National SAAC Video Contest

March 2014, Issue 13
The mission of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance
the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete
well being, and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
National SAAC Video Contest
www.facebook.com/
Division1NationalSAAC
@Div1SAAC
#OURVOICE
Highlights
 National SAAC
Video Contest
 WAC SAAC Toy
Drive
 In the News
In an efforts to raise SAAC awareness, the
Media Team for National SAAC would like to
invite all institutions to create a video about
SAAC. It can be funny, serious, musical, or
whatever you can come up with; just show us
your creativity to tell people about the
committee! Appropriate videos submitted will be
posted to our social media sites!
Length: 2 minutes max
Where to Submit Videos: [email protected]
Due: April 1st, 2014
When
submitting,
please
include
your
institution, conference, and primary contact
(student-athlete and faculty liaison).
WAC SAAC Toy Drive Generates Nearly $27,000
The Western Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (WAC SAAC) is comprised of nine member
institutions with the majority of the institutions being new
members to the conference. This past summer when the
student-athletes of the committee hosted their annual inperson meeting, they were all about business. There was a
sweet spirit in the atmosphere; and the newly elected
president, Dalton Kelley, a senior student-athlete at California
State University-Bakersfield (CSUB), came to the meeting
with an agenda. The message that he delivered to his peers
was, “we are not the WAC of the past, but we are WAC’s
future”. This one liner alone set the tone of the meeting. The
student-athletes were all inspired by their new leader.
Kids, Operation Breakthrough, Jardin de los Niños, Rotary
Boys & Girls Club, Adopt-An-Angel and Toys for Tots.
WAC SAAC’s goal with the Holiday Toy Drive was to raise as
many toys and as much money as possible to purchase toys for
underprivileged kids in their communities. Student-athletes
at each member institution could raise money and/or collect
toys through collections at sporting events, special events, and/
or by working in conjunction with other campus and
community groups who were willing to participate in the toy
drive.
The Toy Drive was an integral part in WAC SAAC’s overall
mission to enhance the student-athletes experience by
contributing to their personal growth, leadership development,
The new president told his peers to arise, get revived, and to
and by engaging them in service in their campus and
become more than excited about being part of the “new” WAC.
surrounding communities. This event was not only key in
The student-athletes of the committee responded. They agreed
assisting WAC SAAC to give back to their communities, but
to return to their individual campuses and to deliver--- “We
also worked in accordance with WAC SAAC’s goal of
aren’t the past, but we will be the future.” As part of the
increasing its presence in leadership roles throughout the nine
future, WAC SAAC will give back.
institutions’ campuses and within their communities.
Stirred by the messages delivered during the meeting, WAC
In an effort to celebrate the success of the event and to
SAAC Gives Back- “Shaping the Youth of the (mid)WEST”
encourage the student-athletes to carry on, the institution that
became the committee’s slogan for the 2013-14 academic year.
raised the most money will be recognized during the WAC
The SAAC programs at each member institution are required
Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas in March.
to participate in the general student governing body on their
"We had a great response to the toy drive. Thank you to
campuses, required to donate time and service to their own
everyone who donated and assisted with the effort to make a
athletics department, required to make meaningful
difference to families within our community" -Brooke Melvin,
connections with the different departments on campus, and
Chicago State SAAC President
required to participate in a minimum of 500 community
"We are so thankful for Chicago State University and their
service hours within their communities.
athletic department for collecting toys and raising awareness
The student-athletes are holding true to their word and
for the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community
commitment. They are making strides to demonstrate that
Center. It is wonderful to see students not only take leadership
they are more than just athletes on their campuses. Through
on the court and in athletics, but also in their communities.
actions rather than in words, they’ve shown that they are
The toys that have been collected will go to serve over 350
leaders, and they are representatives of their institutions who
families who have applied for Christmas Assistance through
care about the well-being of the student-athletes, the general
the Kroc Center. Through Chicago State University's efforts,
student-population, and the youth in the community. The proof
children will have smiles on their faces on Christmas and their
can be seen by their efforts which contributed to making the
families' lives will be enriched. Thank you, Chicago State
WAC SAAC Holiday Toy Drive a success.
University! We look forward to seeing how we can partner
As part of the WAC SAAC Gives Back campaign for the 2013- together to make our community a better place."-Major
14 academic year, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees
Harvey, The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Corps Community
(SAAC) at each of the nine WAC institutions participated in a Center Administrator
Holiday Toy Drive that raised $26,907.23. Each member
"It was a great combined effort of the University and SAAC to
institution’s SAAC program collected toys and/or raised funds
help raise money and toys for the kids in the surrounding
that were used to buy toys which were then donated to the
community. To be a part of making a difference in their lives
charity of each institution's choosing. Among the organizations
was a humbling experience." –Grand Canyon University
that benefitted from the Toy Drive were the Bakersfield
Ronald McDonald House, Lauren Small Children's Medical
Center, The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps
Continued on page 3...
Community Center, Canyon Cares Christmas, Christmas for
...continued from page 2
“As a Conference, we want to provide our student-athletes
with opportunities to foster positive professional
relationships and to engage in meaningful activities in
"As Aggies, community involvement is something that is
which they can gain real experience and acquire
always a top priority for us; we were so thrilled to be able leadership skills that they can use in the future. As part
to contribute to Jardin de Los Ninos. We are so proud of
of the Holiday Toy Drive, it was my expectation for the
WAC SAAC for taking such an initiative.” –New Mexico
student-athletes to be ambassadors for their institutions,
State University
and for them to find creative ways to accomplish their
goals. Most importantly, I wanted the WAC SAAC
“It was awesome to see all of our institutions come
student-athletes to make every effort to engage their
together as a conference under our WAC SAAC Gives
student-athletes, the general student population, their
Back banner to donate toys to the youth in our
campus community, and the community as a whole to
communities, especially considering that most of our
institutions were new to the WAC and/or had never done come together for one great cause, and that was to “Give
Back”. Nicole Harvey, Western Athletic Conferencea toy drive in the past. I was thrilled when I heard our
final total and I feel that it is something that our athletes, Assistant Commissioner
institutions, and conference should really be proud of. I
Based on the number of organizations that benefited from
think we should be just as proud of our process as we are the cause and the number of interactions that the student
of our product because it took the effort of our WAC SAAC -athletes had with other members throughout their
members stepping up as leaders at their institutions to
campuses and communities, the student-athletes
orchestrate the events and forge the relationships with
accomplished their goals.
campus and community groups that made it possible for
WAC SAAC is proud to GIVE BACK! We aren’t the past
us to raise so many toys. The success of the toy drive has
set the bar for service and community involvement for our but we are WAC’s future.
future events and has put us on the right track toward
Written by: Dalton Kelly,
what we envision as the WAC of the future.”- Dalton
Kelley, WAC SAAC President California State UniversityWAC SAAC President, CSU-Bakersfield
Bakersfield
In the News
Below are links to articles and videos regarding current events within the NCAA and the Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee! Staying updated is really important for all student-athletes!
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/waiver-process-be-more-flexible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Whvvn-Rqlk&feature=youtu.be
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/press-releases/ncaa-responds-union-proposal
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/di-members-provide-feedback-restructuring-ideas
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/di-legislative-council-approves-recruiting-safetyproposals
Is your Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee doing
great things? We’d love to
share your story with all the
student-athletes! Email your
story to [email protected]
for a chance to be featured in
a future newsletter!

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