Emily Wilson: We Are Not Just A Day

Artist Statement

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was created to be a day of recognition for the work and success of female athletes and the women who support them, but women in sports are so much more than a single day in February. With that on my heart, I set out to create a video with the intent to make people stop and notice the accomplishments of these hard-working women, as well as question why women are only awarded one day of the year to celebrate the uniqueness of their athletic prowess. My goal was to transform the narrative of National Girls and Women in Sports Day from an annual anomaly to an everyday recognition and celebration of sports accomplishment by female athletes.

I spent ten years of my adolescence as a competitive cheerleader and was constantly told I was not an athlete. Going into college, I knew creative videography was my calling, but was encouraged by men around me to avoid the sports industry because I had “no place there” as a woman to accomplish anything of significance. Mizzou Athletics gave me an opportunity and I have spent the last year of my life growing as a creative and a woman in this industry. This project challenges the ideas of what makes us qualified to be successful at what we love and gave me an opportunity to acknowledge how I have grown in my work and professional skills, as well as celebrate the hardworking athletes I work alongside daily.

2024 VADS - People's Choice Voting

About the Project

• Title of Work: We Are Not Just A Day
• Medium: 2:45 video project
• Student's Name: Emily Wilson
• Major: Journalism (Strategic Communication)
• Anticipated Graduation Date: 25-May
• Hometown: Blue Springs, Missouri
• Student's Mentor: Katie White
• Mentor's Department: Mizzou Athletics