SAAC Archives
Worcester State SAAC Hosts Special Olympics Basketball Event
Feb 27, 2017
Worcester State University's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spent their Sunday inside the Wellness Center hosting a Special Olympics Massachusetts basketball event.
The day kicked off at 10am when the Special Olympics participants gathered inside the Wellness Center. The Special Olympic teams were scheduled to play two games throughout the day in both the multipurpose gymnasium and the competition gymnasium.
To read more, click HERE
Worcester State SAAC Works with Special Olympics Massachusetts
Mar 15, 2016
Over the weekend, members of the Worcester State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) volunteered with the Winter Games of the Special Olympics Massachusetts.
The Special Olympics provides year-round athletic competition for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics helps integrate physical fitness into their lifestyles, while also giving them an opportunity to interact with friends, families, other special Olympic athletes and the community.
To read more, click HERE
Second Annual Lady Lancers Football Classic
November 15, 2015
Worcester State University SAAC's Late Night Lancer Event
November 12, 2015
Worcester State SAAC Holds Boys & Girls Club “Field Day”
April 29, 2015
On Sunday, April 12, members of the Worcester State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted approximately 20 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for a field day at Coughlin Field from 10 AM through 2 PM.
SAAC members had their hands full with the children as they engaged in a day of fun activities, which included shipwreck, to relay races, soccer, steal the bacon, kickball, capture the flag and other miscellaneous games.
The initial idea came from a brainstorming session among the groups membership for a MASCAC conference-wide SAAC activity. While the proposal to host a community service field day for the Boys & Girls Club was not picked, the leadership of the Worcester State SAAC felt that it was still a great idea for their own organization during the spring.
To Read More
Worcester State SAAC Donates To Saint Francis Xavier Center
December 6, 2014
After a week long effort to gather canned goods and non-perishable food items, the Worcester State Student Athlete Advisory Committee donated six crates and boxes to the Saint John's Food For The Poor, on Temple Street in Downtown Worcester.
Saint John's serves 125 plus people breakfast every day and over 10,000 "to-go" packages annually. The organization is seeking funding to build a larger space to accomodate more than 250 people per day and help out more families in need by offering English as a Second Language Classes and other Family Literacy programs.
Pictured Above - Members Angela Grassetti and Megan Pini Pictured With Donated Items
First Annual Lady Lancer Football Classic
Worcester State SAAC Featured In Telegram & Gazette: "Helping Out The Kids"
April 10, 2014
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays this semester, two to three members of Worcester State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee walk across the street to Chandler Elementary School and conduct 40-minute physical education classes with eager and very enthusiastic third-graders.
"It just goes to show you doing something so simple can mean so much to someone," said Jack Sprague, a member of SAAC and a junior wide receiver on the football team.
To Read More Please Click Here
Worcester State Hosts MASCAC SAAC Meeting, "You Can Play" Panel
December 18, 2013
The MASCAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) played host to You Can Play, an organization designed to end homophobia in sports, on Saturday, December 8 hosted by Worcester State during their annual meeting.
According to their mission statement, "You Can Play" is an organization dedicated to "ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport or their team’s success.”
Joining the student-athletes and administrators from around the conference were a panel of three current and former student-athletes who spoke on issues ranging from their own personal experiences to casual homophobia in athletics. After their discussion, the panel opened up for questions from the MASCAC student-athletes.
To read more, including a quote by incoming SAAC President Teddy Ferreira, please click the link here.
New Leadership Board Announced For 2014
December 4, 2013
It was announced on Monday's Student Athletics Advisory Committee (SAAC) that two new members will join the executive leadership board. Junior Teddy Ferreira of the football and men's track & field team has been selected as the President while freshman Meghan Pini of the field hockey team is the new incoming Secretary.
Staying on the board and serving as the Co-Vice Presidents are senior Angela Grasetti of the women's lacrosse team and sophomore Krissy Kenney of the field hockey squad.
Terms run from the beginning of the 2014 spring semester in January and run up until December.
“We spent a lot of time planning and preparing for 2014,” said outgoing Co-President Katherine Bitters. “All of the incoming officers were enthusiastic about the upcoming year because of their commitment to see things happen to the end.
“Getting the students involved with athletics has been one of our key goals this semester and with our planned events, and the ‘Lancer Games’ competition, we hope that it will be something that continues for years to come.”
Bitters beamed with pride on her thoughts about being a part of SAAC this last year.
“It’s pretty awesome being a student-run organization,” said Bitters. “The incoming group has had a great chance to learn from us and what we’ve been able to do.”
Pictured Top (Left to Right) - Teddy Ferreira (President), Angela Grassetti (Co-Vice President), Krissy Kenney (Co-Vice President) and Meghan Pini (Secretary)
Gibson & Grassetti Attend NCAA Leadership Forum
November 21, 2013
Junior SAAC members Terrence Gibson and Angela Grassetti attended the annual NCAA Northeast Leadership Forum that was held from November 7-10 in Providence, RI.
The forum was designed for student-athletes to discuss key issues collectively and to provide them with an opportunity to enhance personal awareness and leadership skills to positively impact their development at both the campus and conference levels.
Student-athletes were exposed to different subjects such as behavioral styles, branding, issues regarding social media, decision making, emotional intelligence and values. Each subject was designed to help make the student-athletes more effective leaders and motivators when they went back to their respective campuses.
To hear about their experience in a feature article that was written for WSULancers.com, click on this link
Tim Laramee - Featured on Athletics Website
October 30, 2013
Senior football player and SAAC Co-President Tim Laramee was recently featured on WSULancers.com. Tim spoke about SAAC's new initiative on involving more teams and about trying to instill a greater sense of school spirit on campus.
