Thursday, June 19, 2008
Hiram's Kocka Named to NCAA SAAC
She will be one of 24 members of the national committee, consisting of a minimum of 12 men and 12 women, representing the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees in the four geographical regions across the country. Amy was one of the conference SAAC members nominated for the national position by the NCAC and she was selected by the NCAA Division III SAAC.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Kenyon Student-Athletes Organize Refreshing Fundraiser
Sophomore Rachel Goheen, a member of the women's soccer team, classmate Stephanie Caton, a Ladies softball player, were inspired to search for a way to help people in struggling areas of the world after Goheen returned from a summer abroad. They found IMA's Lifestraw emergency water purification initiative, which aims to stem the spread of cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the World Health Organization states diarrheal disease kills approximately 28,000 people annually and is the leading cause of death in the country.
The Lifestraw is a portable water filter about the size of a large kazoo that can be carried easily on a string around a person's neck. According to the product's website, the straw offers relief from common diarrheal disease by effectively removing 99 percent of waterborne bacteria and viruses. Each Lifestraw is capable of filtering 185 gallons of water, enough to last a typical Congolese family the better part of a year.
Goheen and Caton hope sales warrant ordering more water bottles. Their ultimate goal is to increase awareness in the cause and make the fundraiser a regular staple at Kenyon sporting events throughout the year.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Denison SAAC Provides Christmas for Area Children
The students collected nearly $2,000 - a $500 increase from last year's total.
Click here for more information
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wittenberg Student-Athletes Hand Out Second Annual Tiger Awards
The banquet, organized and led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), included a formal dinner and awards presentation.
Ten different team and individual awards were handed out during the event, encompassing a wide range of athletic, academic and extracurricular achievements during the 2006-07 school year. The goal was to highlight not just the NCAA Division III national tournament participants from the volleyball, football and women’s soccer teams, but to showcase accomplishments across the department of athletics.
“It’s an awesome evening,” said Pat Denbow, a senior basketball player and president of SAAC. "The awards are for the student-athletes by the student-athletes, and any time you can gather so many people for something like this it makes for a pretty special occasion.”
The top male team award was presented to the football squad for Outstanding Men’s Team of the Year. The Tigers finished 7-4 on the gridiron in 2006 and were winners of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and its automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The volleyball team took home the Outstanding Women’s Team of the Year honors. The Tiger spikers put together a second consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament Final Four appearance, finishing the year with the conference coach of the year and newcomer of the year awards, as well as an honorable mention All-America selection. Wittenberg finished with a 35-8 overall record, including a perfect 16-0 record in the first double-round regular season format robin in NCAC history.
Male Athlete of the Year went to senior football standout Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), who topped 100 yards rushing nine straight weeks in 2006 to break school records for consecutive 100-yard games and 100-yard games in a season. He finished the 2006 season with 1,517 rushing yards, the third-highest total in school history and sixth-best per-game total in NCAA Division III. He also led the conference in rushing with 137.9 yards per game and in total touchdowns with 20.
Senior Jamie McIntyre (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) of the soccer team was awarded Female Athlete of the Year. McIntyre capped her collegiate career with her third consecutive first-team All-Great Lakes Region selection, and she set a school record by starting all 80 games in her career. She was a two-year team captain and a two-time NCAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Male Newcomer of the Year went to freshman Jeff Capella (Columbus, Ohio/WorthingtonKilbourne) who leads the men’s lacrosse team with 27 goals through the first 11 games of the 2007 season. Female Newcomer of the Year went to freshman Erin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), a setter and key addition to the Final Four volleyball team.
The Tiger Volleyball Team won the Women's Team of the Year award
Extracurricular Male Athlete of the Year went to senior Jim Martin (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon Area) of the men’s soccer team, and Extracurricular Female Athlete of the Year was awarded to senior Tosha Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio/North College Hill), a women’s basketball player. Both Martin and Johnson are involved in numerous organizations and honor societies as well as their respective sports.
The Tiger Spirit Awards, given to one male and female who best support and encourage their fellow student athletes, went to senior Mark Morrell (St. Louis, Mo./C.B.C.) of the men’s lacrosse team and junior Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) of the volleyball team.
Most Improved Men’s Team of the Year was given to the swimming and diving squad, whose strong freshman class and solid upperclass leadership helped turn a 5-8 dual meet record from the previous year into a successful 7-4 campaign in 2006-07.
Most Improved Women’s Team of the Year went to the soccer squad, which posted a 15-3-4 record that was good for the first NCAC championship and first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in school history.
Senior Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia) was named Record-Breaking Male Athlete. He holds the NCAC men's basketball tournament record for rebounds in a game at 20, ranks among the school leaders in career points, rebounds, blocks and games played, and he capped his collegiate career with first-team All-Great Lakes Region and third-team All-America honors following the 2006-07 season.
The Record Breaking Female Athlete award went to Lindsay Smith (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) after she broke two individual school records (in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events), and was a part of three relay school records (in the 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relays).
