Kennesaw State University Athletics

Student-Athlete Advisory Council

Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC)
The Kennesaw State University Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is a student-athlete organization comprised of individuals selected by their coaches and teammates whose purpose is to serve as a line of communication between the student-athletes and athletics administration. The organization also helps to design programs that encourage academic achievement, social responsibility, health promotion and general awareness, encourage student-athletes to become more involved in campus and community projects, and promote better communication and cohesion among teams. SAAC is comprised of representatives from each intercollegiate team as well as an executive committee whose purpose is to oversee the day-to-day operation of the Kennesaw State SAAC.

National Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC)
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council is established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at three levels. Each NCAA member school and each NCAA Conference have a SAAC and along with the National SAAC their mission is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.

Charitable Organization Information

North Metro Miracle League
This year the Kennesaw State SAAC has selected the North Metro Miracle League as the charitable organization they will work with over the next nine months. The North Metro Miracle League provides inclusive adapted sports and social activities for children and adults of all abilities. The organization is committed to the philosophy that every person deserves to be acknowledged, valued and included. They are also dedicated to promoting positive images that demonstrate the value of every member of our community.

SAAC Representatives

Officers
President - Kyle Clayton, Baseball




Vice President - Michael Johnson, Cross Country, Track & Field
Michael is a senior at Kennesaw State. This is his last year of eligibility in Cross Country and Track & Field where he is a distance specialist. He has been a member of SAAC for four years and he is serving his second year as Vice President. After graduating, he is planning to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy.



Secretary - Ginny Frederick, Volleyball
Ginny is a senior at Kennesaw State University. She is a setter for the Kennesaw State women’s volleyball team and is entering her final season of eligibility. She has been a member of the SAAC for three years and has recently been appointed Secretary. Upon graduation from Kennesaw State with a degree in Exercise and Health Science, Ginny plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology/Biomechanics.



Service Chair – TBD

2009-10 SAAC Representatives

Representatives
Ashley Aguilera, Senior, Women’s Golf
Rachael Albright, Sophomore, Volleyball
Ryan Boutell, Sophomore, Men’s Tennis
DeAndrea Bullock, Senior, Women’s Basketball
Lindsay Dillon, Junior, Women’s Tennis
Abby Fitzgerald, Senior, Women’s Golf
Ginny Frederick, Senior, Volleyball
Ben Greene, Freshman, Men’s Golf
Jordan Hackett, Senior, Softball
Nathan Haskins, Senior, Cross Country, Track & Field
Dylan Higgins, Sophomore, Men’s Tennis
Michael Johnson, Senior, Cross Country, Track & Field
Jay Mitchell, Senior, Men’s Basketball
Agatha Palider, Junior, Women’s Tennis
Staci Pugh, Junior, Soccer
J.P. Putnam, Senior, Men’s Golf
Jakia Ragland, Junior, Women’s Track & Field
Angie Smith, Sophomore, Women’s Basketball
Bucky Smith, Senior, Baseball
Erin Sutton, Senior, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field
Klair Wells, Junior, Softball
Soibhan Wolcott, Senior, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field

Ashley Aguilera Golf	Rachel Albright Volleyball	Ryan Boutell Tennis	DeAndrea Bullock Basketball
Kyle Clayton Baseball	Lyndsay Dillon Tennis	Ginny Frederick Volleyball	Jordan Hackett Softball
Nathan Haskins XC/Track	Dylan Higgins Tennis	Michael Johnson XC/Track	Jay Mitchell Basketball
Agatha Palider   Tennis	J.P. Putnam   Golf	Jakia Ragland XC/Track	Angie Smith Basketball
Bucky Smith Baseball	Klair Wells Softball	T.J. Greggs Liaison	Susan Whitlock Liaison

Faculty/Staff

Mrs. Susan Whitlock, Liaison
Susan Whitlock is an Assistant Professor in the Health, Physical Education and Sport Science Department and since 1994 has served as SAAC liaison. A three-sport letter winner at Mars Hill, where she is a member of their athletic Hall of Fame, Mrs. Whitlock played basketball, volleyball and tennis. She also coached volleyball, basketball and tennis. She was the SWA until 2008 and has taught in the KSU HPS Department for 19 years.



Mr. T.J. Greggs, Liaison
T.J. Greggs is the Assistant Director of Residence Life and the Director of Tennis Operations. This is his first year working with SAAC at Kennesaw State. He was a two-sport letter winner at Westminster (Pa.) where he was a member of the tennis and swimming teams. In addition to coaching, Greggs has taught tennis, volleyball, bowling and racquetball.




Mr. Wes Riddle, Liaison to Center for Student Leadership

Recent and Future SAAC Service Projects

Habitat for Humanity
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation – Think Pink
Cobb/Douglas Community Services – Christmas Adopt-An-Adult
USO Operation Care Package
American Cancer Society
Miracle League of Northwest Georgia
Odyssey Peer Mentor Program
KSU Osher Institute Program for Seniors
Partner in Education – Chalker Elementary School

Links
NCAA National SAAC
Atlantic Sun SAAC
North Metro Miracle League

Photo Galleries

Coming Soon

Special Features

DeAndrea Bullock
What I Did At This Summer’s NCAA Leadership Conference

This May, I was given the opportunity to attend the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Development Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The conference had 585 student-athletes from each division and every college in the NCAA.

At the conference, I bonded with many of the participants, as I met student-athletes from all over the country that had the same goals and ambitions for their lives as I do, as well as for their teams and campuses. I was able to relate to the participants on many different levels and I gained friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. The experience was so electrifying that at the end of the conference, while we were awaiting our departure, there was an eerie feeling among all of the participants because we knew that this once in a lifetime experience was coming to an end.

I learned through this conference that in order to lead others you must first know about yourself and how to lead yourself. This means you have to know your strengths and weaknesses and how you should relate to other personalities. You also have to know whom you want to become in order to map out your personal growth plan and create your formula on how to lead others. I thought I knew what type of person I was, however, the theme of the conference definitely summed up this experience for me: “Journey of Self-Discovery.”

I took an in-depth look at what I value most in life and how those things mold my personality, and this process ultimately helped me to discover myself. One of my weaknesses in that I am not assertive. I have taken steps to strengthen this weakness and I have shown more assertiveness in the last two months than in my last three years at Kennesaw State. I also recognize my strengths, which in one case was teamwork and I can use that to my advantage to make people feel very comfortable around me to the point of gaining their trust.

There was an assignment given prior to the conference in which I interviewed people that I came in contact with on a daily basis. This assignment opened my eyes to how people perceived me as a person, and a leader, and this helped me to understand myself even more. Overall, the entire conference and the many assignments involved truly prepared me for the leadership role I will be assuming this year as one of four seniors on the women’s basketball team and the many leadership roles that I may take in the future.

DeAndrea Bullock