Tell me about something that SAAC is working on right now to help better the student body and the athletics department.
This year we are focusing on participation at games and improving our school spirit. One of the things we did last year was purchase a t-shirt gun which we've been using at most of our home games this semester.
We are also involving the entire athletics department in a contest to increase team-by-team participation. The team which has the highest percentage attendance at other teams games has the chance to win free t-shirts and a pizza party.
One of the other things we are trying to do is organize a fan bus for games that are off-site including the volleyball game this weekend, ice hockey and basketball games next semester. At the end of the day we are all one team and we have to support each other, especially our teams that are competing off campus.
To read the rest of the feature please click here
Pictured (Left To Right) - 2013 SAAC Executive Board - Tim Laramee (Co-President), Angela Grasetti (Vice President), Krissy Kenney (Secretary), Katherine Bitters (Co-President)
Special Olympics - Featured On Athletics Website
March 10-11, 2012 | Photo Gallery
On the weekend of March 10-11, SAAC partnered with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts to help facilitate their annual winter basketball and floor hockey events. Members of 10 different teams were on hand to spend their time trying to make a difference. We spoke with SAAC staff representative John Meany, SAAC President Molly Hein and event participant Michel’le St. Pierre.
John Meany - How did SAAC first become involved with the Special Olympics? What were the responsibilities of the volunteers?
Special Olympics of Massachusetts was looking for a facility for their winter games events and when they came to view the Lancer Gym, they had asked us if we would like to be involved with the games. Last year the NCAA Division III National SAAC started a relationship with Special Olympics and we thought it was an opportunity to get involved with.
Volunteers helped set-up and breakdown tables while we also placed people to run the tables. A concession stand was available and other volunteers organized lunches for the participants.
Molly Hein – Tell me about the basketball event on campus and how it was run?
Anyone can participate in the Special Olympics games, so there were a variety of ages and levels taking part in the tournament. Eight different teams played 14 games on Saturday and eight games on Sunday. We had a ton of volunteers who helped run the event and others cheered on the participants from the sidelines.
I thought that it was a successful event, things were run smoothly and the Special Olympic athletes and volunteers were easy to work with.
Molly Hein – While there was an event in the gym going on, you also ran an “Olympic Town.” What kind of activities did you have going on in the Lancer Lounge?
While the Special Olympic athletes weren’t participating in the games, we had an “Olympic Town” set-up where you could do a bean bag toss, checkers or bowling. It was a place where the student-athletes could really engage with the Special Olympics athletes.
Michel’le St. Pierre – You took the opportunity to get really involved during the games with the Special Olympic athletes. What kind of things did you do and what was your perspective on the event itself?
During the games I took the opportunity to interact with the athletes, do defensive cheers and we did the "dougie." Even if the players weren't participating in the games, they still cheered on both teams.
It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, you really realize some people have it so much worse. (The Special Olympics athletes) really had the best spirit and they really know how to bring the life out in people.
Members of the area ROTC unit were on hand to present medals and ribbons - 1st through 4th place. There were a lot of smiles. The entire experience still makes me smile.
What are some other future activities that SAAC will be participating in down the road?
Molly Hein - We are going to the MASCAC SAAC meeting next month where we are going to decide on a community service project. Once that is determined, we are going to get involved.
Michel’le St. Pierre – We had a great turnout this year, hopefully we can get more support next year. I know Clark does it every year; maybe we can make this a trend.
Chandler Magnet Library Project - April 2011
Worcester, MA --- On Saturday, April 16 the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and other Worcester State Student-Athletes helped refurbish the Chandler Magnet Elementary school library. All who volunteered pitched in by repairing, painting, cleaning and decorating a new library for use of the children at the school.
The project was first proposed to the MASCAC SAAC for the conferences’ annual community service activity, but the membership at-large decided to go in another direction this year. Because the Worcester State SAAC felt so strongly about helping out, the organization decided to continue their efforts to revamp the elementary school, which is right across the street from campus.
“Overall the student-athletes enjoyed giving back to a place so close to campus,” said Jessica Meany, Head Athletic Trainer and SAAC Advisor. “The student-athletes enjoyed the exercise and helping out with the renovation, they really took pride for something so important to the kids in the community.”
The community service project was also supported by the Worcester State Student Education Association Board.
Sherry's House Project - December 2009
Over the month of November, the Worcester State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) organized and held a successful drive at four athletics events to raise money and collect items for Sherry's House and WHY ME, a local organization that helps provide support for children and their families in their fight against cancer.
On October 31, November 4, November 7 and at the Worcester City Tournament (Nov. 20-21), a donation box was set up to gather non-perishable food items, household and cleaning supplies and personal toiletry items to be donated to the organization. At the Westfield State-Worcester State football game on Nov 7, 50 percent of the gate also went to help the cause as part of a monetary contribution to Sherry's House. A box was also set up inside the Athletics Department Office to help accumulate items for the drive.
In total, nine boxes of items to Sherry's House on November 24 by the members of SAAC, who then received a tour of the facility. The money that has been received from donations will go towards funding a video camera to record events at the house and to various gift cards to local dining establishments.
About WHY ME - The WHY ME organization was created by 13-year old Sherry Shepard, while she was battling cancer for four years. WHY ME stands for Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting. Sherry was an inspiring young lady who was determined to help other children with cancer. WHY ME, a non-profit organization was founded with the help of her father. Today, Sherry's House provides emotional, social and financial support to help families successfully fight childhood cancer. It is a place where families whose child is receiving cancer treatment in Massachusetts can stay. More than 465 families have been served by WHY ME.