The mission of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image. SAAC is directly supervised and supported by the athletic department. Meetings are held bi-weekly.

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Hood SAAC Sponsors Motivational Talk by Julie Gaver

FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is proud to sponsor a motivational talk with well-renowned storyteller and author Julie Gaver on Monday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Whitaker Commons.

Gaver's talk is entitled, "Whatever it Takes! Life Lessons from the World of Sports" and is open to the entire Hood College community and the general public.

Well known for her high energy presentation style, Gaver has been professionally speaking nationwide for the past 20 years. A master storyteller, she uses a unique blend of experience and theatrics to bring her presentations to life.

Her training organization, Julie Gaver Training & Development, LLC, helps to create work environments which foster higher levels of attitude, productivity, teamwork and creative thinking. In this capacity, she has worked with some of the most prestigious and successful firms in the country.

Locally, Gaver currently serves as Past-Board President of Leadership Washington County. She currently serves on the boards of Cocktails for a Cause of Maryland, which sponsors events to benefit nonprofits serving the needs of women and children. Additionally, she serves on the board of Woman to Woman Mentoring, an organization providing mentors to women ages 18-35.

Gaver is the author of the new book series Must Love Shoes, which captures many of life's ordinary moments in such a way that we are able to see the meaning, lesson and humor in the little things. Copies are available in Frederick at Molly's Meanderings or online at www.mustloveshoes.com.

Learn more about Julie Gaver at http://www.juliegaver.com/index.cfm.

Members of Hood SAAC Participate in Two Community Service Events

Photo Gallery of Walkersville Elementary School's Scholastic Book Fair

Photo Gallery of Leaf Raking on Magnolia Avenue

FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recently participated in two community service activities, involving reading to elementary school children and assisting neighbors with yard work.

Several members of the Hood SAAC participated in Walkersville Elementary School's Scholastic Book Fair during the school's "Athletes Are Heroes" Reading Night on Oct. 11. Junior Doug Raftery of the men's soccer team, junior Mollie Widdowson and first-year Kathryn Papuchis of the track and field team, senior Anne Marie Hantman of the field hockey team, junior George Mineff of the men's lacrosse team, senior Brittany Sabol and first-year Jenn Rutherford of the softball team, senior Abby Dyjack of the women's soccer team and junior Helene Butler and sophomore Amalia Franzese of the women's lacrosse team spent an afternoon reading a variety of stories to the youngsters at Walkersville.

The Blazers then teamed up to assist several neighboring families along Magnolia Avenue, one of the streets that runs alongside Hood's new turf field, by raking leaves for the neighbors. In a partnership with SPURS, Hood's student-athlete peer-mentoring group, the Blazers' good-will gesture was an effort to let the neighbors know that they are appreciated. The efforts were also intended to thank the neighbors for their patience from having vehicles occupy their parking spaces during athletic contests, balls accidentally getting kicked or thrown into their yards and excessive noise coming from the music and public address system at the turf field during home games.

Representatives of Hood's SAAC at this event included: sophomores Brittni Jones and Kandie Glenn of the softball team, sophomore Nalla Tejera, junior Chris DiGangi, sophomore Brett Shelley and senior Ola Komolafe of the track and field team, juniors Emily Schrodel and Laura Saad of the women's tennis team, seniors Abby Dyjack and Alexa Hubicki of the women's soccer team, senior Aaron Prescott of the men's golf team, senior Patsy Davis and sophomores Miriah Stone and Megan Cahill of the field hockey team, junior Jon Butterfield and first-year Nick May of the men's soccer team, junior Nick Spicer and sophomore Travis Kline of the men's lacrosse team and first-year Megan Feldtmose, sophomores Jen Civick, Kimi Brunot and Amalia Franzese and juniors Julia Banks, Helene Butler and Ashley Edwards of the women's lacrosse team.

The leaf-raking venture was well-received by the Magnolia neighbors and SAAC is hoping to assist the community in similar ways in the future.

"It is definitely an event that we would like to continue in the future, and hopefully we can make it an annual occurrence," said Raftery, this year's SAAC president. "The respect that our neighbors gave us was very warm, and we noticed how important they are to making the Hood College community what it is."

Hood SAAC Raises Funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recently helped donate to the Alex’s Lemonade Foundation Stand by hosting three different events in April 2010.

SAAC members gave away cups of lemonade and collected $80 in donations on April 15 during the Blazers’ women’s lacrosse game. SAAC then hosted two other stands with the help of Rita’s, a well-known and long-time supporter of the Alex’s Lemonade Foundation Stand. During these two events, SAAC raised over $130.

Provided with signs and posters by Rita’s, this event was the most successful in Hood College SAAC history. Every time a parent, student or community member made a donation, representatives from SAAC explained the story behind this foundation. Alex was young girl who fought her way to the age of eight, before passing away due to neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. She raised over $1 million before her passing.

Alex's story was an inspirational one for the Hood College SAAC, and they are hoping to partner with the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation once again in the fall. Vice-president Doug Raftery, along with SAAC members Sam Liptrap, Helene Butler, Casey Miller, Nick O’Brien, Abby Dyjack and athletic administrative assistant Julie McNeill assisted with this successful project.

“There is no doubt that this story has inspired me,” said Raftery, a sophomore on the men’s soccer team. “But the amazing this is, when the story was told to others, it inspired them as well. I didn’t expect that.”

To help raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Foundation Stand, sign up and register by going to http://www.alexslemonade.org.

Hood Student-Athletes Participate in Community Festival

WALKERSVILLE, Md.--Hood College student-athletes took part in the Calvary Assembly community festival in Walkersville on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Among the attractions at the festival was an interactive sports challenge, which tested kids' soccer, football and softball skills. Hood's student-athletes, along with some of the Calvary Assembly staff members, assisted children of all ages at the various competitive stations.

Student-Athletes Volunteer at Maryland Special Olympics

EMMITTSBURG, Md.--Hood College student-athletes from various varsity teams volunteered Oct. 27 at the Maryland Special Olympics at Mt. St. Mary's University.

Members of the softball and volleyball squads worked primarily with the soccer athletes during the event. The group of volunteers included head softball coach Tricia Fiut, freshman Krista Zerby, freshman Chelsea Weaver, sophomore Stephanie Gardner, junior Jamie Gardner, freshman Jen Lacy, senior Alecia Weddle, senior Kate Hassell, senior Lindsay Nagy, senior Jen Guyer, freshman Lena Bushrod and former Hood student-athlete Melissa Kelly.

"We got to meet and talk to a lot of the participants during the day," said Weddle, a senior on the softball team. "It was great to see so many smiling people that day. Our day started off by going to the opening day celebration and seeing all of the Maryland counties being introduced. All of their teammates cheered and people from Hood cheered for their home counties. We then went and helped out at the soccer fields. We kept score and helped by chasing balls. It was a great experience and I hope to continue to help with it every year! I had a blast!"

For more information on the Maryland Special Olympics, click here.