Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Gives Back
By Britani Beasley ’15
The McKendree Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has come a far way in just a few short years. The organization was established in
2011 and keeps on growing in size. Thirty-seven student athletes from 23 different
teams are represented within SAAC. Woman’s bowler Tegan Clinton ’15 said, “I believe that now, especially since we are officially a National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) school, SAAC is important because we, as representatives
need to keep our teams, as well as the whole school, informed about changes and issues.”
Advised by Angela Red, assistant director of athletics/compliance and senior women’s
administrator, SAAC offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect
student-athletes’ lives at McKendree and on all NCAA Division II member institution
campuses.
SAAC is also dedicated to engaging students in community involvement. By encouraging
student athletes to get involved in the community, SAAC members are able to better
not only our campus but also our community. Men’s tennis player Dylan Faulkenberg ’17 said, “We definitely realize that we are fortunate people, able to attend college
and play sports, so we try to give back to the community.”
Volunteer services that members of SAAC and Bearcat athletic teams have participated in this year include visiting patients at Peyton Manning Children’s
Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.; collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items
for the Lebanon Food Pantry in partnership with the Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service’s Trick or Treating for Canned Goods; and volunteering at the McKendree Race Day, Special
Olympics Basketball Tournament, The Warrior Dash, the U.S. Open USTA Wheelchair Championships
and a SAFB Youth Tennis Development Program. All Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
SAAC member institutions also proudly participate in the Division II National SAAC
initiative to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The 2013–14 McKendree SAAC officers are Caty Ponce ’15 (women’s basketball); Kyle Rutledge ’15 (baseball); Meghan Dohogne ’14 (women’s volleyball) and Edward “E.J.” Rahar ’15 (track and field).
