Student-athletes Anne Zakelj, volleyball, and Matthew Muller,football, “trick or treat” with area children in the College of Education,Health and Human Services. Taking the Lead...On and Off the Court
Advisory committee gives student-athletes opportunity to serve
By Aaron Chimenti, Assistant Director, Athletic
With a number of Kent State student-athletes and staff members actively involved, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is becoming more noticeable both on campus and in the community.
According to the NCAA, SAACs are designed to:
• Generate a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure;
• Solicit student-athlete response and recommendations to proposed NCAA legislation;
• Actively participate in the administrative process of NCAA athletics programs;
• Promote a positive student-athlete image.
Under the guidance of Angie Seabeck, the SAAC helps protect the well-being of student-athletes at Kent State and initiates numerous community service projects and campus activities to help develop the student-athlete as a whole. Seabeck, an academic counselor/life skills coordinator, is a recent addition to Kent State’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, joining Associate Athletic Director Jennifer Kulics, M.A. ’98, Ph.D. ’06; Director of Academic Services Kristin Reed, ’02, M.A. ’04; and Academic Counselor Greg Glaus in working with the SAAC.
Student-athletes from all of Kent State’s varsity teams are represented on the committee.
As many as 40 representatives can be found at meetings, serving as the voice of the student-athlete. The SAAC holds six meetings every semester, joined by the entire academic support staff and Athletics Director Laing Kennedy. The group discusses legislation for the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA, along with any internal concerns. SAAC members are also represented on committees within the athletic department and sit in on conference calls with the MAC and the NCAA.
Senior football player Matt Muller currently serves as SAAC president, with sophomore soccer player Catharine Marosszeky as vice president.
“It’s nice to participate in a group that is a blend of campus life and athletics,” Muller says. “It means a lot to be able to do something good for people — especially children — in our community, while at the same time serving as a voice for my fellow student-athletes.”
According to Reed, one of the biggest recipients of the SAAC’s services is Akron Children’s Hospital. Golden Flash student-athletes visit children at the hospital every Monday.
“During the holiday season they also adopted a family,” Reed says. “They got the family gifts that they may not otherwise have received.”
“The message we want to send to our student-athletes is to give back to our community by getting involved in activities outside of their academic/athletic routine,” Kulics adds.
Every spring the SAAC helps organize “Jock Jams,” an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society that entertains a packed audience in the University Auditorium (Carol A. Cartwright Hall). The committee also hosts guest speakers, most recently Michael Franzese, who spoke on the dangers of gambling.
The SAAC also addresses the needs of student-athletes on campus, whether it involves keeping the Academic Resource Center open later during finals week or having laptops available to check out when they’re on the road.
In addition, the SAAC offers an opportunity for leaders to emerge as they represent their teams and their school. Select members will annually attend the NCAA National Leadership Conference.
“I’m proud of the things that SAAC has been able to accomplish while I’ve been president,” Muller says. “My time with the group has definitely been one of the highlights of my career at Kent State.” |
|
