Hyacinthe Represents Emmanuel & GNAC SAAC at 2023 NCAA Convention

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. – Sophomore women's volleyball player Sasha Hyacinthe (Stoughton, Mass.) recently represented both Emmanuel College and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

NCAA members gathered in San Antonio for the first fully in-person Convention since 2020, following a virtual Convention in 2021 and a hybrid Convention in 2022. The Convention took place from Wednesday, Jan. 11, through Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.

The annual NCAA Convention brings presidents, athletics directors, campus and conference administrators, and student-athlete leaders from all three divisions together to conduct business, share best practices for supporting student-athletes, discuss emerging issues in college sports, connect with peers, and honor the Association's best and brightest.

Hyacinthe was able to attend this year's convention thanks to a grant sponsored by the GNAC that allowed several SAAC members from membership institutions to take part.

Over the course of the week, Hyacine attended several sessions. On January 12^th, she attended the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Program, the D-III Special Olympics Unified Sports Activity, and the D-III Student Social Mixer.

"The Student-Athlete Program went through what is known as the DiSC Assessment," said Hyacinthe. "This is where you understand how other people act and how they like to receive feedback or what motivates them which is great to bring back to Emmanuel to ensure better connections with the people around you, especially teammates."

On January 13^th, the sophomore attended the NCAA D-III Issues Forum/D-III Special Rules of Order Business Session and a meeting followed by a dinner with GNAC representatives and constituents.

"While attending the GNAC Meeting, some SAAC members would give their input to the AD's and administrators on how they felt in certain situations regarding the NCAA legislation," added Hyacinthe. "The AD's said it really changed how they viewed things, and they were glad to have the student-athletes there."

On the final day of the Convention, Hyacinthe sat in on the NCAA D-III Business Session to hear the final voting results from all of this year's legislative proposals. At this session, many conferences and individuals voiced their opinion on each proposal before the D-III membership voted on each item.

Read more about what was voted on at the 2023 NCAA Division III Business Session here.

"My favorite workshop was the Division III Student-Athlete Program Hosted by USA South Athletic Conference," said Hyacinthe. "I really enjoyed going through the DiSC Assessment and learning more about different aspects of my personality and others as well. It helped me understand myself and others at a different level, which I can hopefully bring to my teammates to understand along with other people important my life."

In addition to attending the NCAA Sponsored sessions, Hyacinthe and other GNAC SAAC members were able to get down to the San Antonio Riverwalk, learning more about the city through an interactive boat ride tour in the canal.

"The entire week was such a fun experience," said Hyacinthe. "I would do all over again!"

Also representing Emmanuel at the 2023 Convention were Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Jennifer Forry, Interim Athletic Director/Director of Student Involvement and Commuter Engagement, Marc Taney and Assistant Athletic Director/Head Softball Coach, Olivia Berry.