DENVER - The WAC held its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Summer In-Person Meeting July 21-23 in Bakersfield, Calif. WAC SAAC representatives discussed various national and institutional topics ranging from student-athlete time demands to increasing their roles in the Conference governance structure and on-campus athletic departments.
The two-day meeting allowed SAAC representatives to focus on on-going national issues such as the early recruitment process, transfer legislation and the transfer process, and mental health, and the impact those matters have on Division I student-athletes nationally and within the WAC.
Noah Knight, former UMKC men's basketball student-athlete and WAC representative to the NCAA Division I National SAAC, provided the group with a report from the recent Division I National SAAC in-person meeting. Knight recapped the D-I SAAC's discussions on current transfer issues and early recruitment of prospective student-athletes, and delivered updates on student-athlete time demands, student-athlete mental health and financial education initiatives, among other matters.
Lauren Kaufman, a former CSU Bakersfield student-athlete and member of the WAC SAAC, served as the keynote speaker for the meeting. During her presentation, Kaufman spoke to the Committee about her time as a student-athlete and member of the CSUB and WAC SAAC, and how she took her experiences and what she learned during her time as a student-athlete and applied it to her professional career.
Additionally, the WAC SAAC engaged in leadership development and branding sessions with representatives from Forward Progress Athletics Consulting. During the sessions, the WAC SAAC participated in group discussions on personal and institutional SAAC branding, as well as individualized goal setting meetings for each institution.
The group also viewed a social media presentation from members of the WAC staff, which focused on personal branding and best practices. The WAC SAAC also discussed institutional and conference-wide social media plans for the 2017-18 academic year and beyond.
Other items of discussion included how to become more informed on issues affecting student-athletes, becoming more involved in the WAC governance structure and with athletic administrators on their respective campuses, as well as how to handle the new opportunities and responsibilities that will result from increased student-athlete involvement. The group also discussed community service initiatives and educating their fellow student-athletes on the NCAA Student-Athlete Assistance/Opportunity Fund and the purpose it serves on campus, and creating awareness of what SAAC is and the mission and goals of the group on each campus.
The WAC SAAC also selected its president, vice-president and executive committee for the 2017-18 academic year. They are:
2017-18 WAC SAAC Executive Committee
Division I National SAAC Representative: Noah Knight, Men's Basketball, Kansas City
President: Erica Gonzalez, Women's Soccer, UT Rio Grande Valley
Vice-President: Jonny Holsten, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, Grand Canyon
Secretary: Jaren Hopkins, Men's Swimming and Diving, CSU Bakersfield
Social Media Coordinator: Abel Gomez, Wrestling, Utah Valley
Social Media Coordinator: Paige Husa, Women's Basketball, Kansas City
As is tradition at all in-person meetings, the representatives participated in a community service activity. In this case, the group went to The Ronald McDonald House in Bakersfield. The group spent the afternoon making cookies and cupcakes for the facility's staff, and interacting with the children who resided in the adjoining hospital.
“The WAC SAAC meeting at CSUB was productive, engaging and an overall great experience,†Knight said. “Each institution brought a different perspective, leading to new ideas and conversations that will help the WAC SAAC further develop. With such passionate and dedicated representatives, I feel all Student-Athlete Advisory Committees within the WAC will make significant progress this year."
“It was a great experience attending the WAC SAAC in person meeting in preparation for the 2017-18 academic year,†Gonzalez said. “Working with the accomplished leaders and representatives from each WAC school was an honor. The WAC staff provided the necessary direction and guidance throughout the whole meeting. I strongly believe my colleagues from around the WAC will lead their institutions in following through with our initiatives while maintaining a vision of excellence. It is going to be an exciting year and I can't wait to see what each of us will accomplish academically, athletically and in service to our communities.â€
The WAC thanks the following members of the WAC SAAC for their attendance at the summer 2017 in-person meeting:
Jaren Hopkins, Men's Swimming and Diving, CSU Bakersfield
Audrey Willoughby, Women's Swimming and Diving, CSU Bakersfield
Megan Klavitter, Women's Volleyball, Chicago State
Desmond Meyer, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, Chicago State
Jonny Holsten, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, Grand Canyon
Deanna Salvatori, Women's Golf, Grand Canyon
Paige Husa, Women's Basketball, Kansas City
Noah Knight, Men's Basketball, Kansas City
Bryce Miller, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, Kansas City
Cierrah Kassetas, Women's Track and Field, NM State
Lanie McAlpin, Women's Swimming and Diving, NM State
Nathan Aune, Men's Soccer, Seattle U
Erica Gonzalez, Women's Soccer, UT Rio Grande Valley
Mike Hoffman, Men's Basketball, UT Rio Grande Valley
Abel Gomez, Wrestling, Utah Valley
McKenzi Summers, Softball, Utah Valley