A&M-Commerce Serves as Host to the 2010 LSC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summer Retreat

Additional Photos from the Retreat (courtesy of Jared Horn, A&M-Commerce Marketing Communications)

Texas A&M University-Commerce served as the host to the 2010 Lone Star Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Summer Retreat.

A&M-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones and his wife, Jalinna welcomed the student-athletes to the A&M-Commerce campus with a picnic at the President’s House on Sunday to begin the retreat. While on the campus, the student leaders and their advisors were able to engage in multiple activities throughout the three-day event. While at A&M-Commerce, the student-athletes participated in StrengthsQuest, a tool for developing leadership, cohesive teams, and a common leadership language. In addition, the student-athletes were able to participate in the new ropes course on the A&M-Commerce campus and team-building activities in the Morris Recreation Center on Monday. In addition to the workshops and seminars, the student leaders and their advisors held meetings during the retreat on Make-A-Wish fundraising, community service month, NCAA SAAC, the Division II SAAC website, LSC SAAC Cup, the conference championship experience, summer school financial aid, needy student athletic fund and the degree completion scholarship program.

"It was a honor for me and our athletic department staff to host the retreat. To see the development of the student-athletes as leaders within the Lone Star Conference first hand was a privilege. I am very excited to see how this will be carried out in 2010-11 and in future years," said A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper.

Taking part in the annual retreat were: Shelby Adamson (Tarleton), Cassie Anderson (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Shelbi Brown (Northeastern State), Taylor Clinebell (Southeastern Oklahoma), Molly Dudensing (Abilene Christian), Emery Dudensing (Abilene Christian), Kyle Fouts (Northeastern State), Robert Guzman (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Carrie Harvey (Cameron), Krishna Henderson (Southwestern Oklahoma), Kiara Jordan (Midwestern State), Trey Mays (Angelo State), Whitney McDaniel (East Central), Morgan Moeller (Texas A&M-Commerce), Kyli Morgan (Texas Woman’s), David Pilen (Abilene Christian), Todd Nix (Southwestern Oklahoma), Will Robinson (Southeastern Oklahoma), Jadiah Riley (West Texas A&M), Hector Rodriguez (West Texas A&M), Megan Schaffer (Angelo State), Cairo Thornton (Texas A&M-Commerce), Megan Warren (Texas Woman’s). Also attending as advisors were: Lisa Bowerman (Texas Woman’s), Jaci Brindus (Angelo State), Breanne Flores-Contreras (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Courtney Lee (West Texas A&M), Bo Pagliasotti (Southwestern Oklahoma), Miguel Panderes (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Kurt Portmann (Midwestern State), Judy Sackfield (Texas A&M-Commerce), Mary Schindler (Tarleton), Ann Varner (Abilene Christian), Keith Vitense (Cameron), Rylee Williamson (Northeastern State) gathered for the retreat. Joining them for the retreat were members of the Lone Star Conference staff – Commissioner Stan Wagnon, Assistant Commissioner and SAAC liaison Jay Poerner, Director of Media Relations Melanie Robotham and Intern Melissa Williams.

2010 marks the fifth year that the Lone Star Conference has hosted a retreat for its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, past hosts include Texas Woman’s (2006), Tarleton (2007), West Texas A&M (2008) and Northeastern State (2009). Texas A&M-Kingsville will serve as the host for the retreat in 2011.