Northeastern University Athletics | Women's Soccer | Sopko participates in CAA SAAC meeting

Sopko participates in CAA SAAC meeting
Nov. 26, 2008
Boston, Mass.

Four representatives from Northeastern University met with members of all 12 CAA schools as well as CAA officials at the 2008 CAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting in Wilmington, N.C. Nov. 2-3. Under the theme of "Sportsmanship is Leadership," the committee met to establish a new CAA student-athlete mission statement and a sportsmanship statement and provide insight on the student-athlete experience and input on CAA rules, regulations, and policies that affect student athletes.

Senior Kris Dabrowiecki of the baseball team and freshman Michelle Sopko of the women's soccer team represented NU's student-athletes while Athletics Director Peter Roby and Assistant Director of Compliance & Student Athlete Welfare Kelly Scafariello helped facilitate the meeting. Dabrowiecki and Sopko are the president and vice president of Northeastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

"We played a big role in coming up with the new CAA student-athlete mission statement and a sportsmanship statement for athletes, fans and officials as well as the 'game' in whole," said Dabrowiecki. "We had a bunch of seminars where everyone there contributed ideas about being a good leader and gave ideas for the new statements."

The student-athlete mission statement will be used at upcoming home games along with the conference's sportsmanship pledge. Roby and Scafariello joined UNC Wilmington Athletic Director Kelly Mehrtens and CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager in facilitating at the meeting. With their help, the SAAC members discussed ways to continue the conference's commitment to sportsmanship and leadership, and continue creating a sterling standard amongst CAA Student-Athletes, which will serve as an example to others.

"My favorite part of the conference was interacting with student-athletes from different school and learning about their experiences," said Sopko. "After talking to them, I wanted to implement new things at Northeastern. I want to change the athletes from being on individual teams to a group of Northeastern athletes. The conference taught me a lot about how to be a good leader and conduct myself in a way that shows I respect everything about my sport."

The new CAA Student-Athlete Mission Statement is:

As CAA Student-Athletes we commit ourselves to Be The Difference. As leaders in the community we personify and instill sportsmanship, perseverance, and compassion to establish a legacy based on today's excellence and tomorrow's success.

The new Sportsmanship Pledge is:

I am a CAA Student-Athlete, I respect myself. Through respecting myself, I respect my opponent. Through respecting my opponent, I respect the game. Through respecting the game, I respect the officials. Through respecting the officials, I respect the outcome. My example, in victory or defeat, nurtures respect in others. Will you follow my lead?

Dabrowiecki also elaborated on upcoming activities for Northeastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. SAAC is holding its second-annual volleyball tournament that student-athletes and coaches from all teams will participate in to help get to know each other across the department. SAAC is creating a video for the sportsmanship statement that will include members of each team and the committee is working to decorate the first level of Cabot with items that will highlight the successes of Northeastern's student-athletes. In addition, SAAC is working to raise awareness around campus and help promote Northeastern Athletics events.



	HUSKIES HEADLINES SCHEDULES & RESULTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS RADIO & TV SCHEDULE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HUSKIES INSIDER NORTHEASTERN TWITTER CAA BLOOD CHALLENGE DIRECTIONS SPECIAL EVENTS TRAVEL RSS FEEDS HUSKY ATHLETICS FUND CORPORATE PARTNERS MERCHANDISE TICKET INFORMATION iPHONE APPLICATION NCENTIVES HALL OF FAME CHEERLEADING MISSION & GOALS HISTORY STAFF DIRECTORY FACILITIES CAMPS & CLINICS MEDIA GUIDES NCAA COMPLIANCE NCAA CERTIFICATION SPORTS INFORMATION SPORTS MEDICINE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STUDENT ATHLETES FIRST SUPPORT SERVICES P.A.W.S. INITIATIVE NORTHEASTERN WEBSITE BOSTON CAMPUS RECREATION SPORT IN SOCIETY GoNU.com INDEX	Schedule Coaches Roster Stats Archives Sopko participates in CAA SAAC meeting Nov. 26, 2008 Boston, Mass. Four representatives from Northeastern University met with members of all 12 CAA schools as well as CAA officials at the 2008 CAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting in Wilmington, N.C. Nov. 2-3. Under the theme of "Sportsmanship is Leadership," the committee met to establish a new CAA student-athlete mission statement and a sportsmanship statement and provide insight on the student-athlete experience and input on CAA rules, regulations, and policies that affect student athletes. Senior Kris Dabrowiecki of the baseball team and freshman Michelle Sopko of the women's soccer team represented NU's student-athletes while Athletics Director Peter Roby and Assistant Director of Compliance & Student Athlete Welfare Kelly Scafariello helped facilitate the meeting. Dabrowiecki and Sopko are the president and vice president of Northeastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "We played a big role in coming up with the new CAA student-athlete mission statement and a sportsmanship statement for athletes, fans and officials as well as the 'game' in whole," said Dabrowiecki. "We had a bunch of seminars where everyone there contributed ideas about being a good leader and gave ideas for the new statements." The student-athlete mission statement will be used at upcoming home games along with the conference's sportsmanship pledge. Roby and Scafariello joined UNC Wilmington Athletic Director Kelly Mehrtens and CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager in facilitating at the meeting. With their help, the SAAC members discussed ways to continue the conference's commitment to sportsmanship and leadership, and continue creating a sterling standard amongst CAA Student-Athletes, which will serve as an example to others. "My favorite part of the conference was interacting with student-athletes from different school and learning about their experiences," said Sopko. "After talking to them, I wanted to implement new things at Northeastern. I want to change the athletes from being on individual teams to a group of Northeastern athletes. The conference taught me a lot about how to be a good leader and conduct myself in a way that shows I respect everything about my sport." The new CAA Student-Athlete Mission Statement is: As CAA Student-Athletes we commit ourselves to Be The Difference. As leaders in the community we personify and instill sportsmanship, perseverance, and compassion to establish a legacy based on today's excellence and tomorrow's success. The new Sportsmanship Pledge is: I am a CAA Student-Athlete, I respect myself. Through respecting myself, I respect my opponent. Through respecting my opponent, I respect the game. Through respecting the game, I respect the officials. Through respecting the officials, I respect the outcome. My example, in victory or defeat, nurtures respect in others. Will you follow my lead? Dabrowiecki also elaborated on upcoming activities for Northeastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. SAAC is holding its second-annual volleyball tournament that student-athletes and coaches from all teams will participate in to help get to know each other across the department. SAAC is creating a video for the sportsmanship statement that will include members of each team and the committee is working to decorate the first level of Cabot with items that will highlight the successes of Northeastern's student-athletes. In addition, SAAC is working to raise awareness around campus and help promote Northeastern Athletics events.