LIFE SKILLS

STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

S.A.A.C. is comprised of representatives from each Gonzaga athletic team whose main purpose is to serve as a studentathlete voice regarding student-athlete welfare within Gonzaga’s Athletic Department, the WCC, and the NCAA. As role models, S.A.A.C. also strives to develop leaders through Gonzaga’s long standing Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic traditions by being firmly committed to service, opportunity, and social justice.

S.A.A.C. OFFICERS

President

Kailee Jackson, Women’s Rowing

Vice President

Grayson Sterling, Baseball

Secretary

Rhea Jansen, Volleyball

Diversity & Inclusion Chair

Yvonne Ejim, Women’s Basketball

Media & Promotions Chairs

Cassie Kim, Women’s Golf

Calli Stokes, Women’s Basketball

Student-Athlete Wellness Chairs

Michael Lewis, Men’s XC/Track

Jackson Lyne, Men’s XC/Track

Volunteer Co-Chairs

Kupa’a Fernandez, Men’s Soccer

Alyssa Nguyen, Women’s Golf

S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series

For the second year, our S.A.A.C. Diversity & Inclusion Chair continued to organize our S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series. Student-athletes continued in active conversations by listening to TedTalks and working through activities discussing intersectionality, belonging verses inclusion, and many others. An initiative for S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series was to actively participate in local community events. In celebration of Black History Month, student-athletes joined the Spokesman Review-Black Voices Symposium where high school students shared their poetry, prose, and art to showcase their personal experiences. Also, S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series went to Feast World Kitchen to enjoy an authentically cooked meal as well as hear their mission- driven by diversity, equity, and inclusion. Feast World Kitchen was designed for people who have recently immigrated to Spokane to share their culture as well as find support in their transition. The S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series has been able to expand not only through campus partners like Diversity, Inclusion, Community & Equity (DICE), but also in the Spokane Community.

S.A.A.C. Mental Health Movie Nights

S.A.A.C. provided two Mental Health Movie Nights, one in the fall and one in the spring. For the fall movie night our studentathletes selected The Princess Bride. It is a fun and lighthearted movie before finals week. The second one, Headstrong: Mental Health and Sports, focuses on the lives of professional athletes and their struggles with mental health and life after sport. Following the documentary studentathletes had an opportunity to discuss and share.

Leadership Development

Student-Athlete Leadership Institute

The Student-Athlete Leadership Institute is designed to further develop studentathletes’ leadership skills as students, athletes, and leaders on campus and in the community.

This year’s participants included Owen Kirby (MROW), Matt Simmons (MROW), Carp Mukal (MXC/Track), Paul Talens (MXC/T), Ansel Tucker (MXC/T), Arthus Bassetiere (MTEN), Calli Stokes (WBB), Tatum Heyl (WROW), Camille RuhlinHicks (WROW), Katie Sierhuis (WROW), Grace Ehler (VB), and Caroline Wernli (WTEN).

Career Development

GU alumni, supporters, and constituents, as they pursue their future careers.

The annual Senior Networking Social was held in the fall, an event that helps prepare our senior student-athletes for life after graduation. They had the opportunity to practice networking and selfpromotion skills with athletic department constituents and invited guests.

Zag Community Building

S.A.A.C. prides itself on bringing together all Zags, making them feel part of the family by providing community-building events. They organized three events including a Welcome Back Kickball tournament, a Winter Formal, and a Spring Tailgater Bean-Bag-Toss tournament.