BOSTON, MA- This past weekend marked the Third Annual GNAC
SAAC Retreat held in Boston, MA. Every year, the Great Northeast
Athletic Conference holds a unique Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee event focused on developing skills to help
student-athletes succeed after collegiate sports. A pair of Saint
Joseph's College SAAC members, Megan McDevitt '12 (Cumberland, ME)
and Sarah Bartell '12 (Exeter, NH), attended the event.
The highly-anticipated retreat was held at the Doubletree Suites
in Boston, Massachusetts from April 2-3. This year the GNAC
presented a Student Athlete program focused on “Leadership
After Sports” continuing with the theme from last year of
“Life After Sports”. The SAAC Retreat is also a
great networking opportunity for student-athletes to discuss their
school events, initiatives and community projects as well as a time
to develop friendships amongst the different GNAC school
representatives.
On Saturday, the student-athletes were able to tour the home of
the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. They were able to see the Red Sox
Hall of Fame, sit on the Green Monster, and learn the historical
facts and most memorable plays of the ballpark. After the tour, the
student-athletes saw their first-ever professional men’s
lacrosse game at the TD Banknorth Garden of the Boston Blazers
against the Rochester Knighthawks.
A major highlight of the GNAC SAAC Retreat was the guest speech
given by Mr. Dan Doyle. Mr. Doyle is the founder and Executive
Director of the Institute for International Sport and the Chief
Executive Officer of the World Youth Peace Summit. Some of
the greatest initiatives that have originated from the Institute
have been the World-Scholar Athlete Games, National Sportsmanship
Day and the World Youth Peace Summit. Additionally, Mr. Doyle is
the author of the acclaimed novel, “Are You Watching Adolph
Rupp?” and the Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting.
Mr. Doyle spoke on numerous topics of leadership including the
traits of great leaders, what is entailed in being a leader, and
critical thinking exercises of self-analysis to further develop
one’s leadership abilities. The skills the student-athletes
learned can be carried back to their future sport seasons as well
as in their transformation into successful careers.
The weekend was also an opportunity for student-athletes to come
together and decide the future GNAC SAAC Committee for the
2011-2012 school year.
Kathryne Olsen was named GNAC SAAC President. Olsen is a junior
on the women’s volleyball team, majoring in Secondary
Education and History at Emmanuel College.
James Wenz was named GNAC SAAC Vice President. Wenz is a junior
on the men’s basketball team, majoring in Sports Management
at Mount Ida College.
Kyle Botos was named GNAC SAAC Treasurer. Botos is a junior on
the men’s hockey team, majoring in Accounting at Johnson
& Wales University.
Adam Bolotin was named GNAC SAAC Secretary. Bolotin is a
sophomore on the men’s hockey team, majoring in Finance at
Johnson & Wales University.
Overall, the goal of the Great Northeast Athletic
Conference’s SAAC Retreat with a focus on “Leadership
After Sports” proved to be a grand success. With
several attendees leaving with a new found understanding of
leadership, the student-athletes believe it was an extremely
successful event and look to carry the skills learned from Mr.
Doyle back to their campuses.
Students were represented from several GNAC schools including,
Pedro Suncar (Albertus), Katelyn White (Albertus), Phil Shore
(Emerson), Kathryne Olsen (Emmanuel), Megan Murray (Emmanuel), Adam
Bolotin (JWU), Kyle Botos (JWU), Michelle Alessi (Mount Ida), James
Wenz (Mount Ida), Zach Blodgett (Norwich), Megan Gingras (Norwich),
Mike Polley (Rivier), Caroline Zak (Rivier), Megan McDevitt (St.
Joe’s Maine), Sarah Bartell (St. Joe’s Maine), Terese
Cerins (St. Joseph) and Mary Hyde (St. Joseph).
COURTESY OF GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION
