NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 5, 2018 — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) held its annual meeting on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 2-3, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel.
Student-athletes from all 12 MEAC member institutions came together to gain insight on professional development, discuss their effectiveness as campus leaders and engage in community outreach.
Commissioner Dennis Thomas opened the meeting by welcoming all attendees, speakers and advisors. This was followed by an introduction of the guest speakers by SAAC President Rachel Harden from Florida A&M.
Friday night’s presentations kicked off with the dynamic duo of Lamarr Pottinger from Texas Tech and LaTrese Barker from Norfolk State with a discussion on tackling challenges through leadership. SAAC representatives partook in an intense tournament-style head, shoulders, knees and toes battle, where students battled each other, and the loser had to cheer on the winner in the next round.
The discussion became an open forum about myths and stigmas that may come with being a leader. This exciting presentation definitely geared the students up for Saturday’s presentations.
Saturday opened with breakfast and the introduction of the first presenter by SAAC Vice President Judah Corriette from Maryland Eastern Shore. Ms. Deidre Merritt, Associate Director of Leadership Development with the NCAA, conducted a session on post-graduation and a discussed a host of topics in reference to professional development and ended with a question and answer session.
After the discussion, national SAAC representative Jacob Milton from Norfolk State addressed fellow SAAC members and provided updates from Division I National SAAC as well before introducing Emily Lloyd.
Lloyd, Engagement Manager with The One Love Foundation, discussed the importance of healthy and unhealthy relationships as college students. She also spoke on recognizing signs from friends and loved ones if they are in trouble to help them before it’s too late. She stressed that many situations can be avoided if someone were to step in and help.
After lunch, Dorian Edwards, Campus Coordinator for Project Life Movement and a former student-athlete, spoke to the group on how they can host events to increase the potential pool of bone marrow and tissue donors by testing and registering fellow students. Edwards, accompanied by a few guests, also held a question-and-answer portion on the importance of giving especially people of color.
Compliance and championships intern Sierra Gurley led an open discussion on the importance of Mental Health in a collegiate atmosphere and of recognizing signs, not only in one’s own life, but also the people one is surrounded by. Karley Berry, MEAC athletic administration intern, briefly spoke on the importance of undergraduate internships, as well as post-graduate internships. She also her experience with law school.
The SAAC representatives then spent a portion of their afternoon volunteering their time and services at the Goodwill in Portsmouth, Va. For two hours, SAAC representatives became greeters and assisted the Goodwill staff with preparing the store for the holidays. This humbling experience was a great way to serve as the 2018 SAAC Community Service Project.
Before the day ended, the SAAC representatives collaborated on ideas for their 2018-19 SAAC Initiative and narrowed it down to the following:
1) Better nutrition for student-athletes;
2) Building more leaders through the implementation of leadership workshops;
3) Working together to give back more through all HBCU’s.
The student-athletes and staff wrapped up the event at Norfolk Waterside District with dinner and a chance to mingle before returning to their respective institutions to share all they acquired.