The Student-Athlete Development department works to prepare our student-athletes to become both leaders in, and productive members of, society. Leadership opportunities and programs exist throughout the campus as a whole, as well as within the athletic department on individual teams and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Leadership Development Program - presented by MJLM LLC
Rice Athletics is proud to announce our new leadership development program, "Developing Leaders in Sports and in Life," specifically designed for the Rice University student-athlete. Partnering with veteran leadership expert and sports performance coach Mike Van Hoozer, we have developed a program that strives to help student-athletes to maximize their potential as leaders in sports and life, help them make the most of their moments, and persevere with increased recovery time through adversity and challenges along the way.
For the 2012 - 2012 academic year, this program is being sponsored by MJLM, LLC through Rice football letterman Bobby Dixon. Two student-athletes from each athletic program at Rice will take part in this year's pilot program which has the potential to impact every student-athlete at the university in the future.
The leadership development program will take a proactive approach to developing leaders at Rice and provide resources, training and coaching for student-athletes both on and off the field or courts of play.
Monthly sessions will focus on aspects of leadership including developing a leadership voice, how to influence and make an impact in the life of another person and how to survive and lead when the presence of leadership is non-existent.
The program is also designed to engage participants between monthly sessions. Student-athletes will be exposed to Rice and community leaders and mentors. Participating in this year's pilot program will be 29 student-athletes:
Baseball
Chase McDowell
John Simms
Basketball - Men's
Seth Gearhart
J.R. Reynolds
Basketball - Women's
Jessica Goswitz
Jessica Kuster
Cross Country - Men's
John Cavallo
Travis Roberts
Cross Country - Women's
Meredith Gamble
Elle Moody
Football
Gabe Baker
Justin Warren
Luke Willson
Golf
Joe Beck
Jeff Wibawa
Soccer
Jessica Howard
Hayley Williams
Swimming
Michelle Gean
Danielle Spence
Tennis - Men's
Peter Frank
Philipp Seiffert
Tennis - Women's
Kim Anicete
Katie Gater
Track - Men's
Justin Gross
Alex Zinchenko
Track - Women's
Sojourner Brown
Sharae Robinson
Volleyball
Megan Murphy
Mariah Riddlesprigger
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
The purpose of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Rice University is to give student-athletes a voice within the Rice University campus, and to act as a liaison between student-athletes and fellow athletic teams, the greater Houston community, and Rice's Residential College system.
The SAAC is comprised of student-athletes from each team who have demonstrated a strong desire to participate to serve in this capacity for their teammates, to participate in member activities, and to uphold the mission of the SAAC. To learn more about the SAAC, click here (link to SAAC page).
Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Rice
University is to:
Representation
Based on the size of their sports team, each team is allowed a specific number of representatives. In order to be represented in the SAAC, student-athletes are chosen based on previous involvement, nomination by team, or by the team's coach, depending on each individual sports team. Student-athletes chosen into the SAAC must demonstrate a strong desire to participate in member activities, and prove their involvement within the organization. Meetings are mandatory, and delegates must be sent in place of a member's absence. Excessive absences will result in removal from the organization.
- Make an impact and leave a legacy during your time at Rice
- Stay informed and involved about issues involving student-athletes from campus to the NCAA
- Meet people from other sports teams you might not otherwise be able to interact with
- Represent Rice University in an arena other than sports
- Potentially holding a leadership position
- Share ideas with others who have similar goals
- Fun!
- "Inside the Hedges"- Student-athlete relations among and between teams. Fosters friendly competition to attend other sporting events and organizes student-athlete-specific social events/mixers, in order to enhance inter-athlete connections. Also involves campus relations between the regular student and student-athletes. Includes working with Marketing ensure proper advertisement/encouragement to attend athletic events, as well as making sure athletes have a presence within the College System.
- "Beyond the Hedges" Community Service, works closely with the greater Houston community to organize service
- Career/Professional Development Organizes alumni-mixers, resume-writing/professional school workshops, and career-related events to enhance life after college athletics. events, forge connections, and to serve as role models to young children. -
For a SAAC Calendar, activities, events and meeting minutes, please visit the OWLSpace page.
Interested in joining SAAC? Please contact your team SAAC representatives or Bryan Blair
