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THOMASVILLE, N.C. (February 10, 2004) -- Jennifer Churchill, a sophomore at Queens University of Charlotte, has recently been selected to serve on the NCAA Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Churchill, a native of Lake Forest, Cal., is a communications and political science major. In addition to leading the Queens University of Charlotte Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she is also a pitcher on the Royals softball team and an active member of the Chi Omega Sorority.
Churchill was among four student-athletes nominated by the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference commissioner to compete for one spot as CVAC representative on the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The nominees were evaluated based on academic achievement, school/community involvement, and leadership abilities.
Churchill has also been selected to chair the conference SAAC and is responsible for promoting communication between athletic administrators and student-athletes, providing feedback and insight to athletic issues, generating a student-athlete voice on campus, conference, and national levels, and representing the views of all student-athletes.
Based on NCAA legislation, each NCAA conference has a conference SAAC with one conference representative serving on the national SAAC. The Division II SAAC reports directly to the Management Council which then reports to the President’s council and onward to the NCAA Executive Committee.
The National SAAC meets annually at the NCAA Convention and at a summer leadership conference held at various locations throughout the United States. The mission of the NCAA SAAC is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
Charlotte, N.C. (April 8, 2003) - When some Queens University of Charlotte coaches and athletes arrived at local elementary schools on Friday, April 4 to celebrate National Student-Athlete Day they didn’t realize how much of an impact they would have on the students. They went to teach the elementary students the importance of working hard in school while promoting an active lifestyle for just an hour; but when it was time for the kids to get on their busses, it was evident the brief session meant much more than learning how to kick a soccer ball, for everyone involved.
According to the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), National Student-Athlete Day was created to "recognize the accomplishment of student-athletes nation who excel in the classroom, on the playing field, and in their communities" on Sunday, April 6. NCAA involvement began in 1994.
 Queens’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) decided to celebrate the day early, and give back to the greater-Charlotte community as well. "We chose to promote health and staying in school instead of celebrating our student-athletes," said SAAC advisor Beth Gattuso (who is also the Senior Woman Administrator, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach, and Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach). Head Women's Soccer Coach Johnathan Brabson also helped with the event, and is pictured at the right teaching at Rama Road Elementary.
"Some of these kids are ‘at-risk children, said Mrs. Rosalie Brillante, who teaches fourth grade at Rama Road Elementary. "This kind of interaction shows them what they can channel their extra energy into in addition to giving them positive role models."
Gattuso brought basketball players Kellie Joplin, Elise Prince, and Carmen Waterman to Park Road Montessori. Brabson was accompanied by Joseph Coat (Cross Country), Jon Lowe (Soccer), Lauren Nguyen (Soccer), and Maria Steelman (Soccer) at Rama Road Elementary.
When the Royals arrived at the schools, the kids were bubbling with excitement. After a few brief introductions, the coaches moderated a brief and a question and answer session. The kids asked all kinds of questions about receiving red cards to receiving an "F" on a test.
 Once all questions were answered, it was time for the kids’ highlight of the trip - playing sports outside with the collegiate athletes. Some took a bit longer to warm up to the activity. "One girl was not excited to play soccer with the rest of the group, Lowe said, "but once she started playing she loved it."
All of elementary students had a ball. Once it was time to file-in to the classrooms, the children almost missed their busses because they all wanted autographs from all of the athletes and coaches. Coat is shown at the left giving his signature to his fans.
Queens is thankful to the teachers who welcomed the athletes into their classrooms for the afternoon. Mrs. Brillante thought it would be beneficial for the athletes to come back at least once a week; not just for physical activities, but helping with the students’ classroom skills as well.
The athletes who went to the schools agree with her; and judging by the smiles on their faces during the return trip to Queens, they had just as much fun as the elementary school children. |
