GORHAM, Maine – University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its first meeting of the 2023-2024 academic year on
Thursday, September 14 at 7:30 pm in the
USM Ice Arena classroom. Interested student-athletes are invited to attend and join one of the strongest student-organizations on campus.
A student-led organization comprised of members from each of USM's 22 intercollegiate teams, Huskies' SAAC serves as a liaison between the student-athlete body and the Department of Athletics. Meeting on a regular basis, SAAC addresses issues relevant to student-athletes, works to improve the overall student-athlete experience, share the student-athlete experience with campus and local communities, and seeks to build a greater connection between all of the Huskies' teams and the greater Gorham Community through various outreach programs.
The 2023-24 Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is directed by its leadership: President
Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass), Softball; Vice President
Nick Beebe (Brentwood, N.H./Exeter), Wrestling; Secretary
Aly Veilleux (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) , Women's Soccer; and Treasurer
Amelie St-Amant (Cornwall, Ontario), Women's Ice Hockey. Huskies' SAAC is led by advisor Diane Newell, Head Volleyball Coach.
Nationally-recognized for its on-going and one-time community service projects and events, Huskies' SAAC has earned numerous awards since its creation in 1996, beginning with the USM's Outstanding Student Organization Award and the Josten's NADIIAA Community Service Merit Award.
At the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year, USM SAAC was recognized again by the University for its involvement and activities, earning the University's Service to Community award, while its Mocktail & Networking Husky Pack Chat was named the University's Event of the Year.
During the 2020-2021 academic year faced with the challenges of COVID-19, social distancing and online learning environments, Huskies' SAAC sought out ways to bring the student-athlete body together in a positive manner. Looking towards the future and in alignments with USM Athletics' Five Pillars (Academic Achievement, Athletic Excellence, Personal Development, Service to Community and Professional Growth), Huskies' SAAC partnered with USM's Career & Employment Hub to create "Husky Pack Chat" – a series of progressive informational sessions tailored specifically to student-athletes to help prepare them as they take their first steps in a job search or career exploration. These sessions ranged from resume writing and interview preparedness to alumni connection meetings in a variety of career paths and academic pursuits.
In 2019, USM SAAC earned the top honor from the National Association of Division III Athletic Directors (NADIIIAA) for its Unified Sports Program with the inaugural honor of the NADIIIAA Community Service Award for Special Olympics Activity. The Huskies' Unified Sports Program adheres to the Special Olympics model of promoting social inclusion through sport. USM SAAC achieves this through offering weekly "skills and drills" sessions and social activities with area Maine Special Olympic Athletes and Southern Maine student-athletes.
Honored by the University as well, SAAC was named the Student Organization of the Year for the 2021-2022 academic year, and Huskies' have previously received USM's Contribution to Community Service Award in 2017, 2016, and 2015. And in 2018, SAAC's Kick the Stigma kickball tournament was named the University's event of the year, and received a national citation from the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators in for its Mental Health Awareness events and programing. Since the 2000-2001 academic year Huskies' SAAC has now been honored with the Josten's/NADIIIAA Community Service award on 14 separate occasions.
ABOUT THE OFFICERS:
A three-time All-Little East Conference selection as a member of the Huskies' softball team, Scott has been a leader on and off of the field. A Biology Education major, Scott was named to the 2021, 2022 , 2023 LEC All-Academic Team and William B. Wise Scholar Athlete. A 2021 participant in the NCAA's Student Athlete Leadership Training program, Scott was one of just 40 students selected to participate in the NCAA Immersion Program in the fall of 2021. Scott has also traveled to the NCAA headquarters as one of 200 student-athletes chosen to participate in the Career in Sport Forum.
A senior for the Huskies' wrestling team, Beebe is a Business Management major and a two-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete Award recipient. Named a 2023 National Wrestling Cocahes' Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American for the first time , Beebe was 13-6 in 2022-23, including five wins by fall. At the 2023 NEWA Futures tournament, Beebe claimed third place at 197 lbs.
A junior on the women's soccer team, Veilleux is a Marketing major. Earning 2022 William B. Wise Scholar Athlete honors as a sophomore, Veilleux helped the Huskies' to the program's first ever Little East Conference regular season and tournament championship as well as USM's first appearance in the NCAA tournament. Veilleux played in 18 games in 2022, including one start scoring a pair of goals. She was named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
St-Amant, a junior on the women's ice hockey team and a Health Sciences major, earned American Hockey Coaches' Association (AHCA) All-America Scholar Recognition at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. She had eight points on three goals and five assists as a sophomore. She was also one of 11 members of the hockey team to earn New England Hockey Conference All-Academic honors.
| Awards and Honors |
| 2000-2001 |
USM Outstanding Student Organization Award, Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2002-2003 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2003 |
USM Outstanding Student Organization Award |
| 2003-2004 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2004-2005 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2005-2006 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2006-2007 |
USM Outstanding Student Organization Award, Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit |
| 2008 |
USM Outstanding Student Organization Award, USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
| 2009 |
USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
| 2010-2011 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Honorable Mention (Array of Projects Category) |
| 2012-2013 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Honorable Mention (On-going Project Category) |
| 2013-2014 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Honorable Mention (On-going Project Category) |
| 2015 |
USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
| 2016 |
USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
| 2017 |
USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
| 2018 |
USM Event of the Year Award |
| 2018 |
Josten's NADIIIAA Community Service Honorable Mention (One-Time Project Category). |
| 2019 |
NADIIIAA Community Service Award Winner (Special Olympics Activity Category) |
| 2019 |
NADIIIAA Community Service Award of Merit (Array of Projects Category) |
| 2022 |
USM Outstanding Student Organization Award |
| 2023 |
USM Event of the Year Award – Husky Pack Chat (Mocktail & Networking)
USM Outstanding Contribution to Community Service Award |
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