Former Cincinnati Swimmer Alexandra Wall Earns The American’s 2020 Community Impact Award
Alexandra Wall, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and a four-year member of the Bearcats’ women’s swimming and diving program, was selected as the 2020 recipient of the American Athletic Conference Community Impact Award as chosen by members of the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
A native of Cincinnati, Wall was elected as the community service and university engagement chair of the Bearcats chapter of SAAC in 2018. She established a department Relay for Life team that allowed participating student-athletes volunteer efforts to benefit the American Cancer Society. Additional outreach activities spearheaded by Wall included a reoccurring opportunity for student-athletes to volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati making snacks for patients from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Miracle League baseball league for individuals with disabilities, Good Samaritan Hospital, FreeStore Foodbank and numerous local elementary schools.
Tulane's Stephen Sepcich Receives 2019 American Community Impact Award
Stephen Sepcich, a member of the Tulane University baseball team, has been named the recipient of the inaugural American Athletic Conference Community Impact Award, as chosen by members of the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
The award recognizes a student-athlete who has made a lasting impact in their surrounding community or with the campus community. One student-athlete or group may be nominated from each American institution. Tulane’s Life Skills program will receive $1,000 in Sepcich’s name.
SAAC Representatives Share The Importance of Community Service
East Carolina Partners with the Pitt County Special Olympics
On April 15
th ECU Athletics partnered with the Pitt County Special Olympics to put on the 2016 Spring Games. The 2016 Spring Games involved 300+ athletes ranging from the ages of 5 to 70. ECU Athletics had a very strong presences at the games. We had over 90 student-athletes volunteer, as well as a number of coaches and administrators present. Our Head Women’s Basketball Coach Heather Macy helped kick off the Games by speaking at the opening ceremony. Our Student-Athletes volunteered in shifts starting at 6:00 am and going until 3:00 pm. Throughout the day you could find student-athletes helping run the Softball throw. We have developed a partnership with the Pitt County Special Olympics and actively hold two seats on their board.
Cincinnati Helps Special Olympics
“This past week the University of Cincinnati (UC) SAAC paired up with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and hosted the first ever field day for the Special Olympics of Hamilton County. The event consisted volleyball, kickball, soccer, corn hole, duck duck goose, and a giant water balloon toss. With this being a new event on campus it turned out to be a great success. The event brought in about one hundred students from the greater Cincinnati area, and everyone had a fantastic afternoon with all the Student Athletes and members from the UC Greek Community. With the huge success that came from this event, we look forward to continuing to partner with Sigma Alpha Epsilon and other student organizations in the future so we can further grow this event and continue to impact students from all over Cincinnati.”
NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum experience
Cameron Ruff – USF Football
The weekend of the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum was inspiring, motivating, and energizing. Many speakers spoke to us about becoming more than ourselves and focused on not only bettering ourselves but also the people around us. The most inspiring presentation came from the host of the weekend, Chris Grant, on how to become our own C.E.O. C.E.O, or Chief Energy Officer, means to be a positive, contagious, and powerful leader. This statement has affected me into becoming someone that everybody can see, someone who is not afraid to go against the grain and help lead people with me. Not only did the speakers affect my weekend, but also the group leaders and the hundreds of student-athletes that attended the forum in Phoenix. That weekend, everybody started as strangers, but through every conversation and encounters we grew more and more and in a way became a family, because no one can fully understand the weekend that was experienced unless they went through it. I took away more than just leadership skills, I discovered new friends, my eyes were opened to different perspectives from different schools and divisions, and I learned a lot about how I can be more involved within my school and community. It was a great honor to be selected to represent the American Athletic Conference and my school, the University of South Florida, this past weekend. Through the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum we had to learn how to lead, now is time lead and help other people learn.
Georgi Dolence – Houston Women’s Soccer
It is difficult to put into words how amazing my weekend in Phoenix was. I was surrounded by some of the most inspiring, ambitious, and driven people I have ever met. The forum's atmosphere was contagious. In a few short days, a group of 500 NCAA affiliates grew closer than I thought was possible. Regardless of the division or conference we were representing, we were all there for one reason: to become better leaders on the field, in the classroom or office, and in all other aspects of life.
