a match for the United States Women鈥檚 National Soccer Team. Winning two FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cups, two Olympic Gold medals and making a near, unparalleled success as a marketing icon, Hamm retired from professional soccer in 2004.听

Hamm has received many prestigious awards throughout her outstanding career, including five-times US Soccer Player of the Year award, induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame, named to FIFA 100 - a list of the greatest living soccer players, while Nike named the largest building on their corporate campus after her.

Hamm might be one of the most decorated female athletes in the world, but she is also dedicated to philanthropy through the Mia Hamm Foundation she founded in 1997.

Hamm strives to serve as an inspiration to young girls looking to rise to the pinnacle of the sporting world. She has maintained an active presence within the soccer community and has served as an outspoken advocate for Title IX and gender equality across sporting lines.

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For more information about this event, contact Laura Knotts Jennings, at听knotts@ulm.edu听or at 318-342-5287.