Megan Narveson

HONRS 475

Dr. Leah White

September 10, 2023

Leadership Application Reflection

During my freshman year of college my coach asked me to be one of the women’s cross

country representatives on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). SAAC is made up

of two representatives from each of the sports teams here at Minnesota State University,

Mankato. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee meets every other week to discuss topics

pertaining to the athletic department. SAAC works behind the scenes to ensure that sporting

events run smoothly and are properly funded throughout the academic year. We also put together

several volunteering events to give back to the community for their support of our competitions.

We meet twice a month to ensure that everyone is up to date on our objectives for that month and

so we are all on the same page with our agenda.

Although it is not a well-recognized organization, SAAC plays a huge role in the

functioning and cohesion of sports teams at Mankato. Each team must work together to staff

fundraisers to donate money for equipment in the weight room as well as athletic training room,

and a variety of other off-campus organizations. Other initiatives that we have taken on include

the Green Bandana Project which raises awareness for mental health on campus. Last year we

showed support by making an encouraging video for teams to show during halftime at sporting

events. Another way that the SAAC representatives from the men’s and women’s cross country

and track teams contributed to the Green Bandana Project was by handing out encouraging notes

on campus. To organize this, we met as a small group and made over a hundred encouraging
handwritten notes and taped suckers to each of them. We then took the liberty of walking around

campus handing out these notes to anyone who wanted to receive them. One setback that we

faced during this process was the workers in the Centennial Student Union. Although we were

not forcing anyone to take these notes, a CSU worker insisted that we not hand anything out in

the building. None of the members of this team allowed this to hinder our mission. Lyric took

charge and showed her skill of being an achiever by taking control and making decisions for the

team. This included directing us back to the Taylor Center where we could continue to pass out

the notes without interference. My role at this time was using optimism to encourage my

teammates and others around us which comes from my StrengthsFinder characteristic of

positivity.

One other strength that I have used throughout my time as a SAAC representative is

responsibility. As a representative you are expected to relay information to your teammates and

coaches regarding information discussed at SAAC meetings. One way we have done this is

through a current initiative that we are working on which involves encouraging athletes to show

up to sporting events other than their own to cultivate support for all athletes. This requires each

representative to share game schedules and any other critical information regarding sporting

events with their teams. Sharing this information helps build a community within the athletic

department since we don’t constantly intermingle with other teams. For example, we are

specifically working to increase numbers at our less attended sports games like women’s hockey,

softball, golf, and track and field.

Being a part of SAAC has helped me build confidence in my ability to create change. I

used to think that my little contribution to a project couldn’t possibly make that much of a

difference, but it does. Each athlete’s role on SAAC is important as we all relay information to
our teams that help raise awareness to issues on and off campus. Raising awareness to certain

causes helps increase the potential for change. This message is true outside of athletics as well. It

is a common theme for people to think that they are just one individual and couldn’t possibly

contribute that much to a cause. Respectfully, this idea is incorrect. Whatever role you play,

whatever contribution you make, it is important. People forget that change is change regardless

of how small it may seem it is still making a difference. I guess the saying is true: every little bit

helps.