Friday, February 10, 2012

MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference recently held its annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Winter Meeting, January 27-28, on the campus of Mercer University.

Thirty individuals participated in the gathering that included a dinner hosted by the Atlantic Sun Conference on Friday evening and a luncheon hosted by Mercer on Saturday.

A-Sun SAAC officers presiding over the meeting included Chair Sarah Santana (Mercer University, softball, junior); Vice Chair Esteban Mendez (Jacksonville University, cross country, junior); and Secretary Stephond Allmond, ETSU (track and field, sophomore). The SAAC also received a report from Carolyn Boyd, A-Sun Representative to the NCAA National SAAC, via conference call.

Other Friday activity included the continuation of the A-Sun Video Initiative that has been featured on the Atlantic Sun Insider blog and as part of the conference’s men’s and women’s basketball broadcasts on CSS, ESPN3 and ASun.TV.

A special leadership presentation during Saturday’s session was facilitated by staff members representing A-Sun corporate partner CRONS (Come Ready or Never Start) regarding the organization’s Achievers Program. The CRONS Achievers Program demonstrated to the student-athletes the importance of setting goals, self-confidence, goal management and achievement in fulfilling dreams. The interactive session also included student-athletes and administrators setting and achieving a goal of 1,200 push-ups that was completed before the end of the session.

In conjunction with that program, a monthly CRONS Achiever Award will highlight achievements by A-Sun student-athletes and be awarded to the most notable achiever as a result of fan vote.

Other items of discussion included the role of the conference and campus SAAC, continuing work in the creation of a SAAC Handbook and SAAC best practices document and arranging a schedule for periodic conference calls. The next scheduled SAAC meeting will be held on the campus of the University of South Carolina Upstate in September 2012.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an NCAA Division I league with 10 member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University. Northern Kentucky University will become the A-Sun newest member on July 1, 2012.