The Stout Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) may be full of athletes, but they do more than just play sports. Not only do they deal in representing the sports teams at the university, but also in community and campus work as well. Their monthly meetings cover a variety of topics, like discussing what’s happening on campus, how to engage the community in athletics, and volunteer opportunities.
Newly minted advisor Parker Huhn, a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in Exercise Sports Science, joined the UW Stout cross country and track team’s staff earlier this year. Along with that role brought on his involvement for SAAC, after filling in for the previous advisor and coach, Abigail Fouts. “I thought [UW Stout] would be a program and athletic department that I feel I’d fit in and be able to contribute to,” he says.
Huhn feels very passionate about student athletes, after being one himself. “I’ve always believed in the overall development of student athletes, in terms of them as people, them as leaders, them as students, and also as athletes,” he says. He wants to provide student athletes with an experience that goes beyond sports and the classroom. “Figuring out how that experience within sports can enhance their academic experience as well as help develop the skills [these athletes] will use for the rest of their lives,” he says.
Huhn does say that it’s been a learning curve for him as well as newer members of the committee. “In terms of SAAC, one of the things that’s been an adjustment is that I’ve been an assistant coach in all my roles so far as a coach. So being the SAAC advisor, I’m leading the meetings, I’m organizing the events, I’m coordinating with the student athletes to be able to make those connections and projects happen,” he says.
SAAC Leadership Officer Liz Rohl said she loves that she gets to bring joy to the Menomonie area when bell ringing for the Salvation Army during the winter months. Rohl is heavily involved in overseeing the side operations of SAAC, such as their social media campaigns and mental health awareness for students and athletes.
Although these student-athletes are busy like any other college student, the committee gathers other student athletes to donate their time to help causes like local food pantries and the Salvation Army. Whether it’s collecting cans or ringing bells, the athletes take the time to rally for the community and raise money to give it to charitable causes.