It was bittersweet on Sunday leaving the forum and my new friends behind, but at the same time I was anxious to get back to Houston with my new leadership skills. It was a weekend full of growth, memories, and friendships that I will cherish for many years to come. I was honored to represent the American Athletic Conference as well as the University of Houston at the 2016 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
MUSTACHE MARCH
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Our Story:
Coach LeClair came to ECU in 1998 looking to transform an unproven program into a national title contender. In his time spent at ECU, Coach LeClair was able to become second in All-Time Wins. After five years, Coach LeClair was forced to step down from his position as Head Coach, due to his battle with ALS. Although his time at ECU was cut short, the impact he made on his players and the program is evident today.
Charlie Yorgen, 2nd Basemen, Junior, SAAC Rep, #3 This whole community service project was Charlie’s idea.
The Event:
ECU Baseball has been effected by ALS in a way that no team wants to be. Former ECU Baseball Coach, Keith LeClair, was diagnosed with ALS in his last year of coaching. With this diagnosis Coach LeClair retired in June 2002, two weeks after he took the team to their fourth consecutive NCAA regional appearance. ALS ultimately claimed Coach LeClair’s life on July 17
th, 2006. Annually, for the past 13 seasons, East Carolina Baseball hosts the “Keith LeClair Classic” a tournament put together in order to bring awareness to ALS through the Jim “Catfish” Hunter chapter, which is located in Raleigh, NC. The chapter finds the baseball tournament as a way to continue awareness and fundraising in Coach LeClair’s honor. This year along with the Keith LeClair Classic, ECU Baseball has adopted the community service project Mustache March, with hopes to bring a greater awareness to this disease with no cure.
Travis Watkins, Catcher, Senior, Captain, #19
The team’s goal is to use the “Keith LeClair Classic” as a starting point for Mustache March. The entire team, including the coaching and support staff, will participate in Mustache March in order to raise awareness and money for the Jim “Catfish” Hunter chapter. Mustache March will create a fun and entertaining environment for Pirate fans and the community throughout the month of March, which will also help towards ALS research. Please join ECU Baseball’s efforts of Striking Out ALS by donating to their Mustache March event, as well as sharing the event on various social media platforms. All money raised throughout the event will go straight to the ALS Association, and more specifically the Jim “Catfish” Hunter chapter. Please follow the status of our efforts through various social media outlets (@ECU_Baseball, @Cgodwin23, and @Catfishchapter) as well as on the field. Go Pirates!
Garrett Brooks, Outfield, Senior, Captain, SAAC Rep, #2
“There is not a day that goes by at Clark-LeClair Stadium without feeling the impact of late Coach LeClair. Whether it is his mural in the team room, his jersey on display, or his quote on the wall, Coach LeClair is always a presence in our stadium. Having never met Coach LeClair, I can truthfully say that everyone who has come through this program has benefitted from his life. Although he may not be around, his legacy will never die within the East Carolina University Baseball program.” –Charlie Yorgen
"Coach LeClair made a group of guys believe they could accomplish things on the field and in life that they would have never thought possible! He challenged us daily to be more than average and to be great! The life lessons he taught me are a huge part of our baseball culture at ECU!" -
Cliff Godwin
UCF SAAC’s Halloween Night
On October 30th, 2015, the University of Central Florida’s SAAC participated in the first ever “Halloween Night.” A group of around 40 student-athletes traveled to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida dressed in costumes, and with lots of candy. There were over 100 kids in attendance dressed for the occasion. SAAC’s goal for this project was to give these children the Halloween experience that they may not have been able to enjoy due to safety reasons in their neighborhoods, and also to give them a special day to remember for the rest of their lives. Everyone involved really enjoyed this inaugural event. UCF SAAC will continue this new tradition for years to come!
Memphis SAAC’s Zooboo
The University of Memphis’ SAAC participated in Zooboo. Around 45 student-athletes went to the local zoo to hand out candy to little kids. The event was a great success as about 10,000 guests visited the zoo that night. Memphis SAAC spent about 5 hours handing out candy, wearing zoo mascot costumes, and assisting with letting people in. Everyone had a great time and Memphis SAAC looks forward to continuing to volunteer at this great event in the future!
