Both Wilson and Perrone jumped at the opportunity to carve out time around summer internships to make the trip to Boston for the summit. It was the first in-person conference for the organization since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wilson is working at a law firm in her native South Carolina with an eye on applying to law schools this fall, while Perrone is working at an investment law firm in her hometown of San Diego.

At the summit, they enjoyed connecting with student-athletes who share the same passion for the program and hearing from parents whose families have been lifted by the support during a difficult time.

The pair also pointed to a talk on leadership from Dr. Kevin Elko as a highlight of the conference. He encouraged the attendees to seek out ways to make a difference in their campus community.

“I was honored to be there representing GW and the softball program because it’s important for me to show that we are more than just student-athletes,” Wilson said. “We are role models, and it is our duty as leaders to learn from these brave children and carry their resiliency forward.”

'Bigger Than Us'