SAAC Website

With the first week of classes in the book for students, the FDU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has already jumped into action in Bergen County through various community service projects.
 
Upon arriving back from summer vacation, SAAC completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to go along with raising $500 to strike out Lou Gehrig's Disease. While completing the challenge and making a contribution for a great cause, the committee nominated every student-athlete advisory committee in the Northeast Conference.
 
"As soon as I walked into orientation for SAAC, I noticed the energy was different." President Corbin Gapski said. "Everyone jumped on board with making a difference this year, and we hit the ground running, from planning events to signing individuals up for our community service projects."
 
That following Thursday on Aug. 28, six male student- athletes traveled to Five Star Premier Living Residences of Teaneck to participate in their Raise the Roof party and dance. Three members from the men's golf team: Tom Barnes, David Gaylord, and Connor Hamilton; along with men's track and field members Andrew Forbes and Steven Krier, joined Gapski, who is a member of the baseball team, in Thursday's festivities.
 
Crossing the Hackensack River into Hackensack and then Lodi, SAAC traveled to the Boys and Girls Club of Lodi/Hackensack on Friday, Aug. 29 for a full day of fun with kids from Bergen County. Gapski donned the FDU mascot costume Knightro throughout the morning, while Loren Stavrou, Madelaine Wilen and Courtney Slye of softball; U-Minn Woon and Karly Lux of men's and women's golf; Jamie Bono, Kristy Bono, Cody Shave and Kenesha Brown from men's and women's cross country; participated in games and activities all morning. 
 
Later in the afternoon, members of the women's basketball team spent their time with basketball related activities. Erika Livermore, Amanda Andrades, Tiffany Grant and April Coyne joined the entire coaching staff of Peter Cinella, Devin Jefferson, Jennifer Walkling and Ashley Cieplicki, as they celebrated the last day of the summer before classes started for the kids after Labor Day.
 
For the upcoming year, student-athletes ranging from all FDU sports have stepped in for head roles in charge of community service projects. Coyne will take on the lead role for Five Star Premier Living Residences of Teaneck. Baseball player Logan Frati has taken on the role of being in charge of the S.C.O.R.E (Students Creating Opportunities to Realize Excellence) program at Ben Franklin Middle School, where Knights will have the opportunity to take on a mentoring role.
 
In a similar role, Pennsylvania natives Shane Siebler and Erika Livermore will work with the Boys and Girls Club of Lodi/Hackensack, marking the third consecutive year SAAC works with the Boys and Girls Club. Finally, Slye will be at the helm of planning various projects with Habitat for Humanity for a hands-on opportunity with the prominent organization.
 
"This committee is only getting stronger and better known throughout the community," Gapski said. "My goal is to build ever-lasting relationships with different organizations that want us to keep coming back and to keep making their organizations stronger like they are making ours."
 
Get to know SAAC more on their website at www.fdu-knights-saac.weebly.com. Also follow them on social media through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and latest news about their upcoming community service projects.