Three Hopkinton student-athletes participated in Massachusetts Girls and Women in Sport Day on Feb. 1. Maggie Allen (soccer, track), Kelsey Carlson (unified basketball, unified track) and Camryn McDonald (field hockey, basketball, lacrosse) were recognized and received certificates during the event at the Great Hall at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

“These are young ladies who are positive influences on their teams, who are very committed to their athletic experiences and who work to make it better for other people,” King said. “Multi-sport athletes, all of them, who are regarded as excellent teammates, who work on their craft in terms of their skill, obviously, but also people who work hard to do the right thing.

“We recognize them as leaders not just for their accomplishments in the playing area but for what they do beyond that and how they work to be inclusive, making the experience for everyone around them better.”

The theme this year was “Lead her forward.” The event was cosponsored by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and the New Agenda: Northeast.

“The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the evolution of females in athletics and how far we’ve come, and that there’s certainly some work to do,” said King, who attended the event along with the players’ mothers. “Opportunity I think at the high school level has been fantastic for the most part, but a lot of the day actually focused on what’s beyond that and some of the issues of equity and things like that that exist sometimes at the collegiate level and beyond that.”

Hillers support Ashland teen

The Hopkinton High School football team took part in a “Fill the Helmet” fundraiser for cancer-stricken teenager Jake Silver, a former Ashland High football player.

The Hillers, one a few Tri-Valley League teams to join the cause, collected donations in the center of town on the first weekend in February.

The money is earmarked for Silver to use to travel and attend sports events while he is healthy enough.

For more information about Jake Silver’s battle with osteosarcoma (an aggressive form of bone cancer that mainly affects teenage boys) and to donate, visit: gofundme.com/25pxsabg.