CSB SAAC Elects New Officers

05/08/2008

Left to right: Ashley Davenport, Andrea Millerbernd, Heidi Golliet, Mindy Schmidt

In their final meeting of the year, SAAC welcomed many new members along with announcing the 2008-2009 SAAC Officers.   They are Andrea Millerbernd, Ashley Davenport, Heidi Golliet, and Mindy Schmidt. 

Sophomore basketball student-athlete Mindy Schmidt (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) was named next year’s Recorder for SAAC.  A starting wing on the Blazer basketball team, Schmidt’s leadership qualities reflect off the court as well, as she was a volunteer Special Olympics coach this winter and captained her St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital fundraiser team.  Schmidt was also selected to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference at the end of May.  Schmidt shares her excitement for her upcoming positions as a SAAC officer.  “I want to have a positive impact on Blazer athletics and give our women student-athletes the best experience possible during their time at CSB,” she commented.

Sophomore Heidi Golliet (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) is a member of the Swimming and Diving team as well as a Track and Field athlete at CSB.  She was also selected to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference with Schmidt.  “If you would have asked me a year and a half ago if any of this was possible I probably would have laughed and replied, ‘No,’” Golliet said.  “I am so excited to be an officer next year and help lead a remarkable group of women.”  She will be next year’s treasurer for SAAC.

Junior Ashley Davenport (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley High School) has a lot on her plate as a Pre-Medicine student, Nutrition Science and Biology double major, Sports Medicine minor, training room manager, as well as captain and forward of the Blazer hockey team.  As returning SAAC Committee Liaison and MIAC SAAC rep, she will be in charge of organizing committees for events such as Blazer Big Days, the Athletic Formal and Toys for Teens.  “I am very excited to work with SAAC again this coming year,” Davenport stated.  “We have a wonderful group of women with phenomenal leadership skills involved in SAAC!” 

Last but not least, sophomore Andrea Millerbernd (Little Fork, Minn./Little Ford-Big Falls) will be next year’s President of SAAC.  Along with being an outside hitter on the Blazer Volleyball team and an Education major, she volunteers for Big Brother’s Big Sister’s.  She was selected as one of two representatives to attend the NCAA Regional Leadership Conference last January.   “As President, I know that I will have some huge shoes to fill.  I am very honored to be given this opportunity to enhance my leadership skills with a great group of student-athletes!”

Athletic Director and Co-Advisor Carol Howe-Veenstra states, “Our CSB SAAC is among the best in NCAA Division III and our organization, communication and accomplishments support this claim.  Each year the members and officers build upon the work of previous years and increase the success of SAAC.  There is no doubt that these women on SAAC are one of the strongest groups of leaders on our CSB campus.”

Allison Homstad, CSB Athletics Media Relations

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098