Nicholls State University student athletes received a warm welcome from the students and staff of Thibodaux Elementary School last Friday at the field day event organized by the Colonels’ Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
 Every university in the Southland Conference has its own Student Athlete Advisory Committee. The committees have numerous goals including enhancing the overall collegiate experience for student-athletes, communicating any concerns between athletes and the administration, organizing and participating in community service events and promoting a positive image of the student athletes on campus.
The Nicholls State University SAAC focuses most of its energy into organizing and participating in community service projects. The first event held this semester was the field day that took place at Thibodaux Elementary School. Children had the opportunity to interact with the student athletes as they rotated between each team’s stations. Junior member of the track team Tessni Carruthers held a relay race for the young girls and boys to run through. “It’s crazy to think how much this experience means to the kids here. They look up to and admire everyone out here today,” Carruthers said.
 Associate head coach of the Nicholls baseball team and the SAAC staff advisor Chris Prothro understands how critical it is that Nicholls athletes give back to the Thibodaux community. “I want SAAC to be an avenue for our student athletes to get back into the community. I know it’s important for them to have people cheering them on in the stands, but we can’t expect the support we want from the community if we don’t give back,” he said.
As members of the Student Athletes Advisory Committee, athletes are in the position to enhance their collegiate experiences by communicating directly with administrators on matters of concern they may have.
Prothro stresses the fact that change starts with the athletes themselves. “Are our budgets the biggest? No, but I think there is always a way to make things better, and it’s important to ask the people who go through it on a day-to-day basis what needs to be done,” Prothro said.
Another goal for the SAAC organization is to have athletes break through their team barriers and strengthen the relationships between all members of the Nicholls State University athletic community.
Redshirt freshman on the baseball team and second year SAAC member Alex Tucker continues to enjoy his time being a part of the organization while setting goals for its future. ” Once I became a part of SAAC, I realized what a great organization it was, and my hope is that it brings all the athletes together this year,” he said.
Plans are in the works for events that involve the athletes leaving their team comfort zones such as barbeques, field day events and dances.