Horizon League SAAC Members Give Back to Indianapolis
August 04, 2004
Indianapolis - Horizon League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members broadened their horizons as they volunteered their time at the Kaleidoscope Youth Center's Summer Day Camp in Indianapolis. The volunteer project was part of the SAAC summer meeting, held annually in Indianapolis.
"As an athlete it is our job," said Corey Steven who plays tennis for the University of Illinois-Chicago. "We are so fortunate to compete at the level that we do and to be where we are. We should definitely give back to others."
Kaleidoscope Church and Community Partnership Youth Center is a community-based organization that has delivered services to more than 1,500 youth, ages 7-16, who are affected by poverty, lack of supervision, limited parental involvement and violence.
The program enrollment has tripled during the last decade and 90 percent of participants attend the camp on a daily basis. Student-athletes worked with participants from three different age groups in various indoor and outdoor activities.
"These student-athletes have the opportunity to make a difference," said Stephanie Jarvis, Horizon League Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Legal Affairs, who serves as the League liaison for SAAC members. "Community service is one of the four platforms that the Horizon League stands for and this outreach by SAAC representatives is a perfect example of what intercollegiate athletics should be about."
Butler University senior and volleyball player Elizabeth Moreau is no stranger to the Kaleidoscope Youth Center. The Indianapolis native has volunteered with the program since high school. It was her leadership that introduced her teammates to the children of Kaleidoscope. The Butler volleyball team visits the center and in return, the children come to watch the girls in competition.
"The center really makes me feel like I am making a difference," said Moreau. "I have a real connection with these kids."
Robert Nunley, Kaleidoscope's Executive Director, feels confident that the interaction with student-athletes affects the program participants very positively.
"These kids aspire to be competitors," said Nunley. "This is the perfect opportunity for our kids to find that connection between school and sports. It opens their eyes to new opportunities."
"This is a reality check for our student-athletes," said Denny Wills, UIC's Associate Athletics Director, who serves as an advisor to the SAAC committee. This gives our athletes the chance to take their playing skills and show these kids that they can do it too."
The Horizon League SAAC is comprised of two student-athletes from each of the League's nine member institutions. SAAC provides an opportunity for student-athletes to be more involved in League issues and to enhance communication and a sense of community among the League's student-athletes. The group is charged with enhancing the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
The 2004-05 SAAC members are Elizabeth Moreau (volleyball) and Cory Edgington (men's soccer) of Butler; Jamie Bouyer (volleyball) and Jay Tee (men's tennis) of Cleveland State; Caitie Goddard (women's basketball) and Muhammad Abdur-Rahim (men's basketball) of Detroit; Corey Steven (women's tennis) and Jennifer Goebel (women's track and field) of UIC; Allison Scanlin (softball) and Lee Zarzecki (men's soccer) of Loyola; Ashley Flease (women's cross-country) and Robin Becker (women's swimming) of UW-Green Bay; Zak Rivera (baseball) and Sara Lewis (women's soccer) of UW-Milwaukee; Kevin Teufel (men's tennis) and Ashley Fitzpatrick (women's track and field) of Wright State; and Kiisha Warfield (softball) and Erin Carter (women's swimming) of Youngstown State.
Jarvis serves as the League liaison to the group. Wills and Elizabeth Sorenson, Wright State's faculty athletics representative, serve as advisors to the committee.
