DENVER – The WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) held its annual meeting in downtown Denver June 8-10. The meeting was held over three days with student-athletes focusing on a review of accomplishments from the past year and planning for the upcoming academic year.
Attending the meetings were Faimie Kingsley (volleyball) and Tanner Krall (swimming) from the University of Denver, Meaghan McCloskey (swimming) and Jonathon Forde (football) from the University of Idaho, Chandler Spence (football) and Mary Kate Hays (cross country, track) from Louisiana Tech University, Stephanie Ziegler (volleyball) and Michael Alejandro (golf) from New Mexico State University, Krista Cullen (soccer) and Chau Truong (tennis) from San Jose State University, Kelly Biette (volleyball) and Garrett Anderson (baseball) from Seattle University, Amanda Welsh (volleyball) and Daniel Garcia (baseball) from the University of Texas at Arlington, Eric Soza (football) and Tyler Wood (basketball) from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Danessa Lyssy (track and field) and Joseph Simone (football) from Texas State University, and Kassidi Nudd (soccer) and Amelia Montoya (gymnastics) from Utah State University.
One of the primary goals of the Committee over the past year was developing the WAC Sportsmanship Award. An initiative to promote and recognize good sportsmanship and ethical behavior throughout the academic year was approved. Nominees must have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship. WAC SAAC members will manage the nomination process and select the award recipients each year.
Community service will continue to be a priority for SAAC members next year as they unanimously agreed to goal of collectively completing 10,000 hours with the theme ‘Dedicate to Educate.' Last year, student-athletes exceeded their community service hours that were dedicated towards working with youth.
During the meeting, the group completed a community service project at The Children's Hospital Denver and the Ronald McDonald House. Student-athletes participated in various craft projects with the children, including painting t-shirts and designing cards.
The student-athletes spent part of the meeting filming the WAC’s 2012-13 sportsmanship commercial. The meeting also included a presentation from the Positive Coaching Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on providing character development through sport.
The Committee elected officers for the 2012-13 academic year. Alejandro, men’s golf student-athlete from New Mexico State, will serve as SAAC President, with Soza (UTSA, football) as vice president and Montoya (Utah State, gymnastics) as secretary.
