Student athletes partake in PacWest SAAC Retreat in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA - The Pacific West Conference held its Student Athlete Adviso ry Committee (S.A.A.C) annual meeting this past weekend in San Francisco, CA.

The Academy of Art University partnered with Dominican University to host the two day event in which two representatives from all nine PacWest Conference institutions traveled to be a part of.

The general focus of the annual meeting is to promote unity among PacWest Universities and become involved in the host institution's community, by engaging in activities around their area.

This year, the Academy of Art partnered with Edison Charter Academy and Playworks in San Francisco’s historic Mission District to help improve the wellness of some of the youth in San Francisco.

The student-athletes spent a f ew hours Saturday afternoon working with San Francisco’s disadvantaged youth, hoping to empower them for future success through the field of athletics.
 
It was a beautiful day in San Francisco as more than 30 kids from Edison Charter Academy showed up for the opportunity to be taught by several intercollegiate athletes.

The overall enjoyment and excitement from the students was noticeable to parents and faculty alike.

The day was broken down into three sections; basketball, soccer and life skills, with a group relay and Q&A session to end the days events.

The final activity gave some of the PacWest student-athletes a chance to share their journey to where they are today. Showing the kids that becoming a collegiate student-athlete is a possibility, and that the choices they make today will affect their opportunities in the future.

“The Fall 2010 retreat was awesome!" Said Pacific West Conference Commissioner Bob Hogue.

"The community service event at Edison Charter Academy was incredible. What an awesome job our SAAC reps did working with the youngsters there, I think we had every bit as much fun as they did, and hopefully they [our reps] served as really good role models," Hogue continued.

The annual fall retreat was not only about community service and team building, but also about logistics.

All 16 reps came together both Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning to brainstorm ideas that will hopefully help each institutions' SAAC in the future.

“The meetings were outstanding this weekend," said Hogue.

"We came together as a group with some really great ideas that will help our SAAC's all across the PacWest." 

Hogue continued, "It was a great weekend in San Francisco and the Academy of Art did an outstanding job with everything including; the evening activity tour of the San Francisco Bay and our group dinner in Fisherman’s Wharf.”

Check out Meghan Bushnell's photo gallery from the three-day event by clicking here.

For more pictures click here.