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NCAA News Release

NCAA To Host Inaugural Regional Leadership Conference For Division I Student-Athletes, October 22-24, In Atlanta, Georgia

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, October 13, 2004
 Contact(s)
Gail Dent
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6119

Jobrina Perez
317/917-6268
INDIANAPOLIS---More than 130 student-athletes, athletics administrators, conference representatives and coaches representing Division I colleges and universities in the southeast region will meet at the inaugural NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference, October 22-24, in Atlanta, Georgia.

This is the first NCAA conference to be held specifically for Division I student-athletes. There will be close to 80 student-athletes attending the conference. The NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference is modeled after the NCAA Leadership Conference, which is held annually in the spring for more than 300 student-athletes in Divisions I, II and III.

The Division I conference was created at the recommendation of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Division I SAAC chair Katie Groke recognizes the value of this conference for Division I student-athletes.

�I think that the Division I Regional Leadership Conference is a great idea because not only are we teaching great leadership and life skills, we also are communicating the great things about the SAAC to a group that might not know a lot about the SAAC structure,� states Groke, former University of Wyoming women�s soccer student-athlete.

There are three SAAC groups representing Division I, II and III, respectively, that provide insight on the student-athlete experience at NCAA colleges and universities. The SAACs also offer input on the rules, regulations, and policies that affect student-athletes� lives on NCAA member institution campuses, and they are the �student voice� in the NCAA governance structure.

The Division I conference provides a forum for student-athletes to build partnerships, develop leadership skills, and discuss Division I issues that impact student-athletes. It also allows student-athletes the opportunity to discuss these issues with their peers, member institution athletics administrators and athletics conference administrators. Key issues that will be discussed in the break-out sessions include enhancing the student-athlete experience through involvement in the legislation process, and sportsmanship in intercollegiate athletics.

The role of the coaches and athletics administrators at the conference will be to offer their perspective on issues and create partnerships in order to help student-athletes create positive change at the campus, conference and national levels. Additionally, a break-out session will be held for coaches and athletics administrators to allow them an opportunity to discuss key issues.

The NCAA will host a Division I Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference for the Midwest region in 2005. More information on the conference can be found at www.ncaa.org.

Participant List:
Brittany Alston Alabama A&M University
Kenny Anderson Florida Atlantic University
John Baldwin Belmont University
Jesse Barber University of Kentucky
Jerome Bell Texas Southern University
Jeff Blick Campbell University
Jackie Bohannon Stetson University
John Bolton Davidson College
Justin Shawn Brashear University of Mississippi
Roland Burks University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Daren Burns University of North Carolina atGreensboro
Takeesha Carter University of North Carolina atGreensboro
Luiz Carvalho Mississippi State University
Lauren Companioni Louisiana State University
Robert Trent Cox Troy University
Desiree Duncan Tennessee Technological University
Joseph Edens Samford University
Tim Ford University of Central Florida
Melissa Gilbert Davidson College
Angelina Gracian University of Tennessee at Martin
Ian Gray University of Nebraska
Aaron Grobengieser Eastern Illinois University
Katie A. Groke University of Wyoming
Keri-Faith Groover University of South Carolina, Columbia
Ronda Gullatte Auburn University
Chris Harrington University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Alicia Harris Eastern Illinois University
Philip A. Hatch Tennessee Technological University
Keirstin Head Lipscomb University
Telianne Ho University of San Francisco
Luke Hochevar University of Tennessee, Knoxville
April Howell Samford University
Chris Jackson Louisiana State University
Livia Jakobsson University of Central Florida
Brittany Jefferson Southern University, Baton Rouge
Kyle Johnston Mercer University
Angel L. Jones Belmont University
Jian G.M. Jones Florida Atlantic University
Amy Kendall University of Kentucky
Kandice Kirk Troy University
Chakosha Lance College of Charleston (South Carolina)
Susan Lanier Georgia State University
Will Lewis University of Tennessee at Martin
Mathew Lockin Vanderbilt University
Carjay Lyles Murray State University
Fidelis Malembeka Jackson State University
Dawn Malone Appalachian State University
Martina Martin University of Kentucky
Nicole Mattison University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Liz McCaslin University of Kentucky
Kathleen J. Minnifield Georgia Southern University
James Moseley Auburn University
Kimberly Denise Mulkey University of Mississippi
Amanda Mullins-Hall Vanderbilt University
Zoe L. Murray Campbell University
Kirsten Olson University of Rhode Island
Terry Owens Alabama A&M University
Stefan Pastor University of Florida
April Payne Texas Southern University
Christina Peek Georgia State University
Joe Peters Georgia Southern University
Ben Phillips College of Charleston (South Carolina)
Dana Marie Pierce University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Jessica Pierce University of Georgia
Mike Piscetelli Wake Forest University
Daniel Queen Appalachian State University
Kelley Raw Jacksonville State University
Anthony J. Register Stetson University
Jessica Reust University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Katie Rosentreter Mercer University
Heather Shove Jackson State University
Vedran Sirola Jacksonville State University
Robert Slavis Georgia State University
Kenan Smith California State University, Sacramento
Robby Smithson Lipscomb University
LaRaea Starr Tennessee State University
Will Startup University of Georgia
West Streib University of South Carolina, Columbia
Orley Szmuch University of Florida
Alexis E. Taylor Southeast Missouri State University
Jason Theodorakos Southeast Missouri State University
Alice Turner Elon University
John Walker Elon University
Jennifer Ward Murray State University
Ivra Lamont Warren Tennessee State University
Callye Williams Mississippi State University
Christopher Williams Southern University, Baton Rouge
Wesley Wilson Georgia State University


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