2008 Woodie Awards
Guilford's SAAC Gets Active in Local Community
Joanna Bernstein
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
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While SAAC does not only exist at Guilford, many of its programs and social promises are unique to our athletic department.
"All member colleges of the NCAA are required to have a student-athlete advisory board of some kind," said Assistant Professor of Sports Studies Bob Malekoff. "Our school has a very active SAAC (within the community), but this organization isn't unique to Guilford."
SAAC's community involvement correlates with Guilford's core values and sense of social responsibility.
In one of SAAC's more internationally rooted community projects, student-athletes ventured throughout the local area as part of Trick or Treat for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and raised over $200 in only one hour.
These programs are just the beginning for Guilford's SAAC.
"We are working on creating athletics fan clubs, and also preparing to apply for the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program next year," Hayes said.
In this program, each team will be given the opportunity to earn points by supporting fellow athletes at other sporting events, participating in community service, and by attending cultural events, such as dance, choir, or theater performances on campus.
The team that generates the highest number of points will be rewarded. The specifics of what these rewards entail have not yet been determined.
The Life Skills program may help improve the non-athletes' perception of student-athlete activity on campus and in turn weaken Guilford's notorious athlete/non-athlete divide.
"Many of our athletes already participate in the community and the Life Skills program will help to reward them and encourage others to become active in the community too," Gonzalez said.
"All member colleges of the NCAA are required to have a student-athlete advisory board of some kind," said Assistant Professor of Sports Studies Bob Malekoff. "Our school has a very active SAAC (within the community), but this organization isn't unique to Guilford."
SAAC's community involvement correlates with Guilford's core values and sense of social responsibility.
In one of SAAC's more internationally rooted community projects, student-athletes ventured throughout the local area as part of Trick or Treat for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and raised over $200 in only one hour.
These programs are just the beginning for Guilford's SAAC.
"We are working on creating athletics fan clubs, and also preparing to apply for the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program next year," Hayes said.
In this program, each team will be given the opportunity to earn points by supporting fellow athletes at other sporting events, participating in community service, and by attending cultural events, such as dance, choir, or theater performances on campus.
The team that generates the highest number of points will be rewarded. The specifics of what these rewards entail have not yet been determined.
The Life Skills program may help improve the non-athletes' perception of student-athlete activity on campus and in turn weaken Guilford's notorious athlete/non-athlete divide.
"Many of our athletes already participate in the community and the Life Skills program will help to reward them and encourage others to become active in the community too," Gonzalez said.
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