Tonight, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee will end their Pink Wave breast cancer philanthropy event by selling T-shirts at the Hillsdale College men’s basketball game.
SAAC not only initiates and promotes volunteer activities for athletes, but also plans social events and votes on NCAA legislation, SAAC faculty advisor and head women’s tennis coach Nicole Dzubay said.
In addition to the Pink Wave event, SAAC also hosts philanthropy events to donate to the Make-a-Wish foundation. It is also considering expanding to help King’s Cupboard and the Humane Society, said senior Clara Leutheuser, SAAC president.
Leutheuser said SAAC members focus on service and being the best athletes possible.
“We want to make Hillsdale College athletes visible outside of the campus,” said junior Scott Lantis, SAAC vice-president.
In addition to Leutheuser and Lantis, the organization has two secretaries and two academic coordinators who help freshman register and encourage academic discipline. Three to four athletes per sports team participate in SAAC.
Lantis joined SAAC his freshman year after his coaches recommended him for the position. He said that once part of the organization, athletes usually stay in SAAC until they graduate. Graduating seniors nominate a team member to fill their position.
“The goal is to be leaders,” Leutheuser said. “We honor success by having events for athletes with high GPAs and by hosting the athlete formal as a kind of celebration at the end of the spring.”
Dzubay said she has been impressed with Leutheuser’s leadership this year.
“[Leutheuser is] amazing, and she’s been doing a lot for the group,” she said.
Even though Leutheuser and Lantis run most of the meetings, Dzubay does play an integral role as SAAC advisor. She said one of her primary roles is to help explain NCAA legislation to SAAC members. She also helps them decide how to vote on potential legislation changes and helps manage the budget.
Dzubay also presents ideas from her time as a SAAC member at the University of Dayton. She served as SAAC president as an undergraduate there for two years.
“It always felt good to be in a leadership role,” Dzubay said. “Now as an advisor, it’s good to see students taking initiative. It’s also rewarding seeing each student get excited about events and seeing the results of all their hard work.”
Every school in the GLIAC has a SAAC chapter. Hillsdale’s SAAC chapter represents the interests of Hillsdale College athletics by voting on changes in the conference as a whole.
“We are the voice for Hillsdale Charger athletics,” Leutheuser said. “We take pride in representing the rest of the athletes. It’s something unique to SAAC.”
SAAC members meet about every two weeks.
“It’s a good way to check in and touch base with everyone since we’re all on different schedules,” Lantis said. “Volunteering is a good way to connect and have fun together.”
While SAAC members are in charge of planning volunteer and social events, teammates are encouraged to participate. Non-athletes can even be invited as dates to the spring formal dance.
“It’s all about comradery,” Leutheuser said. “We get to use our platform as student athletes to do something more important than just athletics. We could volunteer independently, but it’s great to use our platform.”
Lantis said when SAAC members visited Samuel J. Gier Elementary school, it was encouraging to be examples to children who obviously looked up to college athletes.
“It was a great reminder that there’s more to being a student athlete than practice and school,” Leutheuser said. “It helps keep us focused on more important things.”
Dzubay said she would stay on as advisor next year to provide some stability after Leutheuser graduates.
Next year, Dzubay said she hopes to get SAAC started planning events earlier in the year. She even said they may add another event.
“There’s always room for improvement, but they’re doing a great job,” she said.
