OLSEN ELECTED GNAC SAAC PRESIDENT
April 6, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel College's Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) was elected the next President of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's Student Athlete Advisory Committee. The election occurred this past weekend at the 2011 GNAC SAAC retreat held here in Boston at the Doubletree Suites. Olsen, currently a junior at Emmanuel and a member of the Saints' Women's Volleyball Team, will take over the GNAC SAAC presidency for the 2011-12 academic year.
Olsen is the third Emmanuel student-athlete to serve as President of the GNAC SAAC. Former Men's Basketball player Torrey Joyner was president in 2008-09, while `08 Emmanuel graduate and former Women's Basketball team captain Jacque Pannell led the conference's SAAC in 2007-08.
Olsen is the starting setter on the Emmanuel Women's Volleyball Team, dishing out her 2,000th career assist this past season. She is a three-year starter, majoring in Secondary Education and History at Emmanuel.
This weekend's retreat was the 3rd annual GNAC SAAC retreat held in Boston. Each year, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference holds a unique Student-Athlete Advisory Committee event focused on developing skills to help student-athletes succeed after collegiate sports. This year the GNAC presented a student-athlete program focused on "Leadership After Sports," continuing with the theme from last year's "Life After Sports" retreat.
The SAAC retreat serves as a great networking opportunity for student-athletes to discuss their school events, initiatives and community projects, as well as providing time to develop friendships amongst the different GNAC school representatives.
On Saturday, the student-athletes were able to tour Fenway Park, seeing the Red Sox Hall of Fame, sitting on the Green Monster, and learning the historical facts and most memorable plays from the ballpark. After the tour, the student-athletes saw a professional men's lacrosse game at the TD Banknorth Garden, featuring the Boston Blazers taking on the Rochester Knighthawks.
A major highlight of the GNAC SAAC Retreat was the guest speech given by Mr. Dan Doyle. Doyle is the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for International Sport and the Chief Executive Officer of the World Youth Peace Summit. Some of the greatest initiatives that have originated from the Institute have been the World-Scholar Athlete Games, National Sportsmanship Day and the World Youth Peace Summit. Additionally, Mr. Doyle is the author of the acclaimed novel, "Are You Watching Adolph Rupp?" and the Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting.
Mr. Doyle spoke on numerous topics surrounding leadership, including the traits of great leaders, what is entailed in being a leader, and critical thinking exercises of self-analysis to further develop one's leadership abilities. The skills the student-athletes learned can be carried back to their upcoming sport seasons and may be adapted to help build successful careers after graduation.
The weekend was also an opportunity for student-athletes to come together and decide the future GNAC SAAC Committee for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition to Olsen's election, several other advisory committee members were selected.
James Wenz was named GNAC SAAC Vice President. Wenz is a junior on the men's basketball team, majoring in Sports Management, at Mount Ida College. Kyle Botos was named GNAC SAAC Treasurer. Botos is a junior on the men's hockey team, majoring in Accounting, at Johnson & Wales University. Adam Bolotin was named GNAC SAAC Secretary. Bolotin is a sophomore on the men's hockey team, majoring in Criminal Justice, at Johnson & Wales University.
Overall, the GNAC's SAAC retreat proved to be a grand success. With several attendees leaving with a new found understanding of leadership, the student-athletes believe it was an extremely successful event and look to carry the skills learned from Mr. Doyle back to their campuses.
The attending students represented several GNAC schools including, Pedro Suncar (Albertus), Katelyn White (Albertus), Phil Shore (Emerson), Kathryne Olsen (Emmanuel), Megan Murray (Emmanuel), Adam Bolotin (JWU), Kyle Botos (JWU), Michelle Alessi (Mount Ida), James Wenz (Mount Ida), Zach Blodgett (Norwich), Megan Gingras (Norwich), Mike Polley (Rivier), Caroline Zak (Rivier), Megan McDevitt (St. Joe's Maine), Sarah Bartell (St. Joe's Maine), Terese Cerins (St. Joseph) and Mary Hyde (St. Joseph).