2012 CAA SAAC Leadership Summit
RICHMOND, Va. (November 8, 2012) - The College of William and Mary
played host to the 2012 Colonial Athletic Associations' Student Athlete Advisory
Committee Leadership Summit on November 4 & 5. The CAA SAAC is a committee comprised
of two student-athletes from each of the CAA's 11 member institutions and
assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The group
also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect
student-athletes' lives. The theme for
this year's summit was "Values and Personal Branding".
The summit kicked off on Sunday at the Williamsburg Hospitality House with
a Diversity Workshop presented by Leslie Barnes, Assistant Director of
Athletics for Student Welfare at Duke University. During the workshop students got to share a
little about their personal background as well as stressing to student-athletes
the importance of understanding and being open-minded when it comes to the
topic of diversity. Following that presentation, the group headed across the
street to the William & Mary Alumni House for dinner followed by the Values
and Personal Branding Workshop conducted by Barnes. CAA SAAC representatives
and advisors learned about accessing the values that are important in their lives,
as well as, determining the values that are projected as important by one's
actions.
On Monday, the student-athletes met with CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager to
discuss a variety of Hot Topics including relationship building across sports
on campus, social networking and new media, proposed NCAA legislation and the
effects it will have on the student-athlete experience and the Student-Athlete Assistance
Fund. Towson's Kate Williams, the CAA
representative on the national SAAC and field hockey student-athlete, spoke to
the group about her committee's efforts and national issues. The campus SAAC advisors also discussed their
Hot Topics including sharing of ideas for speakers, funding sources for life
skills programs, community service activities, the CAA Blood Challenge, LGBT
Education and anti-bullying initiatives, career programming initiatives and
more.
The group discussed the idea of implementing a conference-wide food drive,
in which the SAAC representatives from James Madison University presented an action
plan for this initiative. This spring term project, in addition to the annual
fall term CAA Blood Challenge, would provide another way for CAA members to use
friendly competition to benefit their communities. A presentation was also shared
with the group about the student-athlete website - WeAreTheCAA.com - allowing
the participating student-athletes to share information, provide ideas and give
feedback.
The Summit concluded with the group showing interest in continuing
communication with one another regarding campus SAAC activities as well as
professional development opportunities that will be posted on "WeAreTheCAA.com"
website.
Participants
at the summit included:
Sarah
Slotoroff, University of Delaware - Women's Rowing
Erle
Ladson, University of Delaware - Football
Amanda
Santandrea, Drexel University - Women's Lacrosse
Garth
Mahosky, Drexel University - Wrestling
Madison
Beumer, George Mason University - Women's Rowing
Taylor
Sargent, George Mason University - Men's Tennis
Briana
Pitre, Georgia State University - Women's Soccer
Thomas
Cook, Georgia State University - Men's Tennis
Nicole
Osovski, Hofstra University - Softball
Ari
Richman, Hofstra University - Men's Tennis
Ruxandra
Andriescu, James Madison University - Women's Tennis
Marquis Woodyard,
James Madison University - Football
Marlee
Cadwell, UNCW - Women's Cross Country
Ryan Kelly,
UNCW - Men's Track
Beth Cobby,
Northeastern University - Field Hockey
Derrico
Peck, Northeastern University - Men's Basketball
Shelby
Davis, Old Dominion University - Women's Lacrosse
Jason
Haigh, Old Dominion University - Men's Swimming & Diving
Kate
Williams, Towson University - Field Hockey
John
Horner, Towson University - Men's Lacrosse
Heather
McDonald, College of William & Mary - Women's Lacrosse
Matt Rum,
College of William & Mary - Men's Basketball
SAAC
Advisors included:
Rachel
Fineberg, University of Delaware
Rachel
Guererra, Drexel University
Resa
Lovelace, George Mason University
Jessica
Summey, Georgia State University
James
Lally, Hofstra University
Tiffany
Hall, James Madison University
Heather
Magill, UNCW
Justin
Bell, Northeastern University
M.L.
Morgan, Old Dominion University
Marjorie
Tversky, Towson University
Deidre Connelly, College of William & Mary