Cromwell, Conn. — Close to 450 business leaders and high school students from the state of Connecticut gathered to see Sue Bird receive the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Role Model of the Year Award at a member breakfast on January 20, 2016. In addition to the honor, January 20 was declared “Sue Bird Day” in the state by Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

 Bird served as guest speaker at the Middlesex County Chamber breakfast sponsored by Webster Bank and answered a wide variety of questions from her time as the starting point guard for the Seattle Storm, her years as college athlete at UConn, to her competition playing for Team USA.

 Bird may be best known to Connecticut residents as being a part of the UConn Women’s basketball team that won two National Championships and three Big East Championships. Selected first overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird led the Storm to two WNBA championships. In addition, Bird represented the United States playing in three Olympic Games winning three consecutive gold medals playing for Team USA.

 “Sue has elevated every team she has served on and every community that she has lived in. She serves as a model for all young people on achievement on and off the court which is why we are honored to present Sue with the 2016 Role Model of the Year Award,” said Larry McHugh, president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

 “It’s such an honor to receive this award. I look at the names of past recipients and it’s hard to believe I am joining such great company. As a female athlete I treasure my chance to be a role model because there weren’t many female athletes visible when I was growing up. It’s a special part of being a pro athlete and I’m thankful I even have the opportunity,” said Bird.

 The  Role Model Award is a very prestigious award in the state of Connecticut and the chamber’s past honorees include: Sgt. First Class Joe Kapacziewski, U.S. Army Ranger and Author of “Back in the Fight,” NBA Star Rudy Gay, Former Notre Dame and South Carolina Head Football Coach Lou Holtz, Former Boston Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino, former NBA Star Ray Allen, former Dallas Cowboys Player Roger Staubach, Former NHL Star Kevin Dineen, and former NBA player and current UConn Head Men’s Basketball Coach Kevin Ollie.