A pair of career achievement awards were also distributed. Andy Karcher (Oceola, Ohio/Bucyrus Wynford) won the men's award for his work in track and field. He won the NCAC indoor title in the hammer throw to go along with multiple top-five finishes in indoor and outdoor conference meets in the hammer and shot put in the last four years. Karcher has set and re-set the school record in the hammer three times, improving it by more than 20 feet.
The Female Collegiate Achievement Award honor went to senior Melissa Jackson (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), a four-year starter for the Tiger field hockey and lacrosse teams who earned second-team All-NCAC honors in 2005 and honorable mention in 2006. She has 100 career lacrosse goals, good for ninth in school history.
Joe Fincham (Ohio University 1988), who led the football team to the NCAC championship and an NCAA Division III Tournament bid, took home Men’s Coach of the Year honors. Women’s Coach of the Year was awarded to Pam Smith (Wittenberg 1982) of the women’s basketball team after she earned her 400 th career victory while leading the Tigers to a 15-11 record.
The top athletes academically in each of the fall, winter and spring seasons were also recognized. The fall season honors were given to Jim Martin and volleyball junior Caitlin Augustus (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee). Basketball players Pat Denbow (Louisville, Ky/St. Xavier) and Kathy Hittle (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), both seniors, took home the winter season awards, while spring season athletes Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial), a junior on the baseball team, and Sarah Fetters (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee), a junior on the softball squad, were recognized for their academic achievements.
By: Ryan Maurer and Pat Denbow '07
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Hiram SAAC
HIRAM, OHIO -- The Hiram College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) along with help from the entire College community, made the holiday season more memorable for local area families by raising money for the People Tree Sharing Program in Garrettsville, Ohio.
The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce founded the People tree program in 1981 and have since then been helping the less fortunate by providing toys, food, toiletries and other miscellaneous items to 130 families and 189 children in local area communities such as Garrettsville, Nelson, Freedom, Hiram and Windham. The program also assists seniors with prescriptions and gathers household items including furniture and appliances.
Donations have been made from individuals, schools, churches, clubs and other organizatinos to assist those around the holidays and throughout the year.
For one week, members of the Hiram S.A.A.C. gathered meal "swipes" using his or her college I.D. that amounted to $2.85 per swipe. Together the students accumulated over 550 meal donations and generated in incredible $1,618. Nearly 60 percent of the Hiram College community participated in the event.
"The campus responded very well," said S.A.A.C. co-advisor Bob Dean. "And, our student-athletes went above and beyond the call."
"You know, we are very proud of them. But, the reality is, this kind of reaction and move on their part has become 'normal' for our student-athletes....they just do these things."
On Thursday, Dec. 14, members of the student organization presented a check for $1,618 to the coordinators of the People Tree Sharing Program to help the organization continue its work in helping those in need.
- Read Across America Program on February 26th & March 1st. In honor of Doctor Suess's Birthday Hiram College Student Athletes will take to the schools and read to area youths grades K-4. Hiram College Athletes typically participate with Garfield, Crestwood, and Aurora school Districts to promote the importance of reading. The SAAC Committee is looking for 100% participation of our sport teams in this program.
- Student Athlete Appreciation Day- Thursday April 19 SAAC Members will be asked to recruit SA's to participate in the planning of our annual studant athlete recognition day, the event will recognize all of our student athletes, Male and Female Team GPA award winners, the Female Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the year, and Junior Scholar Athlete of the year, along with the NCAC male and female Scholar athlete of the year award winners. Also included in this celebration will be the unveiling of the new Championship Banners in Price Gymnasium.
Alright, that's alittle bit of what's going on in little Hiram, Ohio. Hope everyone else is doing well and I look forward to seeing more posts about what is happening on other campuses within our conference.
Monday, December 18, 2006
DSAAC assists Salvation Army with Toy Drive
Nearly $1,500 was collected on campus by members of DSAAC. The student-athletes involved with the committee took the donations and purchased gifts for the 30 children allotted to Denison by the Salvation Army.
DSAAC President Alison Teopas was thrilled with the enthusiasm and support displayed by the Denison community.
"The student advisory committee made it a goal this year to give back to the local community," stated Teopas. "We would like to thank the Salvation Army for organizing this program and allowing us to bring some joy into the homes of area children this Christmas."
The Adopt-A-Family (AAF) program matches impoverished families with individual or group sponsors to provide for their tangible needs at Christmas. Without the benefit of an adoption, these families would be looking forward to a very grim holiday. Being adopted is designed to be a once or, on very rare occasions, twice in a lifetime event for recipient families.
The mission of The Denison University Student Athletic Advisory Council is to work with the university administration and student-athletes to build positive relationships, develop unity, and increase involvement in the campus community. The council promotes communication and offers feedback and insight into departmental issues. The council also incorporates student-athlete opinions about proposed NCAC and NCAA legislation and encourages athletic teams to support one another. The council fosters and upholds programs to achieve these goals and works to fortify a positive student-athlete image on Denison University's campus.