Athletic Department Sponsors Welcome Back Picnic for Student-Athletes
8/30/2007 8:00:00 AM | The Barry & Mary Gossett Center for Acad
Aug. 30, 2007
Welcome Back Picnic Photo Gallery
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Nearly 700 student-athletes gathered at Ludwig Field yesterday for the annual Student-Athlete Welcome Back Picnic, hosted by the athletics department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The picnic had a near-perfect attendance among Terrapin athletes, and members of each of Maryland's 27 teams came to the event.
Highlights included welcome-back speeches by Director of Athletics Debbie Yow and University President C.D. Mote, and the introduction of the Terrapin Student-Athlete Honor Agreement.
"It's a chance for us kick the year off and bring all the student-athletes together in a social setting and give us an opportunity to show our appreciation to them," said Anton Goff, Associate Athletic Director for the Academic Support and Career Development Unit (ASCDU).
After Yow and Mote had addressed the group, Allison Houseal, president of SAAC on campus, and the national SAAC representative for the ACC, took the podium and highlighted SAAC's goals for the upcoming year.
"Overall the picnic was a huge success," said Houseal, a captain on the Terrapin water polo team. "We had a great turnout and the atmosphere seemed to be filled with excitement for the start of a successful school year both academically and athletically. As SAAC President, I'm thrilled with the positive motivation that is evident in all of our student athletes to do their best in 2007-2008."
Following Houseal was Natasha Emmanuel of Maryland's track and field team. She spoke on the topic of leadership and described her experience at the National Leadership Conference, which she attended this summer as a representative of the university.
Finally, each team's SAAC representative addressed the group to discuss team accomplishments last year and their goals for 2007-08.
At the conclusion of the picnic, athletes received t-shirts which read, "700 athletes-27 sports-1 team."
