S.A.A.C - Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
The goals of the University of Maine Student-Athlete Advisory Committee are:
- To streamline and promote efficient communication between the Athletic Department Administration and the student-athlete population.
- To provide the student-athlete population with an opportunity to voice their opinions and suggestions from the board in order to effectively communicate with the Athletic Administration on issues and programs within the department.
- To actively encourage more involvement of the student-athletes in campus and community projects in order to enhance the perception of the student-athlete.
- To design and implement programs; which recognizes and acknowledges the needs and accomplishments of the student-athlete body.
Where
- Meetings are held in the Alfond Family Lounge inside Alfond Arena
When
- SAAC meetings take place every other Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Why
- SAAC is a great way to bring together the student-athlete’s in the community. SAAC allows the athletes to have a voice that is heard by the administration. It is a great way to be involved in the community surrounding The University of Maine. SAAC is a great way for athletes to develop leadership and life skills.
How to join Student-Athlete Advisory Committee:
If you are interested in being a team representative, you can talk to a current SAAC member or contact our Advisor, Buffie Quinn, at buffie.mccue@maine.edu.
EVENTS:
Black Bears in the Community
The University of Maine’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is involved in a variety of activities within the community. We participate in Fill the Bus, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, Soles for Souls, Relay for Life, and many others.
Ronald McDonald House
Athletes prepare dinner for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House. These residents are families who have ill children and are trying to keep their family together during treatment. Making dinner for them is one way that we can help relieve their stresses and do something good for families that are facing a difficult point in their lives.
Fill the Bus
Donations from the community are used to fill a school bus, which is brought to a local food pantry. These donations are use to help low-income families put food on their table.
Special Olympics
Partnering with our local chapter to help children learn skills within their sport. Special Olympics provide year-round training and competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports. This program allows children and adults to develop physical fitness and confidence while having fun!
Soles for Souls
Collected slightly worn shoes from the Athletic Department and donated them to people in need. Soles for Souls mission is to fight the impact of poverty. This program takes donations of new and used sneakers and clothes, which is then given to people in need.
Relay for Life
Supporting our community members that are currently battling or have conquered cancer. At UMaine’s Relay for life, athletic teams joined the community in honoring cancer survivors, passed loved ones, and those currently fighting cancer. The funds raised from this event helps The American Cancer Society invest in research to find a cure for cancer.
The 1 Million Bones Project
Members made clay bones as a visual reminder of an abuse suffered or a life lost. Every bone created generated a $1 donation to charities that worked in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Community Reading Day
Athletes read to students at a local elementary school. Children look up to adults and being an athlete makes that even stronger. As athletes, we want to be good role models for our youth. Reading to children is an exciting experience for both the athletes and children.
Food Frenzy
The #AEFoodFrenzy is a conference-wide community service initiative designed to promote cohesion between America East's member institutions while also providing significant donations to several charities in campus communities. The initiative is a competitive and collaborative food drive organized by the conference's Student-Athlete-Advisory Committee (SAAC).
| Executive Board |
Position |
| Ainslie Boswell |
Co-President |
| Alex Gruitch |
Co-President |
| Daniel Tanaka |
Fundraising Chair |
| Mallory Drayer / Nora Campo |
Community Service |
| Sophia Santamaria / Hannah Deighan |
Social Media |
| Katie Jo Moery |
Spirit |
| Andrew Hoy |
Campus Liason |
| Delaney LaBonte / Anna Foley |
Mental Health |
| Gabby Papushka / Ainslie Boswell |
America East Liaisons |
