Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis visited Arbor Intermediate School in Piscataway on Tuesday morning, delivering a message of perseverance and leadership to students in celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

Marquis, a Hall of Famer and member of the first U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, addressed fourth- and fifth-grade students. The visit, organized by fourth-grade teacher Neal Bennington, focused on Marquis’ transition from elite athlete to successful Wall Street executive and educational leader.

“She shared her inspiring journey while encouraging students to pursue their goals with determination,” school officials said. During her presentation, Marquis emphasized the importance of teamwork and managing emotions both on and off the court while reflecting on her trailblazing career as a Black woman in sports and business.

The event reached a high point when students got to hold Marquis’s Olympic torch. Following the presentation, students presented Marquis with a special award recognizing her impact on the classroom and the community.

Marquis’ career is marked by several historic “firsts.” She played in the first women’s basketball game ever at the Olympics during the 1976 Montreal Games and was part of the first women’s pro team, the New York Stars of the Women’s Basketball League (WBL). Marquis’s N.Y. Stars set a league record for wins (28) and later won the league championship.

In 2009, she became the first woman of color inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.

Beyond athletics, Marquis spent decades in leadership roles at major financial firms, including JPMorgan Chase and Merrill Lynch, before founding G. Marquis ~ World Financial Services in 2013.

She continues to serve as a representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the Women’s Sports Foundation.