NGWSD: Conard Strives to Make a Difference

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 1, 2026 at 3 p.m.
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3 p.m.
Softball
at North Dakota State
Fargo, N.D.
- Watch Live
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Upcoming Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 2, 2026 at 1 p.m.
/
1 p.m.
Softball
at North Dakota State
Fargo, N.D.
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Upcoming Event: Softball versus The Summit League Softball Championship on May 6, 2026 at TBD
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TBD
Softball
vs The Summit League Softball Championship
Twin Cities, Minn.

By Rylie Cascio Jensen
South Dakota State Women's Basketball Student-Athlete and Sports Information Intern

February 5, 2020, marks the 34th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.

260 female student-athletes will wear the Jackrabbit yellow and blue during the 2019-20 athletic seasons, representing generations of Jackrabbit greats since the first female NCAA sanctioned competitions began at SDSU in 1965.

GoJacks.com is proud to recognize several current and former Jackrabbit greats throughout the day. Follow Jackrabbit Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more content.

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How many straws do you use per week?

This question isn't posed very often, but for Jackrabbit softball pitcher Kendra Conard, the inquiry struck a nerve. Conard dug into the question through research for a speech class her freshman season, and after tallying straw usage for one week, found an environmental issue she determined to tackle head-on.

"I found the average person uses two to five straws per day, and I made it a point to track my straw usage for one week during this research process," Conard said.

After racking up 10 straws for the week, Conard purchased a metal straw and has carried it with her ever since.

"Me not using straws is a small thing compared to other problems there are in the world, but I know if I can encourage others to get on board, we can make a little bit bigger difference," Conard said.

It wasn't just a light-bulb moment that led to immediate change, however. The South Lake Tahoe, California native attributes her love for her beautiful home to be a driving force for her eco-friendly life.

"Tahoe is known to be one of the most beautiful places, so I want to protect my home. I see a lot of different changes going on in the environment with plastic all over the place, and it drives me insane," Conard said.

Now "straw-free" for the past 15 months, Conard has used the small problem to ignite a larger passion for the environment as she strives to make a difference by getting others involved.

Her roommates and friends on the Jackrabbit soccer team purchased straws of their own, and while the lifestyle isn't for everyone, Conard has encouraged other teammates to jump on board and make a difference.

"It's a really hard habit to break, but I think it would shock people if they took the time to count how many straws they use in a week," Conard said. "It's a tiny thing when I use my metal straw, but it's something."

While her current Human Biology major is leading her to a career in the medical field, Conard hasn't ruled out a switch to an environment-focused profession. No matter where she lands, however, she'll bring an intentional approach to her life choices going forth.

"I've really focused on cherishing the small things in life, being respectful to the things, environment and people around me, and not take anything for granted," Conard said. "I'm just trying to make a difference."

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To support Jackrabbit female student-athletes in honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, please click here.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Kendra Conard

Upcoming Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 1, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball at North Dakota State on May 2, 2026 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus The Summit League Softball Championship on May 6, 2026 at TBD

Completed Event: Softball at North Dakota State on April 30, 2026 , Loss , 12, to, 13 , 8 Inn.

Cancelled Event: Softball versus St. Thomas

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 6

Completed Event: Softball versus St. Thomas on April 24, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 11

Completed Event: Softball at Omaha on April 19, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 5

Completed Event: Softball at Omaha on April 18, 2026 , Loss , 4, to, 7

South Dakota State University Athletics