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SAA Hosts 2025 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Retreat

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Southern Athletic Association held the 2025 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAA) retreat on Saturday and Sunday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event hosted SAAC representatives, their advisor or an athletic administrator.
 
The 2025 retreat aimed to push for growth and leadership as well as community involvement for the coming year. It began with all participants hosting a basketball clinic for the athletes with Special Olympics. At Eastridge High School, the Southern Athletic Association student-athletes put on various drills to build basketball skills and even played in games as a partner with the Special Olympics athletes.
 
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From dancing to buckets, the group had a blast and even helped some ‘grow as a person by volunteering with the Special Olympics.’ -Lucas Pagliarulo (Rhodes). 
 
Following lunch with the Special Olympics, the SAA SAAC attendees sat down for leadership sessions with former Millsaps Volleyball player, Raven Scott a now leadership coach, facilitator, and speaker. The proud SAA and Millsaps helped the group understand leading with intention and defining leadership with clear purpose and authenticity before moving to conscious communication to help with a team environment. 
 
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Talking through things as a group and introducing themselves to other members from different institutions was ‘interesting to hear and take in to account opinions from other SAA schools.’ Says Heather Nugent (Trinity). The attendees then headed into break out groups to create a project to elevate the student-athlete experience. With this task, Mazlyn Heyer of Southwestern, believes ‘ each institution is going to flourish thanks to the motivational, educational, and inspiration provided by the retreat.”
 
After a full day of session both on and off the court, the group headed to Top Golf for some group fun where the connections and competition continued to grow.
 
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On Sunday, the group concluded with presenting their projects and giving feedback and advice for each one after having an in-person SAAC meeting to discuss the SAA bylaws. 
 
Overall, 15 student-athletes from all eight of the SAA institutions were in attendance to help grow, learn, and take back to their SAAC what they were able to learn. 
 
 
Thoughts from other attendees:
“The SAA SAAC retreat provided me with new understanding of what leadership means thanks to Raven Scott, and left me inspired and full of ideas to quickly implement within my SAAC.” - Childers Winn (Sewanee)
 
“This retreat has left me feeling very fulfilled and proud to compete for the SAA! From getting to play basketball and hang out with the Special Olympic athletes to participating in leadership sessions and learning how I can grow as an athlete, teammate, and person, it was an eye-opening experience.” - Giana Vlahakos (Rhodes)

"Good leaders lead, but great leaders serve before they lead." - Nate Murray (Oglethorpe)
 

For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.