[Photo Gallery from SAAC Fall Retreat]
BELOIT, Wis. – On the weekend of November 11, 2011 the Midwest Conference (MWC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) kicked off the eighth year of partnership with Special Olympics at the 2011 SAAC Fall Retreat. Along with Special Olympics participation the MWC SAAC also conducted its fall business meeting with 20 representatives from 10 institutions in Beloit, Wis.
On Friday night Special Olympian Adam Hale, along with his father Ed, spoke to the SAAC constituents about his time as an athlete and talked about how he is now going through classes to become a coach for other Special Olympics. Adam has also just been accepted as a member of the Special Olympics Wisconsin Athlete Input Council. Adam listed his favorite sports as bocce ball and bowling and his speech to the SAAC group was his first public speaking appearance.
The SAAC group then enjoyed a presentation from DJ Washington of Career Athletes where he discussed how the athletes can better prepare themselves for the future through graduate school, resume building and interview skills. The group finished the first day with roundtable discussions on current topics.
On Saturday the representatives held their annual business meeting which included discussion of upcoming legislation at the 2012 NCAA Convention.
MWC SAAC Chair Ken Andejeski and Vice Chair Joe Puntoriero sat down to talk about the weekend and key talking points at the 2011 retreat.