NECC SAAC HOLDS WEEKEND SPORTSMANSHIP RETREAT IN SPRINGFIELD

NECC SAAC Members Volunteer at Open Pantry Community Services a Local Food Bank

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) held its first weekend retreat for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to help communicate and instruct the SAAC reps to bring back sportsmanship initiatives to their campuses. Sportsmanship was this year's focus for the NECC throughout all member institutions.

"The student-athletes came up with a wide range of ways to promote positive sportsmanship by working together as a team with fellow student-athletes who are normally on a opposing team," stated SAAC Advisor Stephanie Smyrl (Wheelock College).

"The weekend went very well," said NECC Co-Chair Adam Northrup (Southern Vermont College). "Every school had important input and the collaboration of ideas showed that all the schools had similar concerns. Moving forward, I believe that positive changes will occur in order to promote sportsmanship by coaches, fans and student-athletes beyond what is already in place. This can be a truly special part of the NECC and help our student-athletes become well rounded, productive citizens when they graduate from our schools."

Two representatives from each of the conference's nine member institutions along with their SAAC advisors met in Springfield, Mass. for the weekend retreat. Along with their symposium on sportsmanship the group also participated in a community service project with the Open Pantry Community Services, Inc. organization which is a local food back located on State Street in Springfield.

"It was heartwarming to see the joy on the faces of our Conference SAAC student-athletes as they participated in the community service efforts at the Emergency Food Pantry in Springfield, Mass," said NECC Commissioner Del Malloy. "Our student-athletes clearly understand the opportunities they have to positively affect the lives of those who need our help. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them."

The SAAC members and advisors were put to work organizing food donations and bagging holiday dinners for the upcoming Thanksgiving season. The main goal was to bag-up food items such as canned vegetables, gravy, pie filling, mashed potatoes, stuffing and fruit for families in need this Thanksgiving.

"As a group, we volunteered in food pantry, preparing over 200 bags for families for the Thanksgiving Holiday," stated Smyrl. "The student-athletes came together and worked as one unit to make a huge impact for the needy families of Springfield at the Open Pantry Community Services."

The student-athletes really seemed to enjoy this project and were able to work together not as opponents on the field but as students working towards a great cause.

"This was a fun and productive weekend. Coming together with my fellow conference SAAC members helped clarify the important subject of sportsmanship," said NECC SAAC Co-Chair Allie Durben (Lesley University).  Our constructive conversations aided us in being able to bring back strategies to implement on our respective campuses that will surely enhance the strength of our conference as a whole. The community service project we participated in was icing on the cake. It felt great to make an impact so close to the Thanksgiving Holiday."

New England Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (NECC SAAC) members participating in the weekend retreat included;  Julia Bendzin, Kristal Cormier, Danielle Brunelle (Advisor) and Jessica Huntley (Advisor) from Bay Path; Danielle Stryker, Derek King and Samly Phonesavanh (Advisor);  Christal Fitzgerald, Chelsey Crawford and Chia Rowe (Advisor) from Daniel Webster;  Ben Masse and Laura Habacker (Advisor) from Elms; Alyson Durben, Tyler Reeves and Rob Palardy (Advisor) from Lesley; Heather Renae-Powers, Mike DePaola and Bern Macca (Advisor) from Mitchell; Pat Curry, Amy Chen, Joe McConkey (Advisor) and Christine Grenache (Advisor) from Newbury; Adam Northup and Jillian Neudecker from Southern Vermont; Allsion Rogers, Julie Kilcoyne and Stephanie Smyrl from Wheelock; along with NECC Commissioner Del Malloy and Assistant Commissioner Christa Parulis-Kaye.