PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
PAW PRINT NEWSLETTER
MEETING MINUTES
SAAB HANDBOOK
PHOTO GALLERY

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS (2006-2007)

Dear Penn State Student-Athletes, Alumni, and Fans,

Welcome back to another year of success with honor. Penn State student-athletes experienced outstanding success on the field and on the court last year, with six teams winning Big 10 titles (Football, Field Hockey, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Swimming), 5 of which occurred in the fall semester; that is quite an achievement in one semester. In the classroom, student-athletes set new heights in achieving excellence with 243 Academic All-Big Ten selections during the 2005-2006 academic year, and combined Penn State’s 29 Varsity Athletic teams had an average GPA or 3.06 during the Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 semesters. What is comparably exciting was the amount of philanthropy, community outreach, and strengthening of intra-university relations that we as athletes were able to give back to Penn State. This year has already started off successfully with the 5th Annual Kevin Dare Memorial Scholarship raising over $60,000 in a record breaking year!

This year’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) is standing before an ever challenging time of restructuring, representation, and awareness. As we looked to establishing a stronger tie in undergraduate student representation last year, we decided to work more closely with the University Student Government. Transitioning into the University Park Undergraduate Association, the new “student voice” will be an arena that we can have an immediate impact upon. Early this year we fostered a new tie that will have the future Presidents of SAAB sitting on the Cabinet of Student Leaders (COSL). This organization is a direct link to school administrators and other prominent student leaders on campus. SAAB also looks to expand its own outreach by promoting and focusing on the growth of its Diversity and International committees.

Be it a team or organization, success is always driven by great people. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work with some of the most motivated people on campus. This year’s Executive Board consists of Jenny Shular (W. Tennis) Vice President; Kim Peifer (W. Diving) Secretary; and Grady Renfrow (M. Soccer) Treasurer. This year’s THON Entertainment Captain will be Kelly Silvis (Dance Team). Kari Lucas (Softball) will be this year’s Communications Captain while Finance will be represented by Lindsey Shea (W. Lacrosse).

This year’s SAAB board looks to foster new relationships and new initiatives for the year. The following are just a few examples:

1) To expand upon our Diversity committee to foster the growth and welfare of minority student-athletes and our international student-athletes from all around the world.
2) To attend as many local and regional conferences that requires Big10 and NCAA student representation and to have an active voice.
3) To invite student-athlete trainers to SAAB meetings due to their similar workload/practice schedules as well as similar welfare issues.
4) To expand relations with the Joint Commissions to foster a channel of education and connections for our LGBT, Diverse & Ethnic, and Female student-athletes.

Ever year we continue our community outreach and get involved in various activities such as:

• Speaker’s Bureau Program
• Pen Pals Program
• Shadow Day
• Thon Pep Rally
• Big Brother/ Big Sister Program
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Caring
• Kevin Dare Memorial Scholarship Fund
• National Student-Athlete Day

The Student-Athlete Advisory Board would not be where it is today without the constant help and encouragement from our advisors Sue Sherburne and Dave Yukelson. Thanks to them we are the organization that they envisioned.

I thank anyone, student-athlete, advisor, or just a supporter of athletics, who has helped in the past. I encourage you to help again, as we look to have a great year of achievement on and off the field. Let’s all join together and make a difference. Please get involved!

We Are Penn State!

For the Glory,

Brian Cantalupi
2006-2007 SAAB President, Men’s Wrestling